Research Question

How did the US analyze and mitigate the risk of leaked

confidential information in the aftermath of the Chelsea

Manning WikiLeaks? What were the lasting effects of the

leaks?

Wikileaks

● Motto: “We Open Governments”(Denver 2014)

● non-profit journalism website

● founded in 2006 by Julian Assange

● leaks private/classified information

Figure 1: Timeline of Events Surrounding

WikiLeaks

Impact of Wikileaks

Figure 2: DDOS and Security Reports Graphic

(Labovitz, 2010)

Information Leaks of the

Future

Figure 3: Google Search History for Julian Assange and

Edward Snowden (Leetaru, 2013)

Risk Context

● Protector: US government and its associated agencies

● Threat: Julian Assange and Wikileaks access

● Asset: Classified US information

Risk Scenarios

● Guantanamo

● Chelsea Manning’s leaks

● Deaths of US government employees

Guantanamo

o Likelihood: Low

o Impact: High

Chelsea Manning ● Likelihood of getting information:

high

o Secret Classification

o Over 500,000 documents

● Likelihood of sharing information: low

o Extensive background checks are

performed before an employee is

allowed to work for the US

government

● Impact: High

Death of US Government Employees

● Likelihood: Moderate

● Impact: Very High

Risk Treatment: Likelihood/Impact

Analysis

Risk Treatment

● Avoidance o increase security on government documentation

o change classification system

o don’t allow USBs or writeable CDs into government

facilities that work with classified information

● Mitigation o better prepare for leaks

o evacuation systems for undercover agents

o plausible deniability

Classification of U.S. Documents

Figure 4: Information Security Oversight Office

Classification Chart (No Author, 2012)

Conclusion

References (August 21, 2013). Bradley Manning Sentenced to 35 Years in Wikileaks Case. BBC News. Retrieved from

http://m.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-23784288

Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) 2011 Annual Report to the President. (2012, January 1). Retrieved November 30, 2014,

from

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Information_Security_Oversight_Office_(ISOO)_2011_Annual_Report_to_the

_President.pdf&page=12

Nicks, Denver (September 23, 2014). Wikileaks Source Chelsea Manning Sues Govt Over Hormone Treatment Request. Times.

Retrieved from http://time.com/3423728/wikileaks-source-chelsea-manning-sues-govt-over-hormone-treatment-request/

(August 21, 2013). Bradley manning Sentenced to 35 Year in Prison for Wikileaks Disclosures. Huffington Post. Retrieved from

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3787492

Labovitz, C. (2010, December 14). DDoS & Security Reports: The Arbor Networks IT Security Blog. Retrieved November 30, 2014,

from http://www.arbornetworks.com/asert/2010/12/the-internet-goes-to-war/

Leetaru, K. (2013, December 31). King Snowden and the Fall of Wikileaks. Retrieved November 30, 2014, from

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/12/31/king_snowden_and_the_fall_of_wikileaks