Re: Aaron Barr

On 7 February 2011 21:13, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:

Wait, this isn't Commander X?

On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 11:10 PM, Ben de Vries <bendevries1968@gmail.com> wrote:

I am not on IRC. This guy is totally confused. It almost looks like he pulled my name out of a hat because he couldn't find this 'commander x'. No I am not Benjamin Franklin, have never used as an alias. In fact, I have never used ANY alias. This woman at forbes might want to know that it was HIM that called YOU and not the other way around.

This is a total fabrication. ALL of the information he is trying to pin on me is wrong. As what he suggests I have done (I have not) can carry a federal penalty of 10 years, this concerns me. This is a false accusation. One he was about to sell to the FBI.

I am in SF. I am going in to the FBI to tell them about this. I had never heard from this guy before the below conversation... he contacted me. I also would have never known about your Kos post had it not been for him. First I have heard of any of this.

I find being the target of a lethal game of pin the tail on the donkey unamusing. I am looking at pressing both criminal and civil against him.

Anything else?

On 7 February 2011 21:04, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:

I want to run with this to some select media if you think it would help, but I'm confused; can you give me quick explanation, a paragraph or so, of what happened between you and this asshole? I deal with him yesterday as you may have heard when he called (I recorded it) and he lied to me, and have been trying to follow the ends and outs of all this while also trying to get important parts to press. Are you Benjamin Franklin on IRC, or what?

On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 8:34 PM, Ben de Vries <bendevries1968@gmail.com> wrote:
Ms. Olson

Having seen your article for Forbes, I am forced to respond. Victim Of Anonymous Attack Speaks Out

You have misquoted me, but I will get to that in a minute.

Aaron:

"This is actually what I want. I want to start a verbal braul between us and keep it going because that will bring more media and more attention to a very important topic. But I do intent to emphasize that I have real names, that is a must, not for them but for the audience to know that this is possible"

http://pastebin.com/dh8t9bwk

That would be you.

This Mr. Barr BEGGED me to stop anonymous attacks... funny, because I have no affiliation. Below is a portion of the transcript. He misidentified me as some 'commander X' and in his documentation was ready to report me to the FBI as a 'cyberterrorist'. I don't know how to write code. I have never used IRC in my life. His information is SO faulty it is absurd. I am named 6 (!!!) times in his documentation. You may not be familiar with the way things are carried out in the US, so let me tell you. An FBI raid based on faulty information could very easily result in my death. I know it is hard to believe from your position of relative civility in Britain, but there is no shortage of documentation.

As such there is no other way to see this than as a direct attack on my person. He has cried victim: a common tactic of a perpetrator.

Further, for a man in intelligence and 'security', I find it very funny that over the course of one conversation, he revealed all sorts of interesting information while posing under the pseudonym Julian Goodspeak on facebook. His real name. His twitter account. His company name. Some spy. All the while he believed me to be this 'commander X'.

So he has seen fit to target me, and when he gets a much deserved response, then cries victim.

On to my misquotation. Im gonna find out all the people that you know and cause them pain. I did not say what is highlighted. I am however going to fully investigate and expose everyone I am able who is connected to him in any way. I fully stand by my statements. In fact "I am going to turn your life into a hell." is fully my intention. One of criminal charges, civil suits, and media exposure of his wrongdoing. This vulture made the mistake of picking at a LIVE target- and the WRONG one.

This attack on my person will not go unanswered. Through no doing of my own, I am certain I am now under investigation of the FBI. So now I am forced into hiding. I am certain this man would stop at nothing to eliminate one of the sources of the dilemma he has created for himself. Me.

You may notice that my tone is cordial... right up until I read what he was working on. I was unaware of the Kos article until HE HIMSELF brought it to my attention.

I believe some of the knights of your realm held a code similar to one of mine. "Always speak the truth, even if it results in your death".

And that is precisely what I am going to do. I am in no hurry to die, but this man has created a very credible threat. I believe that reciprocation is the key to any successful relationship.

A little something to contemplate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iRTB-FTMdk

I run a news group with over 1600 members. I cannot be responsible for the constitution of my membership. I do not know the people he speaks of.

He is exhausted? I certainly hope so. I intend to run him into the dirt, quite legally, in response to his attacks.

As you work for Forbes, I fully expect you to side with the wealthier of us. However, your association and defense of him puts you at significant risk. Just being friendly.

I am certain there will be others he has mentioned, and attacked, who will respond to your article. One last thing: In his documentation he associated me with a PLF... apparently a chat website I had never seen before. Not to be confused with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine_Liberation_Front , but you can see how this little point of confusion could occur within the context it is presented. You can imagine the response of armed security forces to this misinformation, yes?

