Tulsi Gabbard's Shocking Neglect of Cybersecurity basics During Her Congress Tenure (2013-2021)
Intelligence chief under scrutiny for alleged neglect of cybersecurity protocols
American mag, Wired stirred a storm when they unearthed a dubious password practice of Tulsi Gabbard, the Current Director of U.S. National Intelligence. According to Wired, who had access to leaked databases, Gabbard employed the same simple password for years across her Gmail, various email services, Dropbox, LinkedIn, MyFitnessPal, HauteLook, and even her personal website's admin account. This jaw-dropping revelation, given her access to classified information as a member of the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees, has left cybersecurity experts scratching their heads—and concerned.
The same password allegedly contained the word "shradha," raising eyebrows due to a recent Wall Street Journal investigation into Gabbard's ties with the Science of Identity Foundation (SIF), a branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Former members told the outlet that Gabbard was reportedly given the name Shradha Das when she joined the community.
Cybersecurity experts are alarmed by Gabbard's slack approach to password security. They stress that this practice significantly increases the risk of personal and sensitive data breaches, potentially compromising government information. However, a representative for Gabbard informed Wired that the National Intelligence Director has since changed her passwords multiple times.
The incident underscores broader cybersecurity concerns within the U.S. government. For example, the use of archiving software like TeleMessage for Signal messages has raised alarms about potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by foreign intelligence groups. These issues underscore the urgent need for robust cybersecurity practices, especially among high-ranking officials.
In a related development, leaks of official and classified information have led to polygraph tests for FBI and U.S. intelligence agency employees. Reports suggest that FBI Director Christopher Wray has ordered these tests recently to root out the source of the leaks.
Interestingly, a Russian university has developed a new password control app to combat such security lapses.
- In a shocking report, Tulsi Gabbard, the current Director of U.S. National Intelligence, was reportedly using a single password for several online accounts, including Gmail, email services, Dropbox, LinkedIn, and her personal website.
- The password, allegedly containing the word "shradha", has raised concerns due to its link to Tulsi Gabbard's association with the Science of Identity Foundation, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
- Cybersecurity experts have expressed alarm over Gabbard's password security practices, suggesting that using the same password across multiple platforms increases the risk of data breaches and potentially compromises sensitive government information.
- The incident highlighting Gabbard's lax approach to password security underscores broader cybersecurity concerns within the U.S. government, with questions being raised about the use of archiving software for sensitive communications.
- In a bid to address these security lapses, a Russian university has developed a new password control app to enhance password security and protect against potential vulnerabilities.
