The CIA is the top intelligence organization in the world.
But in 2015, ONE prank call from a 15 y.o kid in his bedroom almost made them trigger a global cyber war.
Here's how...🧵
Meet Cracka.
At 15, he was already a seasoned hacker.
His biggest hack? Wiping out millions in student debt from a medical school's servers with one click.
What a legend!
Cracka's partner was "Default," a teen from Virginia.
Before joining Cracka, default was on a global mission: banning bestiality in Denmark.
They exposed the country's underground "dog brothels," sparking outrage until Denmark finally outlawed the practice in 2015.
Anonsec's triumph was credited to Anonymous. But bigger targets awaited.
They teamed up to form CWA.
Their aim? Expose the secrets and hypocrisy of top US officials.
Target #1: CIA Director John Brennan. Cracka breached his email with a simple Google search.
Once inside Brennan's AOL account, Cracka:
• Prank-called his family
• Rerouted calls to pro-Palestine groups
• Leaked sensitive CIA files to Wikileaks
This cost $16 million and humiliated the CIA's reputation.
But CWA was just getting started.
Watch this:
CWA's hit list expanded to include:
• 20,000 FBI agents
• The entire US prisoner database
• 9,000 Department of Justice officials
Sensitive documents, agent info, even CIA torture reports - all leaked online.
These kids are about to outplay the US intelligence community.
But CWA poked the bear one too many times.
In late 2015, the FBI and UK police launched coordinated raids.
Official seized Default's computers and his secret stash of 1,000 Bitcoin, worth $40 million today.
Cracka, still a minor at 15, got 2 years in a UK juvenile detention center.
Default got the meltdown from the US law:
• 5 years in federal prison
• Solitary confinement
• $145,000 in fines
"I thought I was doing right," he said later. "But I was completely wrong."
Today, Cracka keeps a low profile, hoping for a legal cybersecurity career. Default reflects on his mistakes.
The hacks exposed the fragility of even the most powerful agencies.
But like they say, the house always wins.
Years later, mass surveillance has only grown.
Under Biden, a controversial spy program has been renewed to monitor:
• Jan 6 rioters
• BLM protesters
• Campaign donors
No warrants are needed. Snowden's revelations have faded. The watchmen remain unwatched.
What do you think of this thread?
When does principled lawbreaking cross a line?
Can (and should) individuals take on the system without being crushed?
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