A LITTLE knowledge is truly a dangerous thing. And how LITTLE this Aaron Barr knows. HE is the one who initiated this... when he saw fit to call me a terrorist in a working document being prepared to be sold to the FBI.

Yours,
--
--
Ben de Vries
Certified Permaculture Designer

NOTICE
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I find it rather easy to portray a businessman. Being bland, rather cruel and incompetent comes naturally to me.
- John Cleese

Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake: One of her characters asks, "As a species we're doomed by hope, then?" By hope? Well, yes. Hope drives us to invent new fixes for old messes, which in turn create ever more dangerous messes. Hope elects the politician with the biggest empty promise; and as any stockbroker or lottery seller knows, most of us will take a slim hope over prudent and predictable frugality. Hope, like greed, fuels the engine of capitalism.

Dude I am not attacking u guys so stop fucking with me

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Dude I am not attacking u guys so stop fucking with me

Between You and Julian Goodspeak

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 18:24 Report

CommanderX. This is my research. I will be posting a response shortly to the DailyKos post. I am not going to release names I am merely doing security research to prove the vulnerability of social media so please tell Chris or Jules or whoever else is hitting our site to stop.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 18:25

Uhhh.... not my doing! Just as a thought... wouldn't that be valuable data to your research?

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 18:27 Report

I am done with my research...doing my slides...I am not out to get u guys. My focus is on social media vulnerabilities only. So please tell the folks there that I am not out to get u guys.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 18:48

Uhhh... I don't think anyone was under that impression. I am, however, very interested in what exactly would make you think so.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 18:55 Report

Dude the dailyKos article and what is being said in chat... People think I am out to get Anon...I am not.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 18:57

Supporting links for analysis please.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:01 Report

well that and my admin is telling me we are getting all kinds of weird activity...if its anon...just stop...if its not...I'll deal with it.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 19:02

Anon is ostensible ally of Global strike. However, from experience with them, they are trigger happy and it is best to be wary of interaction. Anything misconstrued might be fired on.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:06 Report

lol...yeah. I get it. :) I knew you guys were a risky target but nothing risked nothing gained. People can show their bravado thats fine I can deal with that. Just want the "leadership" to know what my intent is...that will filter as it needs to I am sure.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 19:08

'Leadership' lmao it has grown beyond my control, just as I intended.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:09 Report

Sorry to use u as the conduit. But you were on and I have watched you talk for a while, seemed reasonable. I will be working to get this topic noticed so the group knows meaning I will be working the press to talk about social media vulnerabilities, and I will talk about u guys. I will talk about aliases. I won't talk about names. But please don't play me a chump any more than you have to to protect anons cred. I know more than IRC aliases.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:14 Report

I know. I have followed it. Its the near perfect system, except its communicated online. Social media is an unbelievably powerful tool, witness Tunsia and Egypt. But the vulnerabilities are also signficant for targeting, exploitation, and manipulation. I know the much of the communication arm of anon is a loose collaboration. OpEgypt, all the extended accounts...its amazing to watch. really is.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:15 Report

You, "Q", John...you do have some control over it though.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 19:16

I am not playing anybody. It is all the running I can do to stay in one place. All press is good press... you have my thanks. All my comanagers have been selected as reasonable, prudent people.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:17 Report

I have seen the wrath when its required... except for that rabbit kid...I wonder why he is allowed to run amok. :) Dude its all a data point...where someone says they live... why someone is allowed to get away with things that others aren't. Witness fucking ThomasAnderson... but he paid his price right?

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:19 Report

yep I know...its what keeps it together...you co-opt everyone for the cause... I get it I really do.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:20 Report

I'll tell u straight up...I am not a fan of the DDOS stuff. To each his own. But the stuff you guys did with egypt opening up communications, trying to help the people. I applaud that.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 19:21

Everyone becomes what Tyler wants them to be ;)

To tell you the truth, I don't know who Thomas Anderson is...

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 19:22

What Rabbit kid?

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 19:23

ANd yes, the egypt thing has been nearing the limit of my patience. It has been working to use us as an organisational clearinghouse to group up and take it elsewhere. Great.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:25 Report

Thomas...aka Ub3r1337...aka...Spencer... I have been watching anon for too long...lol.
I am guessing my research is probably 80%, but its just research its enough to prove the point that if I can do this against anon fucking everyone is vulnerable and its true... My other two usecases even more successful because those guys have not a clue...like my other two usecases.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:26 Report

hmmmm...record skipped there.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 19:28

