ng_attempts; $rval = $this->contact_service( 'ping', array( 'args' => $vaultpress_pings ) ); if ( $rval || $ping_attempts >= 3 ) break; if ( !$rval ) usleep(500000); } while ( true ); if ( !$rval ) { if ( $this->get_option( 'connection_error_code' ) !== -8 ) { // Do not save pings when the subscription is inactive. $__vp_recursive_ping_lock = true; $this->ai_ping_insert( serialize( $vaultpress_pings ) ); } } $this->reset_pings(); if ( $close_wpdb ) { $wpdb->__destruct(); unset( $wpdb ); } return $rval; } function resolve_content_dir() { // Take the easy way out if ( defined( 'WP_CONTENT_DIR' ) ) { if ( substr( WP_CONTENT_DIR, -1 ) != DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR ) return WP_CONTENT_DIR . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR; return WP_CONTENT_DIR; } // Best guess if ( defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) { if ( substr( ABSPATH, -1 ) != DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR ) return ABSPATH . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . 'wp-content' . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR; return ABSPATH . 'wp-content' . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR; } // Run with a solid assumption: WP_CONTENT_DIR/vaultpress/vaultpress.php return dirname( __DIR__ ) . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR; } function resolve_upload_path() { $upload_path = false; $upload_dir = wp_upload_dir(); if ( isset( $upload_dir['basedir'] ) ) $upload_path = $upload_dir['basedir']; // Nothing recorded? use a best guess! if ( !$upload_path || $upload_path == realpath( ABSPATH ) ) return $this->resolve_content_dir() . 'uploads' . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR; if ( substr( $upload_path, -1 ) != DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR ) $upload_path .= DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR; return $upload_path; } function load_first( $value ) { $value = array_unique( $value ); // just in case there are duplicates return array_merge( preg_grep( '/vaultpress\.php$/', $value ), preg_grep( '/vaultpress\.php$/', $value, PREG_GREP_INVERT ) ); } function is_multisite() { if ( function_exists( 'is_multisite' ) ) return is_multisite(); return false; } function is_main_site() { if ( !function_exists( 'is_main_site' ) || !$this->is_multisite() ) return true; return is_main_site(); } function is_registered() { $key = $this->get_option( 'key' ); $secret = $this->get_option( 'secret' ); return !empty( $key ) && !empty( $secret ); } function clear_connection() { $this->delete_option( 'connection' ); $this->delete_option( 'connection_error_code' ); $this->delete_option( 'connection_error_message' ); $this->delete_option( 'connection_test' ); } function site_url() { $site_url = ''; // compatibility for WordPress MU Domain Mapping plugin if ( defined( 'DOMAIN_MAPPING' ) && DOMAIN_MAPPING && ! function_exists( 'domain_mapping_siteurl' ) ) { if ( !function_exists( 'is_plugin_active' ) ) require_once ABSPATH . '/wp-admin/includes/plugin.php'; $plugin = 'wordpress-mu-domain-mapping/domain_mapping.php'; if ( is_plugin_active( $plugin ) ) include_once( WP_PLUGIN_DIR . '/' . $plugin ); } if ( function_exists( 'domain_mapping_siteurl' ) ) $site_url = domain_mapping_siteurl( false ); if ( empty( $site_url ) ) $site_url = site_url(); return $site_url; } /** * Sync the VaultPress options to WordPress.com if the Jetpack plugin is active. */ function sync_jetpack_options() { if ( class_exists( 'Jetpack_Sync' ) && method_exists( 'Jetpack_Sync', 'sync_options' ) && defined( 'JETPACK__VERSION' ) && version_compare( JETPACK__VERSION, '4.1', '<' ) ) { Jetpack_Sync::sync_options( __FILE__, $this->auto_register_option, $this->option_name ); } } /** * Add the VaultPress options to the Jetpack options management whitelist. * Allows Jetpack to register VaultPress options automatically. * * @param array $options The list of whitelisted option names. * * @return array The updated whitelist */ function add_to_jetpack_options_whitelist( $options ) { $options[] = $this->option_name; $options[] = $this->auto_register_option; return $options; } /** * When the VaultPress auto-register option is updated, run the registration call. * * This should only be run when the option is updated from the Jetpack/WP.com * API call, and only if the new key is different than the old key. * * @param mixed $old_value The old option value, or the option name (if add_option). * @param mixed $value The new option value. */ function updated_auto_register_option( $old_value, $value ) { // Not an API call or CLI call if ( ! class_exists( 'WPCOM_JSON_API_Update_Option_Endpoint' ) && ! ( defined( 'WP_CLI' ) && WP_CLI ) ) { return; } remove_action( "update_option_{$this->auto_register_option}", array( $this, 'updated_auto_register_option' ) ); $defaults = array( 'key' => false, 'action' => 'register', // or `response` 'status' => 'working', 'error' => false, ); // `wp_parse_args` uses arrays, might as well be explicit about it. $registration = (array) json_decode( $value ); $registration = wp_parse_args( $registration, $defaults ); // If we have a working connection, don't update the key. if ( $this->check_connection( true ) ) { $registration['action'] = 'response'; $registration['error'] = 'VaultPress is already registered on this site.'; update_option( $this->auto_register_option, json_encode( $registration ) ); return; } if ( ! $registration['key'] ) { return; } $registration['action'] = 'response'; $response = $this->register( $registration['key'] ); if ( is_wp_error( $response ) ) { $registration['status'] = 'broken'; $registration['error'] = $response->get_error_message(); } else if ( $this->get_option( 'connection_error_code' ) ) { $registration['status'] = 'broken'; $registration['error'] = $this->get_option( 'connection_error_message' ); } else { $registration['error'] = false; } update_option( $this->auto_register_option, json_encode( $registration ) ); } function add_global_actions_and_filters() { add_action( 'init', array( $this, 'sync_jetpack_options' ), 0, 99 ); add_filter( 'jetpack_options_whitelist', array( $this, 'add_to_jetpack_options_whitelist' ) ); add_action( "update_option_{$this->auto_register_option}", array( $this, 'updated_auto_register_option' ), 10, 2 ); add_action( "add_option_{$this->auto_register_option}", array( $this, 'updated_auto_register_option' ), 10, 2 ); add_action( 'admin_enqueue_scripts', array( $this, 'styles' ) ); } function add_admin_actions_and_filters() { add_action( 'admin_init', array( $this, 'admin_init' ) ); add_action( 'admin_menu', array( $this, 'admin_menu' ), 5 ); # Priority 5, so it's called before Jetpack's admin_menu. add_action( 'admin_head', array( $this, 'admin_head' ) ); } function add_listener_actions_and_filters() { add_action( 'admin_bar_menu', array( $this, 'toolbar' ), 999 ); // Comments add_action( 'delete_comment', array( $this, 'comment_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'wp_set_comment_status', array( $this, 'comment_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'trashed_comment', array( $this, 'comment_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'untrashed_comment', array( $this, 'comment_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'wp_insert_comment', array( $this, 'comment_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'comment_post', array( $this, 'comment_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'edit_comment', array( $this, 'comment_action_handler' ) ); // Commentmeta add_action( 'added_comment_meta', array( $this, 'commentmeta_insert_handler' ), 10, 2 ); add_action( 'updated_comment_meta', array( $this, 'commentmeta_modification_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'deleted_comment_meta', array( $this, 'commentmeta_modification_handler' ), 10, 4 ); // Users if ( $this->is_main_site() ) { add_action( 'user_register', array( $this, 'userid_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'password_reset', array( $this, 'userid_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'profile_update', array( $this, 'userid_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'user_register', array( $this, 'userid_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'deleted_user', array( $this, 'userid_action_handler' ) ); } // Usermeta if ( $this->is_main_site() ) { // Keeping these action hooks for backward compatibility add_action( 'added_usermeta', array( $this, 'usermeta_action_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'update_usermeta', array( $this, 'usermeta_action_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'delete_usermeta', array( $this, 'usermeta_action_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'added_user_meta', array( $this, 'usermeta_action_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'update_user_meta', array( $this, 'usermeta_action_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'delete_user_meta', array( $this, 'usermeta_action_handler' ), 10, 4 ); } // Posts add_action( 'delete_post', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'trash_post', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'untrash_post', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'edit_post', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'save_post', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'wp_insert_post', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'edit_attachment', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'add_attachment', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'delete_attachment', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'private_to_publish', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'wp_restore_post_revision', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); // Postmeta add_action( 'added_post_meta', array( $this, 'postmeta_insert_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'update_post_meta', array( $this, 'postmeta_modification_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'updated_post_meta', array( $this, 'postmeta_modification_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'delete_post_meta', array( $this, 'postmeta_modification_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'deleted_post_meta', array( $this, 'postmeta_modification_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'added_postmeta', array( $this, 'postmeta_action_handler' ), 10, 3 ); add_action( 'update_postmeta', array( $this, 'postmeta_action_handler' ), 10, 3 ); add_action( 'delete_postmeta', array( $this, 'postmeta_action_handler' ), 10, 3 ); // Links add_action( 'edit_link', array( $this, 'link_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'add_link', array( $this, 'link_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'delete_link', array( $this, 'link_action_handler' ) ); // Taxonomy add_action( 'created_term', array( $this, 'term_handler' ), 2 ); add_action( 'edited_terms', array( $this, 'term_handler' ), 2 ); add_action( 'delete_term', array( $this, 'term_handler' ), 2 ); add_action( 'edit_term_taxonomy', array( $this, 'term_taxonomy_handler' ) ); add_action( 