Skip to main content

Gov. Palin’s E-Mail Hacked

Gov. Palin

It was really just a matter of time. Since the speculation broke that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, currently running for vice president on the Republican ticket, might be using a private Yahoo account for state business, it was a certainly that someone would hack into that account.

In the event it was a group called the Anonymous, which has had prior tangles with the Church of Scientology. Using a proxy service they found their way into the Governor’s account, and published five screenshots, an address book and two digital pictures of Palin’s family on the Wikileaks site, known for its regular whistle-blowing.

What prompted this? Rumors that Palin was using a personal account to conduct official state business. While personal mails can be deleted, under law, all official mails have to be archived. Palin is currently under investigation for possible abuses of power in Alaska.

Among the mails posted is a communication with the state’s deputy governor, and the pictures have not be published before. Since the attack, two addresses – gov.palin@yahoo.com and gov.sarah@yahoo.com – have been taken down, the BBC reports.

The McCain campaign responded to the leak by saying:

"The matter has been turned over to the appropriate authorities and we hope that anyone in possession of these e-mails will destroy them."

It’s believed that hackers used the CTunnel proxy service to try and obscure their tracks, and the FBI is now seeking access to records. Apparently, the hackers were able to gain access to Palin’s account by using the Yahoo Mail password reset service and information widely available on the Internet.

Digital Trends Staff
Digital Trends has a simple mission: to help readers easily understand how tech affects the way they live. We are your…
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, Surface Pro 9 heavily discounted today
The Surface Pro 9 in laptop mode on a table.

Microsoft's Surface devices are well known for their versatility and performance, but they command premium prices. That's why there's always high demand for Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals, as who doesn't want to enjoy a discount when making a huge investment? If you're interested, Best Buy is offering the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 at $300 off, which brings its price down to $1,000 from $1,300, and the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 at $540 off, which lowers its price also to $1,000 from $1,540, ahead of the arrival of the consumer versions of the Surface Laptop 6 and Surface Pro 10. You need to push through with your transaction as soon as possible if either of these bargains caught your attention, as we're not sure how much time is remaining before they disappear.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 -- $1,000, was $1,300

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is a traditional Windows 11 laptop that's powered by the 12th-generation Intel Core i5 Evo processor, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and 8GB of RAM. It won't match up to the performance of the best laptops, but it's going to be more than enough to handle daily tasks for work or school. The laptop features a 13.5-inch PixelSense touchscreen with vibrant colors and sharp details, a battery that can last up to 18 hours on a single charge, and a 512GB SSD that provides ample storage space for your files. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 also comes with a 720p webcam and dual far-field Studio Mics for clear video calls.

Read more
The best MacBook to buy in 2024
Apple MacBook Pro 16 downward view showing keyboard and speaker.

Now that Apple has started outfitting its laptops with its M3 generation of chips, it's time to take another look at which is the best MacBook to buy in 2024. That’s not always easy, though, as buying the newest MacBook isn’t always the right decision. Apple has several tiers of performance, as well as various sizes, which can further complicate the matter.

What’s more, you can also still get M1 and M2 MacBooks, some from Apple’s own website and some from third-party retailers. But are they still worth your money? Our guide should help you decide.

Read more
9 best laptops of 2024: tested and reviewed
The MacBook Air on a white table.

To earn the crown as the best laptop in 2024, a device needs to have it all: gorgeous design, killer performance, a productive keyboard, long-lasting battery life, and much more.

Each of the laptops below has been vetted thoroughly by Digital Trends. Whether it's an affordable Chromebook or a top-of-the-line gaming laptop, they've all been subjected to real-world testing, as well as benchmark and battery tests, to collect enough data to objectively pit them against each other.

Read more