Yes well take a look at current state... tell me what you know, please. He is just about to be a very short lived member and the 3rd to be banned (ever) if he doesn't watch himself.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:28 Report

yeah its draggin' a bit... but ur right...your focusing on the right things...its not just about the DDOS..the countries need access to information...social media is a revolution! as well as our greatest weakness... as we move into more location based services and information...people will be pushed information in real time based on where they are and what they have provided...the ability to manipulate that is astounding. thats the frightening part.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:33 Report

yeah your in a transition period though and I am not sure how your going to work through it. The group is growing up to some extent so you need to hold to your principles but you need people like BB and other to help the group. Managing anons PR has to be considered...the purists aren't going to get that... and your going to have to loose some for the betterment of the group...fact of life. But how u do that is the touchy thing.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 19:35

If you go down you will find an invaluable record to your research... a total flame war on the subject of racism. There is probably no more divisive issue. It was used to it's maximum extent by one I believe to be a government infiltrator agitator, and one who just couldn't get off his racist (vs. white) high horse.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:35 Report

rabbit...I figured Rabbit was Dave L. could be wrong...but when he came on and was being a little twat..a voice from on high told everyone to leave him alone...again...could be wrong but its not perfect analysis, just good analysis.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 19:36

The ban-ees.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:38 Report

ok thanks. and again. I understand a little chiding at my expense...have to keep up appearances and all...I am a big boy. But I don't want this to escalate to something larger.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:39 Report

if you have to just tell folks that anon can not afford to attack another target within the US for now...blah blah...that should be enough to keep them off me.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 19:39

I still do not know the offenses you speak of. Please, be specific.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 19:40

RE: Anon: I have no means of controlling their activity. This should be obvious.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:42 Report

could be form somewhere completely different...we just saw some mighty weird traffic hitting our website in the last few hours. I would have to get specifics from my admin but it was coming out of LA to us. Hell as this story gets more discussed we could get hit from anywhere...u guys have lots of supporters...but u have a lot of firepower and know how in some dark corners...hell some of them may even know Greg Hoglund the CEO of our other company. So if it is some of your guys just want to make sure they don't get too aggressive.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 19:43

Which website?

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:44 Report

hbgaryfederal.com

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 19:45 Report

yes its obvious... but u have some influence mostly over messaging...leadership speaks and many will follow...and there is leadership.... so try to make sure the leadership isn't saying take down the troll.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 19:50

I now see your interest. Since this is the first I have seen, I highly doubt it has much to do with us. You may notice the topic is economic resistance, not cyberwarfare. Although it might be inferred that in the present climate, the two are inseparable.

Has it occurred to you there might be unstated objectives unknown to the majority of the membership? That it is a voluntary based info feed designed to induct certain types of information? I'm just sayin'.

I warn you that your vulnerabilities are far more material. One look at your website locates all of your facilities. You might want to do something about that. Just being friendly. I hope you are being paid well.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 20:00 Report

Yes I see the topic. And sure it has occurred to me, more than occurred to me, I would expect it. A collective sounds good but like any organization, which Anon is of sorts, it needs leadership and that leadership will almost always not entrust all decisions to the collective. As to my physical vulnerabilities, sure, that is why I am reaching out to you and develop a mutual understanding that to the best of our abilities we should try to not escalate this further than what it is. I am paid fair, but that is not the point, I am a mission focused person like you. And I believe social media can, will, and is being used to exploit individuals and organizations and I aim to make that point.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 20:03

Good. Then you will see the bottom post on the page is the article on memetic engineering. That is intentional. I will save you some time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memetic_engineering

FYI: If I was unaware of your activity until this conversation began, how is there any escalation on my part? Of course, now that you have let me know... Just kidding.

Memetic engineering - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org

Memetic engineering is a term developed and coined by Leveious Rolando, John Sokol, and Gibran Burchett while they researched and observed the behavior of people after being purposely exposed (knowingly and unknowingly) to certain memetic themes. The term is based on Richard Dawkins' theory of memes

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Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 20:13 Report

right. Well at least we have an understanding... ;)

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 20:14

Hell you should be offering me work at this point ;)

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 20:16

And this J. Cash weed looks something of a professional troll...

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 20:18 Report

lol. You never know...

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 20:18 Report

J. Cash...now there is a singer that was for the people. I am not much of a country fan but him I like

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 20:22

almost no friends... looks like a mockup... a penetrator...

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 20:29 Report

well not from me...as I said...my research is done...but if you don't mind I will keep the profile...I will understand if my friends list shrinks a bit. :) I do appreciate some of the work anon is doing. I am a bit addicted to watching though...what wikileaks and anon represent is significant in the role they play in changing world dynamics...fascinating.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 20:31

Our. J Cash has 28 friends...

