Friday, February 21, 2025

DOGE Has 'God Mode' Access to Government Data

According to reporting from The Atlantic, the quasi-governmental agency has "total control over systems that Americans working in conflict zones rely on, the ability to see and manipulate financial systems that have historically awarded tens of billions of dollars, and perhaps much more."

Posted by LampLighter at 01:31 PM | 28 COMMENTS | permalink

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Sobering, to say the least: "Sources we spoke with emphasized that the level of access DOGE possesses means that the organization may already be able to siphon data that Musk or his agents could hold on to forever." www.theatlantic.com/technology/a ...

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-- katherine hu (@katherinehu.bsky.social) February 19, 2025 at 4:11 PM

Comments

More from the article...

... The report says that DOGE has burrowed so deep into government systems that they can basically do whatever the hell they want with your data. At USAID, they've got their clammy little incel paws on everything from payroll to classified communications. One senior USAID official warned: "It is not ridiculous to think they'd have bank-account and routing numbers for every single person in the United States." ...

As one experienced government information-security contractor eloquently put it to The Atlantic: "That sounds like our worst fears come true."

"Once they're in, they're in," warned a USAID employee. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-02-20 07:23 PM

@#1 ... "Once they're in, they're in," ...

Yup.

Even after they leave, they may still has access via backdoors that they may have planted in the Governmental computer systems.


Backdoors that are not monitored.

A security nightmare.

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-02-20 07:24 PM

Whenever I need unbiased and credible news, I go to boingboing.net.

Or maybe not.

#3 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-02-20 08:22 PM

According to media bias web sites, boingboing has "mixed" credibility in their reporting, which is less than "mostly factual".

'God mode' would imply they have the ability to edit any code or data in the database(s), without any audit trail.

#4 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-02-20 08:27 PM

#4 What passes for their go to news sites is mind boingboing boggling.

#5 | Posted by gracieamazed at 2025-02-20 08:29 PM

@#3 ... Whenever I need unbiased and credible news, I go to boingboing.net. ...

The info was actually from a paywalled The Atlantic aricle, the link to which I did not post because it was pay-walled.

And The Atlantic has been quite good in their reporting, imo.


But, a nice deflection attempt.

#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-02-20 08:38 PM

What's more mind boggling is the level of stupid from MAGA here. Stunningly stupid. Now put your widdle fingers in your ears (yes, take them out of where you usually have them) and close your eyes, then say "lalallalalalallalalala" and pretend.

The article links the original:
www.theatlantic.com

Excerpt: "In the coming weeks, the team is expected to enter IT systems at the CDC and Federal Aviation Administration, and it already has done so at NASA, according to sources we've spoken with at each of those agencies. At least one DOGE ally appears to be working to open back doors into systems used throughout the federal government. Thomas Shedd, a former Tesla engineer who was recently appointed director of the Technology Transformation Services, requested privileged access to 19 different IT systems administered by teams within TTS, according to two federal workers we spoke with who are familiar with his request. With this level of control, Shedd would be able to not only view and modify federal data, but also grant and revoke access to other people."

"Overall, we rate The Atlantic Left-Center Biased due to editorial positions and High for factual reporting based on excellent sourcing of information and a reasonable fact-check record."
mediabiasfactcheck.com

#7 | Posted by YAV at 2025-02-20 08:42 PM

@#7 ... "Overall, we rate The Atlantic Left-Center Biased due to editorial positions and High for factual reporting ...

That's my current view of that site.

... High for factual reporting ...

Bingo.


#8 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-02-20 08:57 PM

"The article links the original:
www.theatlantic.com"

It raises an interesting question about why the OP chose a less credible source when they could have linked to the original. I've seen people on both the left and right undermine their credibility in this way here.

#9 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-02-20 09:37 PM

@#9 ... It raises an interesting question about why the OP chose a less credible source when they could have linked to the original. ...

I explained that in #6, or is your current alias just not paying attention, or unable to read?


Really.

So lame.

Do try harder.

#10 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-02-20 09:44 PM

What passes for their go to news sites is mind boingboing boggling.

#5 | Posted by gracieamazed

You have no idea how thick the irony is in this post, do you?