'delete_term_taxonomy', array( $this, 'term_taxonomy_handler' ) ); add_action( 'edit_term_taxonomies', array( $this, 'term_taxonomies_handler' ) ); add_action( 'add_term_relationship', array( $this, 'term_relationship_handler' ), 10, 2 ); add_action( 'delete_term_relationships', array( $this, 'term_relationships_handler' ), 10, 2 ); add_action( 'set_object_terms', array( $this, 'set_object_terms_handler' ), 10, 3 ); // Files if ( $this->is_main_site() ) { add_action( 'switch_theme', array( $this, 'theme_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'activate_plugin', array( $this, 'plugin_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'deactivate_plugin', array( $this, 'plugin_action_handler' ) ); } add_action( 'wp_handle_upload', array( $this, 'upload_handler' ) ); // Options add_action( 'deleted_option', array( $this, 'option_handler' ), 1 ); add_action( 'updated_option', array( $this, 'option_handler' ), 1 ); add_action( 'added_option', array( $this, 'option_handler' ), 1 ); $this->add_woocommerce_actions(); $this->add_vp_required_filters(); } function add_woocommerce_actions() { add_action( 'woocommerce_tax_rate_deleted', array( $this, 'woocommerce_tax_rate_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_tax_rate_updated', array( $this, 'woocommerce_tax_rate_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_tax_rate_added', array( $this, 'woocommerce_tax_rate_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_new_order_item', array( $this, 'woocommerce_order_item_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_update_order_item', array( $this, 'woocommerce_order_item_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_delete_order_item', array( $this, 'woocommerce_order_item_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'added_order_item_meta', array( $this, 'woocommerce_order_item_meta_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'updated_order_item_meta', array( $this, 'woocommerce_order_item_meta_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'deleted_order_item_meta', array( $this, 'woocommerce_order_item_meta_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_attribute_added', array( $this, 'woocommerce_attribute_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_attribute_updated', array( $this, 'woocommerce_attribute_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_attribute_deleted', array( $this, 'woocommerce_attribute_handler' ), 10, 1 ); } function add_vp_required_filters() { // Log ins if ( $this->get_option( 'login_lockdown' ) ) { add_action( 'login_form', array( $this, 'add_js_token' ) ); add_filter( 'authenticate', array( $this, 'authenticate' ), 999 ); } // Report back to VaultPress add_action( 'shutdown', array( $this, 'do_pings' ) ); // VaultPress likes being first in line add_filter( 'pre_update_option_active_plugins', array( $this, 'load_first' ) ); } function get_jetpack_email() { if ( ! class_exists( 'Jetpack' ) ) { return false; } // For version of Jetpack prior to 7.7. if ( defined( 'JETPACK__VERSION' ) && version_compare( JETPACK__VERSION, '7.7', '<' ) && ! class_exists( 'Jetpack_IXR_Client' ) ) { Jetpack::load_xml_rpc_client(); } $xml = new Jetpack_IXR_Client( array( 'user_id' => get_current_user_id() ) ); $xml->query( 'wpcom.getUserEmail' ); if ( ! $xml->isError() ) { return $xml->getResponse(); } return new WP_Error( $xml->getErrorCode(), $xml->getErrorMessage() ); } function get_key_via_jetpack( $already_purchased = false ) { if ( ! class_exists( 'Jetpack' ) ) { return false; } // For version of Jetpack prior to 7.7. if ( defined( 'JETPACK__VERSION' ) && version_compare( JETPACK__VERSION, '7.7', '<' ) && ! class_exists( 'Jetpack_IXR_Client' ) ) { Jetpack::load_xml_rpc_client(); } $xml = new Jetpack_IXR_Client( array( 'user_id' => Jetpack_Options::get_option( 'master_user' ) ) ); $xml->query( 'vaultpress.registerSite', $already_purchased ); if ( ! $xml->isError() ) { return $xml->getResponse(); } return new WP_Error( $xml->getErrorCode(), $xml->getErrorMessage() ); } function register_via_jetpack( $already_purchased = false ) { $registration_key = $this->get_key_via_jetpack( $already_purchased ); if ( is_wp_error( $registration_key ) ) { return $registration_key; } return self::register( $registration_key ); } } $vaultpress = VaultPress::init(); if ( isset( $_GET['vaultpress'] ) && $_GET['vaultpress'] ) { if ( !function_exists( 'wp_magic_quotes' ) ) { // Escape with wpdb. $_GET = add_magic_quotes( $_GET ); $_POST = add_magic_quotes( $_POST ); $_COOKIE = add_magic_quotes( $_COOKIE ); $_SERVER = add_magic_quotes( $_SERVER ); // Force REQUEST to be GET + POST. If SERVER, COOKIE, or ENV are needed, use those superglobals directly. $_REQUEST = array_merge( $_GET, $_POST ); } else { wp_magic_quotes(); } if ( !function_exists( 'wp_get_current_user' ) ) include ABSPATH . '/wp-includes/pluggable.php'; // TODO: this prevents some error notices but do we need it? is there a better way to check capabilities/logged in user/etc? if ( function_exists( 'wp_cookie_constants' ) && !defined( 'AUTH_COOKIE' ) ) wp_cookie_constants(); $vaultpress->parse_request( null ); die(); } // only load hotfixes if it's not a VP request require_once __DIR__ . '/class.vaultpress-hotfixes.php'; $hotfixes = new VaultPress_Hotfixes(); // Add a helper method to WP CLI for auto-registerion via Jetpack if ( defined( 'WP_CLI' ) && WP_CLI ) { require_once __DIR__ . '/class.vaultpress-cli.php'; } require_once __DIR__ . '/cron-tasks.php'; US sanctions 6 Pak nationals, 5 firms for helping Russian plot - Social News XYZ
Social News XYZ     

