A few notes on Bezos' security apparatus (from former FBI & SS "VIP Protection")

[CousinIT]

ORIGINAL Twitter thread:

Link to tweet

UNROLLED thread:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1094272500320612352.html

A few notes on Bezos' security apparatus. The guys I knew at FBI and Secret Service often ended up in VIP Protection, a lucrative post-government position where salaries can be in the high 6 digits. It's a serious job, especially to protect the richest of the rich. 1/

A few have reached out since Bezos memo with some interesting thoughts; all of them work in VIP world so won't go public but all are experts. First, all stated their governing philosophy: "our advice is if you never want to see it out there, then don't do it." Too late. 2/

Second, interestingly, before the memo, all of them believed it to be an insider job, likely the girlfriend's phone (there was some speculation on that). Someone got her phone and shared it. Not likely to be Bezos phone. "People like Bezos don't 'lose' their phones," one said 3/

explaining that there are mechanisms in place to erase and shut systems down immediately if the VIP's phone/computer/cyberfootprint go missing. And someone like Bezos has extensive cyber protections that would withstand most (but not all) hacking attempts. 4/

Third, some interesting takes after the letter. They all thought it was unusual and likely not a mistake for Bezos to name his security head. Names are often not given in their field. Bezos specifically states he "retained" Gavin de Becker, a serious professional. 5/

Bezos wanted the name out there and also the use of the word "retained" shows Bezos wanted it known that de Becker wasn't an 'inside' guy (always a fear after any breach) and would be willing to look at the possibility of insider hack since he was new. 6/

Fourth, reference to Saudi Arabia was "more than speculation," one said. "you just don't do that. de Becker wouldn't let him do that." Meaning that the Bezos security team has already done some cyber forensic analysis and knows it wasn't insider, and may have hints of who. 7/

This is why reps for Bezos also stated in interviews that they believe a government entity was involved, but didn't say US. In other words, under that theory, SA's sophisticated intell folks did the hack (either on own b/c of Khashoggi investigation or possibly asked to) and 8/

fed that information to AMI.
Anyway, this is the take from a bunch of guys who are in this space now and who think and prepare for physical, personal and cyber security for some of the richest people on earth. 9/9

[KPN]

1. Watch it Donny boy. Bezos is no fool, and he has the resources to fight back and expose you.

[UpInArms]

2. Unlike don the con,

Bezos is an authentic billionaire...

And can buy and sell the one shitgibbon many times over

[moondust]

3. Good question.

Link to tweet

[Blue_true]

4. People, remember the name Juliette Kayyem.

My friends there says that she could be the next Massachusetts governor once Baker term limits in 2022. I remember they said that she is in her 40s or very early 50s, bright and energetic. She worked in the Obama Admin and was the point person working on the Deep Water Horizon oil leak problem. She was an agressive problem solver for that Admin.

[comradebillyboy]

5. I am absolutely captivated by this story.

I especially want to see where the Saudi connection goes. I'd also hope the Feds revoke pecker's immunity deal. Trump has been unusually silent about this scandal.

It's an unpopular sentiment here at DU, but I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Jeff Bezos. He is a very determined, very resourceful man who is now very angry. He's going to make lots of waves. Wapo will be getting a lot of good scoops as well.

[Raster]

6. Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes...

...fucking with the WRONG, REAL BILLIONAIRE, Donny*...

[DeminPennswoods]

7. Malcome Nance said he thought it was

more likely an inside job faciliated by the g/f's brother who is a Trumper and has connections with both Trumpworld and AMI. He speculated that the brother might have gotten his sister to turn on her phone or activate some other cell phone function that then allowed a 3rd party to read her text messages. That tracks mostly with what the VIP experts are saying.