#11 | Posted by jpw at 2025-02-21 08:39 AM

#11 - safe bet, there, JPW!
:-)

#12 | Posted by YAV at 2025-02-21 08:54 AM

@#7 ... With this level of control, Shedd would be able to not only view and modify federal data, but also grant and revoke access to other people." ...

... and with the backdoors in place, such access by Mr Musk may continue even after DOGE is ended.

#13 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-02-21 11:41 AM

So That's what $200MM buys...

#14 | Posted by catdog at 2025-02-21 02:00 PM

Musk and his group have "read only" access to government programs.
In case you don't know what that means ask a 5th grader.
If you're worried about who has complete access to government files and programs, check with the Chinese.

#15 | Posted by TheMajorKong at 2025-02-21 02:04 PM

You have no idea how thick the irony is in this post, do you?

#11 | Posted by jpw at 2025-02-21 08:39 AM | Reply | Flag

Look at Busted Condom pointing the finger at someone over a news source..

You had Trump in solitary confinement with a orange suit over > bUhH rOlLiNg sToNe!!!!

#16 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-02-21 02:30 PM

@#14 ... So That's what $200MM buys... ...

And then some.

Given the level of access they seem to have, "...With this level of control, Shedd would be able to not only view and modify federal data, but also grant and revoke access to other people..." and Mr Musk's coziness with Pres Putin, I wonder if Russian hackers may gain access into the systems.


#17 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-02-21 02:51 PM

#16 KJP#2 Has no shame. Posts threads with Opinion pieces as news. Rolling Stones is his other go to for source for news that does not age well. Never forget 'pan cake ----', because he had access to his Dad's NAT GEO collections of half-naked tribal woman. Remember, he's a doctor that can't get a job, because he to white.

#18 | Posted by gracieamazed at 2025-02-21 03:31 PM

So, maybe someone can explain this

DHS sent $100M to a London dev while in the US there is the greatest talent in the world.

Does government "efficiency" means spending taxpayer millions on sketchy contracts, you know something's not adding up.

Even if lowest bidder the US government misses our on taxing this development.

It's insane

#19 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-02-21 03:44 PM

Typical of deplorable trumping magats.

They ignore the article in hopes of scoring some trolling.

Keep your head buried in Trump's arse and telling yourselves how wonderful it smells.

#20 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-02-21 03:45 PM

maybe someone can explain this

Communication with you is a waste of time.

#21 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-02-21 03:46 PM

"while in the US there is the greatest talent in the world."

Quite an assumption.

#22 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-02-21 03:49 PM

Musk and his group have "read only" access to government programs.
In case you don't know what that means ask a 5th grader.

Are you using the "dumbass mode"?

Look up "God Mode" and try again.

#23 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-02-21 04:41 PM

Well, if the GAO, IGs, and Congress oversight committees were actually doing their jobs DOGE would not be needed, think about it...

#24 | Posted by MSgt at 2025-02-22 01:21 PM

Well, if Hair Feurher were using actual vetted Auditors rather than his biggest Campaign donor, who has obvious conflicts of interest as he gets $8 million a day in Gov funds... then maybe Doge would not be an obvious scam.

Think about it.

#25 | Posted by Corky at 2025-02-22 01:42 PM

@#24 ... were actually doing their jobs DOGE would not be needed, think about it... ...

I have thought about it.

Those IGs were doing their jobs, as seen by the small amount of actual waste that Pres trump has found so far.

But I think more important, if they were not doing their jobs, maybe the better approach to resolving the waste issue would be to put people in place to replace them, someone who is qualified for the task. People who would conduct their task transparently, legally and with oversight.


#26 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-02-22 01:49 PM

#26- exactly. DOGE isn't finding any actual waste, fraud or abuse (WFA). Sure, they're killing DEI and claiming that as "WFA". But actual WFA? Nothing that isn't far worse in any private business, that's for sure. What a total joke. A head-fake for what's coming.

BTW, the DOGE site still hasn't updated since the 17th. Total hasn't changed. Everything they've found is still 0.0000007% of what we spent last year. That doesn't even register as noise.

#27 | Posted by YAV at 2025-02-22 02:01 PM

Heck of a job there, Muskie!

#28 | Posted by YAV at 2025-02-22 02:02 PM

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