Over the weekend we marked the third anniversary of Climategate, which occurred on November 17th, 2009. A timeline of events can be read here.
Today marks the anniversary of my most famous story, the one written hastily on my laptop at Dulles airport, published just moments before the door to my flight home to California closed, leaving me with over 5 hours of sheer offline terror wondering “what have I started?”. For all I knew there would be police waiting at the airport for me in Sacramento.
That one story created a much needed firestorm, and I’m proud to have played a part in letting the world know just what sort of people we are dealing with.
Now, as we reported this summer: Climategate investigation closed – statute limit looms, cops impotent.
The Norfolk constabulary has called off the investigation saying:
Norfolk Constabulary has made the decision to formally close its investigation into the hacking of online data from the Climate Research Centre (CRU) at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich.
The decision follows a comprehensive investigation by the force’s Major Investigation Team, supported by a number of national specialist services, and is informed by a statutory deadline on criminal proceedings.
While no criminal proceedings will be instigated, the investigation has concluded that the data breach was the result of a ‘sophisticated and carefully orchestrated attack on the CRU’s data files, carried out remotely via the internet’.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Superintendant Julian Gregory, said: “Despite detailed and comprehensive enquiries, supported by experts in this field, the complex nature of this investigation means that we do not have a realistic prospect of identifying the offender or offenders and launching criminal proceedings within the time constraints imposed by law.
“The international dimension of investigating the World Wide Web especially has proved extremely challenging.
“However, as a result of our enquiries, we can say that the data breach was the result of a sophisticated and carefully orchestrated attack on the CRU’s data files, carried out remotely via the internet. The offenders used methods common in unlawful internet activity to obstruct enquiries.
“There is no evidence to suggest that anyone working at or associated with the University of East Anglia was involved in the crime.”
The security breach was reported to Norfolk Constabulary on 20 November 2009, following publication of CRU data on the internet from 17 November onwards.
An investigation was launched by the joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team, led by Det Chief Supt Gregory, with some support from the The Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, the National Domestic Extremism Team and the Police Central e-crime Unit, along with consultants in online security and investigation.
The investigation, code-named Operation Cabin, focused on unauthorised access to computer material, an offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990, which has a three year limit on proceedings from the commission of the original offence. It has been concluded by Norfolk Constabulary, in consultation with The Met, that due to outstanding enquiries this is now an unrealistic prospect.
Norfolk Assistant Chief Constable Charlie Hall, Protective Services lead, said: “Online crime is a global issue. While law enforcement agencies continue to develop our response to emerging threats, it falls upon individuals and organisations to be alert to this and and take steps to mitigate risk as far as is practicable.”
The “statutory deadline” referred to is three years, and that is now expired. With the statute of limitations now passed, and with no threat of criminal prosecution, will the person known as “FOIA” reveal him/herself? Or, will this be one of those long ongoing mysteries like the famous “deep throat” that went on for decades before finally being revealed?
Whether you choose to reveal yourself or not, we all owe you a debt of gratitude.
I’m Spartacus!
Well! there it is in Black and White….
……It was an inside job.
RC
Mum’s the word
I’m sure there are more gems to be released. It is a well that must be drying up, though, as the climatastrophists switch to dummy servers and other sneaky techniques – Gee, why don’t they just clean up their acts?
If it’s an inside job they surely aren’t going to reveal themselves.
Not while they have a salary or pension still at risk…
tallbloke:
You mean it was Phil Jones’ mum wot did it?
There’s also that small matter of the encryption key.
…we can say that the data breach was the result of a sophisticated and carefully orchestrated attack on the CRU’s data files, carried out remotely via the internet.
———————–
Or not.
It seems more likely that the FOIA file was compiled by the UEA information officials, working with their IT support. There was an on-going FOI request covering this very material, that was due for release, after months of stonewalling. At the final appeal, the FOI case was decided in favor of UEA, so UEA were not compelled to release the already collected file.
With the FOI file already assembled, it would have been simple for someone to copy the file out to an unprotected server (not requiring a sophisticated and orchestrated attack). It could have been anyone with access to the file, including the UEA information official him/herself.
I’m Spartacus!
Yeah, I’m thinking the thing to do is keep quiet. No good deed goes un-punished.
”I’m Brian and so is my wife”
Just browsing through the original posting from 3 years ago i found this.
Scott A. Mandia says:
November 20, 2009 at 7:46 am
“I wonder if Fred Singer and Christopher Monckton, after polishing off their fake Nobel Prizes, sent out these doctored emails?”
We are still waiting for the “Easter Egg” to emerge. Depending on its contents, these “smoldering embers” could become a “firestorm” again.
One can only wait and hope!
If you won’t reveal yourself then release the key 3 days before the next CAGW summit.
Dear FOIA,
If you’re reading this, THANK YOU !!!
FOIA has much more work to do so we should all confess.
I am FOIA and you are FOIA and the guy down the street is FOIA. Hell it seems that everyone is FOIA. Shout it out!
Maybe Lisa Jackson w/ EPA is FOIA as she seems to know all about alias internet accounts.
tallbloke says: “Mum’s the word”
FOIA is somebody’s Mum? Whose?
Reveal yourself and you are quite likely to be entitled to a lifetime supply of Steve Milloy’s “I’m FOIA™” t-shirts. http://junkscience.com/2012/01/12/breaking-climategates-foia-identified/
When dealing with vindictive stupid people anonymity is recommended, thanks FOIA and password please, whenever you are ready.
We’re on pace for 4°C of global warming. Here’s why that terrifies the World Bank.
Reports the Washington Post
Bob Tisdale says:
November 19, 2012 at 8:39 am
tallbloke says: “Mum’s the word”
FOIA is somebody’s Mum? Whose?
==================================
Perhaps the password is “mum???
I just made this comment on the BH post entitled ‘Without Limitations’.
John
Yea, my thanks to Mum too.
Bring on the Third tranche…………
The statute of limitations may have expired on the CRU (break-in, hack, leak), but what other legal clocks remain ticking? Did the publication of the Climategate II emails break any laws? Is the possession of the Climategate III package, even encrypted, a crime? Even if it is difficult to win a conviction, it is easy to prosecute if there is the political will to do so.
Like Deep Throat, the identity of FOIA should go to the grave of all involved. Somewhere in cyberspace there needs to be a “Tomb of the Unknown Freeman“