Article

2009-01-16 Britain

Brittish Police set to step up hacking of home PCs

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Posted by DLR 2009-01-16 15:14|| || Front Page|| [11132 views ] Top

#1 Believe me, they aren't getting into the Linux boxes behind my OpenBSD firewall.

Posted by KBK 2009-01-16 16:18|| 2009-01-16 16:18|| Front Page Top

#2 only a matter of time...

this just brings the practice out of the shadows. in the us, warrants are issued to that do this already

Posted by Abu do you love 2009-01-16 16:19|| 2009-01-16 16:19|| Front Page Top

#3 fyi, this does explain quite a few of the 'features' of windows.

Posted by Abu do you love 2009-01-16 16:21|| 2009-01-16 16:21|| Front Page Top

#4 This is equivalent to sneaking in while the homeowner is away and rifling through his bureau drawers looking for [heh] whatever. That's next. For the good of the community, of course.

New definition of "reasonable", as applied to unreasonable search and seizure: "We have our reasons."

At least we have a better Constitution.

Posted by KBK 2009-01-16 16:29|| 2009-01-16 16:29|| Front Page Top

#5 Unplug the computer when not using it. Disable the NIC or turn off the wireless router when not using the internet. Put up a firewall. Store all sensitive information on portable drives and unplug them from the computer when not being used.

Posted by Steve White 2009-01-16 16:42|| 2009-01-16 16:42|| Front Page Top

#6 a decision by the European Union's council of ministers in Brussels
With the unintended consequence of allowing police or MI5 officers to violate computers and laws in other countries too and to plant files as well as snoop.

Posted by Darrell 2009-01-16 16:48|| 2009-01-16 16:48|| Front Page Top

#7 Yup, good ideas.

Also, don't use Windows or Macs. They've gotta have back doors (beyond the remote 'service' features).

Keep your data on encrypted thumb drives in the drawer next to your revolver.

Posted by KBK 2009-01-16 16:49|| 2009-01-16 16:49|| Front Page Top

#8 You also have to watch for keystroke loggers. With Windows, anyway, these can be installed remotely. With Linux, unless you are pretty lax (i.e. operate as root on a non-hardened system with no firewall, or use a wireless LAN), they would have to be installed physically. Put telltales across your keyboard enclosure and watch out for extra parts installed between the keyboard cable and the motherboard.

Then there's TEMPEST. You can check Wikipedia, but if you need to know about it, you probably already do. It's quite hard to be truly safe using a computer.

Posted by KBK 2009-01-16 17:07|| 2009-01-16 17:07|| Front Page Top

#9 If you're innocent you have nothing to fear™.

Posted by EUdolf 2009-01-16 18:38|| 2009-01-16 18:38|| Front Page Top

#10 The best pipe leaks at both ends.

Posted by gorb 2009-01-16 23:40|| 2009-01-16 23:40|| Front Page Top

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