Yes, very interesting. My methods will have even greater effect if internet access is suddenly restricted... just sayin'.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 20:33 Report

yeah I have no power or interest in that. You can't trust me...I get it. But look at my twitter account @aaronbarr. I have been focused and talking about social media security for a long time. I am far from anonymous.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 20:35

All the 'you'll know when' actions, many with no papertrail and arranged many years ago, will take effect and be executed, assuming...

Well, Just read the last chapter of Sun Tzu.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 20:41 Report

The Chinese have always understood conflict much better than the west. OK. Well off to do some more writing. I'll be around. Nice to talk with you more directly.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 20:43

Yes... where are you? I am at present in SF... I cannot ask what I will not tell...

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 20:47 Report

DC... interesting place but not one I hope to be in for long. I will be in SF in a about 9 days for my talk, but u might have already known that.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 05 February at 20:51

Do tell... I wonder if we'll have a window for a meetup.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 20:57 Report

BSIDES Security conference.

Julian Goodspeak 05 February at 22:43 Report

sorry ending a little abrubt...getting late here and I still have much work to do. maybe so... I saw it appears you like mushrooms and nature...I studied mushrooms for a period of time, amazing and so various...maybe we have a few things in common. Did u know there are mushroom species that are as spicy as a habenero and others that are as sweet as syrup?

AND THEN I READ HIS DOCUMENTS IMPLICATING ME AS A TERRORIST

Benjamin Spock de Vries 06 February at 19:11

Oh indeed. We are going to be getting to know each other MUCH better in the near future.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 06 February at 19:50

Or you can just give me all your liquid cash and we can skip the ritual. Your choice. And by the way, you are WRONG WRONG WRONG. You have put my life in peril. You must understand, I believe reciprocation is the key to any successful relationship.

So you will pay the danegeld, you will get together with me and my attorney in SF to make a settlement, or you can choose to do it the hard way.

You will do this within the next 3 days, or I file. Frankly I have been waiting for you to do something like this so I can take your money. I need it.

I am going into the FBI counterintelligence unit in the morning to tell them how WRONG you are about just about EVERYTHING. What you have been doing in an office I have been doing in a sewer. You do not know my world.

If you think I am not serious about this, don't show up to pay me.

Like I say, I think this is a great opportunity to get to know each other MUCH better. I sure know a lot more about you... and what is laughable is how little you know about me.

I don't want your house. You used your business in the commission of this crime. So it is quite likely that all of it will be seized as evidence. I want all the money you have... you know, as in how much you have in the bank? And don't forget your portfolio. I want that too. It is likely if you don't pay me a settlement as I suggest my attorney will do much worse than that.

If you do not respond now, I will also be stopping into the bay guardian to take a reporter with me while I pay the FBI a visit. I am quite sure it will be a great scoop for him. And a nice lead in to your appearance at the security conference.

It is now 8PM on the west coast. You have until 9PM to respond.

Oh, by the way, there was this movie where this guy had to follow all kinds of ridiculous instructions from his cell phone. This is kind of like that. 719-510-8478

Benjamin Spock de Vries 06 February at 20:31

I would imagine the FBI doesn't like being lied to very much.

I would avoid Brazil if I were you. I have some EXTREMELY violent friends there who don't like people like you. I simply have no control over their behavior.

You are SO wrong it is SO laughable. One way or the other I am laughing to the bank with your money. Let's do it the easy way, shall we? I still haven't heard from you. If I do not, I will also be filing the criminal as well as the civil charges against you.

Benjamin Spock de Vries 06 February at 20:31

Oh shit! Are you publicly traded? I better get a leveraged put in before your stock crashes!

Benjamin Spock de Vries 06 February at 21:07

Your hour came and went. See you in court.

--
Regards,

Barrett Brown
512-560-2302

--
--
Ben de Vries
Certified Permaculture Designer

SKYPE: permaculture.designer
FACEBOOK: Benjamin Spock de Vries
YOUTUBE: permaculturedesigner

NOTICE
This email and any attachments may contain confidential or legally privileged information or copyright material. You should not read, copy, use or disclose them without authorization. If you are not an intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately by return email and then delete both messages. We do not accept liability in connection with computer virus, data corruption, delay, interruption, unauthorized access or unauthorized amendment. Please do not remove this notice.

I find it rather easy to portray a businessman. Being bland, rather cruel and incompetent comes naturally to me.
- John Cleese

Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake: One of her characters asks, "As a species we're doomed by hope, then?" By hope? Well, yes. Hope drives us to invent new fixes for old messes, which in turn create ever more dangerous messes. Hope elects the politician with the biggest empty promise; and as any stockbroker or lottery seller knows, most of us will take a slim hope over prudent and predictable frugality. Hope, like greed, fuels the engine of capitalism.

--
Regards,

Barrett Brown
512-560-2302