US sanctions 6 Pak nationals, 5 firms for helping Russian plot

Posted By: Gopi April 16, 2021

US sanctions 6 Pak nationals, 5 firms for helping Russian plot

By Sanjeev Sharma

New Delhi/Washington, April 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The US Treasury Department has designated six Pakistani nationals and their five companies based in Karachi and Lahore who are owners and employees of Second Eye Solution (SES), an IT firm, for helping Russian entities to evade from sanctions by using fraudulent documents.

 

The main sanctioned entity as part of the links with Russian networks who interfered in the 2016 US presidential elections is Second Eye Solution (a.k.a. FORWARDERZ) based in Karachi, Pakistan linked to Internet Research Agency LLC, a Russian troll network. secondeyesolution.su; alt. Website secondeyesolution.ch; alt. Website secondeyesolution.ru; alt. Website secondeyesolution.com; alt. Website forwarderz.com; alt. Website secondeyehost.com

The other sanctioned entities are :

*The Oxytech, Karachi, linked to Mohsin Raza, Mujtaba Ali, who have also been sanctioned and are the owners of these entities. Website theoxytech.com; Email Address support@theoxytech.com

*MK Softtech, Karachi, with its address at 631-C, 6th Floor, Mashriq Center, Stadium Road, Karachi, is linked to Mohsin Raza and Mujtaba Ali. Website mksofttech.com, Email Address info@mksofttech.com

The other sanctioned entities include

*Like Wise, Shop No 5, Jamshed Quarter, Karachi, Pakistan; Phone Number 923452179668; Registration Number 4220198261523 linked to Mohsin Raza and Mujtaba Ali, as per the US Treasury.

*Fresh Air Farm House, Karachi, Pakistan; Phone Number 923453272659; alt. Phone Number 923209299030 linked to Mohsin Raza and Mujtaba Ali.

