Hackers break into Sarah Palin's e-mail account

[Enigmacsg]

By TED BRIDIS, Associated Press Writer Thu Sep 18, 12:40 AM ET

WASHINGTON - Hackers broke into the Yahoo! e-mail account that Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin used for official business as Alaska's governor, revealing as evidence a few inconsequential personal messages she has received since John McCain selected her as his running mate.
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"This is a shocking invasion of the governor's privacy and a violation of law. The matter has been turned over to the appropriate authorities and we hope that anyone in possession of these e-mails will destroy them," the McCain campaign said in a statement.

The Secret Service contacted The Associated Press on Wednesday and asked for copies of the leaked e-mails, which circulated widely on the Internet. The AP did not comply.

The disclosure Wednesday raises new questions about the propriety of the Palin administration's use of nongovernment e-mail accounts to conduct state business. The practice was revealed months ago — prior to Palin's selection as a vice presidential candidate — after political critics obtained internal e-mails documenting the practice by some aides.

One person whose e-mail to Palin apparently was among those disclosed, Amy B. McCorkell, declined to discuss her correspondence. "I do not know anything about it," McCorkell said. "I'm not giving you any comment." Wired.com said McCorkell later confirmed that she did send the e-mail to Palin.

Another of the e-mails apparently revealed Wednesday was an exchange in July with Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell discussing a talk show host who had been critical of Parnell. Parnell declined to discuss the matter.

Palin herself used "gov.sarah" in one of her e-mail addresses, but the hackers targeted her "gov.palin" account. Her husband used "fek9wnr" in his address. "Fe" is the representation for iron, and "k9" is an abbreviation for canine. Todd Palin was the winner of the grueling Iron Dog snowmobile race, and "fek9wnr" also is Todd Palin's vehicle license tag in Alaska.

It wasn't immediately clear how hackers broke into Palin's Yahoo! account, but it would have been possible to trick the service into revealing her password knowing personal details about Palin that include her birthdate and ZIP code. A hacker also might have sent a forged e-mail to her account tricking her into revealing her own password.

McCorkell was appointed by Palin to an advisory board on issues involving alcohol and drug abuse. One of the leaked e-mails suggested McCorkell wrote to Palin on Sunday to say she was praying for Palin. "Don't let the negative press get you down!" the message said.

(This version CORRECTS Corrects in 7th graf that hackers targeted 'gov.palin' account sted 'gov.sarah' account.)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080918/ap_on_el_pr/palin_hacked;_ylt=AnSIq4.GPHPc2ehwXByXp4cDW7oF

[Andrew2]

Does this effect the political campaign and her position to become VP? The media sucks.

[JordanSDMF]

I wanna read some of them

[Compu]

I wanna read some of them

So we can read yours as well, right?

[FLN]

I personally think the messages should be destroyed. I don't think anyone here would like it if their personal email accounts were hacked and their privacy violated with their personal (and work) related emails being plastered all over the internet.

[dork-lytsdotcom]

omg thats risky O.o

[Taghyra]

WTF, no one in the government uses yahoo as their official business e-mail. They need to be protected and sent through secure channels, that's just common sense.

Oh Wait!


Palin sometimes uses non-government e-mail to conduct state business

How stupid...

[xxsean]

i liked her =/
kinda. but still.

thats... kinda stupid.
as governor.. you shouldnt ever use email accounts that could be hacked into...

not smart

[rufus]

WTF, no one in the government uses yahoo as their official business e-mail. They need to be protected and sent through secure channels, that's just common sense.

Oh Wait!



How stupid...

Education101

The email that is being referred to is her talking to her Vice Gov about how they have to defend themselves to the media. Its 2 people talking back and forth through email. Its not official business by no means but you and the media can blow it out of the water if you would like to.

[Taghyra]

You have to be really blind not to see how stupid of a mistake she made. HELLO! SHE'S A MEDIA TARGET. Wouldn't it be common sense to anyone to use a little more secure means to communicate with other people given the position she's in? This has absolutely nothing to do with what kind of emails were sent back and forth, please.... is about security.

This wouldn't be happening if she did use more secure means now, would it? :)

Education101

The email that is being referred to is her talking to her Vice Gov about how they have to defend themselves to the media. Its 2 people talking back and forth through email. Its not official business by no means but you and the media can blow it out of the water if you would like to.

[feebee]

shes a airhead. as mentioned why would she be using a yahoo acount anyways. thats more media suicide :death:

[rufus]

So your saying she cant have a PERSONAL email account now ?? Bill Clinton had one. Hillary has one. Biden has one. Obama has one also.

Things like this happen everyday just like peoples MySpace accounts get hacked everyday. Its her personal account not the Government one that got hacked. Personal account with her talking to people within her family and some of her friends.

I dont know about you but sending personal emails using a work account is a big no no at almost every company in the US.

[Taghyra]

She's not an airhead, actually I do like her. I'm sure she's feeling the heat of all the media now trying to attack her, and of course she will be more than aware from now on.

[JordanSDMF]

I just saw this on tv, it's all her fault.
She could have had a secure government email, but she chose not to.

[Taghyra]

So your saying she cant have a PERSONAL email account now ?? Bill Clinton had one. Hillary has one. Biden has one. Obama has one also.

Things like this happen everyday just like peoples MySpace accounts get hacked everyday. Its her personal account not the Government one that got hacked. Personal account with her talking to people within her family and some of her friends.

I dont know about you but sending personal emails using a work account is a big no no at almost every company in the US.

Did I ever say that she can't have a personal account?

I don't know if I'm being too complicated here trying to explain my point of view, but to make it simple and break it down for you, I just think she should be careful and like I said, use a secure mean to send WHATEVER she's sending to WHOEVER she's sending it to. People can really blow things out of proportions, and a simple "Hello, how are you?" can become something else with the media. Please, like I said, this is just common sense, how can you not agree with that?


I dont know about you but sending personal emails using a work account is a big no no at almost every company in the US.

I don't know about you, but I can. And please, who's going to tell her she can't? ....

[rufus]

She does have a secure one but its for Government Business. Not for emails to friends and family. The email exchange she had with the Vice Gov wasnt official Government business it was 2 people complaining about defending themselves to the media blah blah blah.

[rufus]

Did I ever say that she can't have a personal account?

I don't know if I'm being too complicated here trying to explain my point of view, but to make it simple and break it down for you, I just think she should be careful and like I said, use a secure mean to send WHATEVER she's sending to WHOEVER she's sending it to. People can really blow things out of proportions, and a simple "Hello, how are you?" can become something else with the media. Please, like I said, this is just common sense, how can you not agree with that?



I don't know about you, but I can. And please, who's going to tell her she can't? ....

I understand what your saying but ya gotta remember she is just a normal person like me and you and these emails were from before she was ever picked for VP. Im sure that the email situation has been resolved since that took place.

I can say this though. There are no special secure emails set up for Governors that are meant for personal use. Only official business accounts are created. Im sure since she has been named VP pick something was set up for her and Biden and Obama and McCain for that matter.

[Taghyra]

She does have a secure one but its for Government Business. Not for emails to friends and family. The email exchange she had with the Vice Gov wasnt official Government business it was 2 people complaining about defending themselves to the media blah blah blah.

Of course I do get that, thank God that's all it was. I'm sure she'll learn form this and she'll be using other means of communications, or more secure ones at least.

In the military, we're only allowed to use our government email for anything, even if it is to say hello to someone, heck, we even have a "secure MSN" to add people only with government emails. I'm sure no one can't tell her she can do that ;)


EDIT: AAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand this is getting very interesting but I have to go and work out :( MSP is always a good excuse to stay home instead, gr!