A few notes on Bezos' security apparatus (from former FBI & SS "VIP Protection")

ORIGINAL Twitter thread:

Link to tweet

UNROLLED thread:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1094272500320612352.html

A few notes on Bezos' security apparatus. The guys I knew at FBI and Secret Service often ended up in VIP Protection, a lucrative post-government position where salaries can be in the high 6 digits. It's a serious job, especially to protect the richest of the rich. 1/

A few have reached out since Bezos memo with some interesting thoughts; all of them work in VIP world so won't go public but all are experts. First, all stated their governing philosophy: "our advice is if you never want to see it out there, then don't do it." Too late. 2/

Second, interestingly, before the memo, all of them believed it to be an insider job, likely the girlfriend's phone (there was some speculation on that). Someone got her phone and shared it. Not likely to be Bezos phone. "People like Bezos don't 'lose' their phones," one said 3/

explaining that there are mechanisms in place to erase and shut systems down immediately if the VIP's phone/computer/cyberfootprint go missing. And someone like Bezos has extensive cyber protections that would withstand most (but not all) hacking attempts. 4/

Third, some interesting takes after the letter. They all thought it was unusual and likely not a mistake for Bezos to name his security head. Names are often not given in their field. Bezos specifically states he "retained" Gavin de Becker, a serious professional. 5/

Bezos wanted the name out there and also the use of the word "retained" shows Bezos wanted it known that de Becker wasn't an 'inside' guy (always a fear after any breach) and would be willing to look at the possibility of insider hack since he was new. 6/

Fourth, reference to Saudi Arabia was "more than speculation," one said. "you just don't do that. de Becker wouldn't let him do that." Meaning that the Bezos security team has already done some cyber forensic analysis and knows it wasn't insider, and may have hints of who. 7/

This is why reps for Bezos also stated in interviews that they believe a government entity was involved, but didn't say US. In other words, under that theory, SA's sophisticated intell folks did the hack (either on own b/c of Khashoggi investigation or possibly asked to) and 8/

fed that information to AMI.
Anyway, this is the take from a bunch of guys who are in this space now and who think and prepare for physical, personal and cyber security for some of the richest people on earth. 9/9