Apart from the entities, the Pakistani owners and employees based in Karachi and Lahore of Second Eye Solution and these outfits who have been added to the sanctions list are:

*RAZA, Mohsin (a.k.a. AMIRI, Mohsin Raza), Karachi, Pakistan; DOB 25 May 1986; nationality Pakistan; Email Address alimohsin228@gmail.com; alt. Email Address mohsinrazaamiri@gmail.com; alt. Email Address alimohsin228@yahoo.com; alt. Email Address amestypezx@yahoo.com; alt. Email Address mohsin@forwarderz.com; alt. Email Address great_guy1102002@yahoo.com; Gender Male; National ID No. 4220198261523

*RAZA, Mujtaba Ali (a.k.a. LILANI, Mujtaba Ali; a.k.a. RAZA, Mujtaba), Karachi, Pakistan; DOB 21 Oct 1987; nationality Pakistan; Email Address threatcc@gmail.com; alt. Email Address mujtaba@forwarderz.com; Gender Male; National ID No. 4220104113771

*RAZA, Syed Ali (a.k.a. RAZA ZAIDI, Syed Ali), Karachi, Pakistan; DOB 15 Oct 1992; nationality Pakistan; Email Address syedaliraza940@gmail.com; alt. Email Address raza.zaidi92@yahoo.com; alt. Email Address kool_boy92@hotmail.com; alt. Email Address s.alirz92@gmail.com; Gender Male; National ID No. 4220157603253

*HAYAT, Muhammad Khizar (a.k.a. AL KARBALAI, Muhammad Khizar; a.k.a. HAYAT JAFFRI, Muhammad Khizar; a.k.a. HAYAT, Mohammad Khizar), Karachi, Pakistan; DOB 14 Jul 1994; POB Karachi, Pakistan; nationality Pakistan; Email Address khizarh11@yahoo.com; alt. Email Address khizarhayat.jaffri@yahoo.com; alt. Email Address muhammadkhizar.hayatjaffri@yahoo.com; alt. Email Address mygreentree59@yahoo.com; alt. Email Address khizar14hayat@gmail.com; alt. Email Address muhammadkhizarhayatjaffri@yahoo.com; Gender Male; Passport EB617700 (Pakistan); National ID No. 4210191597005

*HASNAIN, Syed Johar, Karachi, Pakistan; DOB 30 Dec 1987; nationality Pakistan; Gender Male; National ID No. 4220106151401

*AHMED, Shahzad (a.k.a. AMIN, Shahzad), Lahore, Pakistan; DOB 14 Dec 1987; nationality Pakistan; Email Address shy4angels@gmail.com; alt. Email Address shahzadsmb@gmail.com; Gender Male; National ID No. 3420204688179

The US Treasury has also targeted Yevgeny Prigozhin's network in Africa as part of the sanctions announced against the Russian government and entities.

Prigozhin is the Russian financier of the Internet Research Agency (IRA), the Russian troll entity that the Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated in 2018 for interfering in the 2016 presidential election.

According to the Treasury, SES is an organization that specializes in creating and selling fraudulent identities and has assisted the IRA in concealing its identity to evade sanctions.

Since at least 2012, SES engaged in a scheme to provide digital photographs of fake documents including passports, driver's licenses, bank statements, utility bills, and national identity documents.

SES markets these fake documents for use to verify online accounts including money service business accounts and social media website accounts.

In 2017, the IRA purchased 15 fraudulent US driver licenses images from SES. The purchased licenses were used as supporting documents for online social media accounts opened by the IRA, as per the sanctions documents.

The fraudulent documents produced by SES are likely used at many online services to evade sanctions and anti-money laundering (AML) screening protocols beyond what OFAC has been able to identify.

SES advertises that their fraudulent documents may be used on social media, freelancing job postings, and commerce platforms.

As part of Thursday's listing of SES on OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), OFAC is also identifying digital currency addresses used by SES to fulfil customer orders in order to help assist financial institutions, and their third-party identity verification services, in identifying customers on their platforms who have purchased fraudulent identity documents.

Known SES digital currency addresses have received over $2.5 million in digital currencies over more than 26,900 transactions from 2013 to March 2021.

SES was designated for acting on behalf of the IRA. Mohsin Raza, Mujtaba Raza, Seyed Hasnain, Muhammad Hayat, Syed Raza, and Shahzad Ahmed were designated for acting for or on behalf of SES. Fresh Air Farm House, Like Wise, and MK Softtech were designated for being owned or controlled by Mohsin Raza and Mujtaba Raza.

(Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in)

Source: IANS

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US sanctions 6 Pak nationals, 5 firms for helping Russian plot

About Gopi

Gopi Adusumilli is a Programmer. He is the editor of SocialNews.XYZ and President of AGK Fire Inc.

He enjoys designing websites, developing mobile applications and publishing news articles on current events from various authenticated news sources.

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