Microsoft Helps Police Crack Your Computer

w1z4rd

w1z4rd

Karmic Sangoma
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"Microsoft has developed a small plug-in device that investigators can use to quickly extract forensic data from computers that "may have been used in crimes." It basically bypasses all of the Windows security (decrypting passwords, etc.) in order to eliminate all that pesky privacy when the police have physical access to your computer. Just one more reason not to run Windows on your computer."
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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/2004379751_msftlaw29.html

I suppose you might be thinking.... "oh.. this is not so bad"... but what if the police are Zimbabwe police... Chinese police... Russian police.. ?

Another reason I prefer a clean system.
 
yes those poor criminals, having their windows invaded like that

they have warned all these kiddie porn freaks, i got a feeling more kiddie porn freaks will be using another OS to hide their ways

maybe ppl can develop a criminal OS so that your criminals activities can never be uncovered :)
 
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killadoob said:
yes those poor criminals, having their windows invaded like that

they have warned all these kiddie porn freaks, i got a feeling more kiddie porn freaks will be using another OS to hide their ways

maybe ppl can develop a criminal OS so that your criminals activities can never be uncovered :)
Click to expand...

You must have missed my examples of the types of "police" forces that would abuse their power. *click click* Take a picture! Those evil evil pro democracy people pushing for human rights in countries that abuse their citizens... but I suppose that kinda thing is "okay" for you. I suppose it takes all types to make up the world.
 
Google is doing the same thing with the kiddie porn freaks,they just handed over a database of 60 000 offenders to the German police.
 
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GTi said:
Google is doing the same thing with the kiddie porn freaks,they just hand over a database of 60 000 offenders to the German police.
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Its not at all the same. Handing over data of illegal activities such as kiddie porn is basically accepted around the world, and there is no problem with this. Giving governments the tools to basically access peoples drives at will.. is bad.

This situation is similar say to human tracking. Imagine if every human was tracked (with a special chip) 24/7, and the cops could easily find and record who was at whatever crime scene. Good idea right?

Now imagine if that same technology was used to track opponents of ZANU-PF in Zimbabwe... now its not such a great idea.

The problem is not the technology, its how its used, and by whom.
 
w1z4rd said:
"Microsoft has developed a small plug-in device that investigators can use to quickly extract forensic data from computers that "may have been used in crimes." It basically bypasses all of the Windows security (decrypting passwords, etc.) in order to eliminate all that pesky privacy when the police have physical access to your computer. Just one more reason not to run Windows on your computer."
Click to expand...

What is it called? Windows Live Messenger? :D
 
wizard i think your going a bit mad man

this is suppose to help cops and governments with digital crime

the world has become digital and we need to tools to fight digital crime now as well

i think your tracking theory is a bit far fetched

personally i think this is good thing

most normal ppl have nothing to hide cept some pirated goods and maybe a bit of adult porno
 
Why the hell do they need a M$ tool if they have physical access to the PC?:confused:

Sounds to me like the investigators learned to use Excel yesterday and today they are learning to use the PC forensics in 3 easy steps wizard.:rolleyes:
 
I don't see the problem. Windows has no real security if it's not running. Boot the machine off a UBCD4WIN or UBCD disk, and you can reset passwords, access the drives and data, and whatever else. Excrypted files, however, will be inaccessible - and I'm betting that's the case with this device too.
 
killadoob said:
wizard i think your going a bit mad man

this is suppose to help cops and governments with digital crime

the world has become digital and we need to tools to fight digital crime now as well

i think your tracking theory is a bit far fetched

personally i think this is good thing

most normal ppl have nothing to hide cept some pirated goods and maybe a bit of adult porno
Click to expand...

Okay.. again.. I indicate my examples. What if its abused by Russian, Chinese or Zimbabwean authorities to prosecute human right supporters? How can you say it wont be used for that?

I completely understand and accept your point of view, but you seem to be completely ignoring mine.

I ACCEPT, it can and will be used by good cops to help catch bad people, but how can tell me it wont be used by bad cops to nail good people?
 
Erm...the fact that the police want to crack your computer in the first place means that you shouldn't be complaining about them doing it. If you don't like having your PC cracked, don't do something that will make them crack it.

If the police of your country are likely to get crack-crazy and you don't like it, then move out. Having my PC cracked would be the least of my worries with police like that running around.

Plus, would you honestly prefer the criminals NOT have their PCs cracked?...
 
If I was doing anything that would warrant the police getting physical access to my computer, I would make sure to use some top-notch encryption. TrueCrypt comes to mind :D
 
wizard how many ppl actually own pc's in zimbabwe?

the ones that do more than likely dont have power to run them

how is mugabe going to hack into the poorest country in africa and obtain information when the ppl dont have pc's rofl

dont use windows if your a criminal end of story

use something free for your kiddie porn
 
killadoob said:
wizard how many ppl actually own pc's in zimbabwe?

the ones that do more than likely dont have power to run them

how is mugabe going to hack into the poorest country in africa and obtain information when the ppl dont have pc's rofl

dont use windows if your a criminal end of story

use something free for your kiddie porn
Click to expand...

killadoob, consider this hypothetical situation:

90% of all banks in the world have the same combination to their vault. Then, one day, "International Banking Corporation X" decide to give that combination to the police in order to assist them in fighting crime. So sure, this helps the police catch those corrupt tax-evaders and embezzlers, however, your money is in that bank too. And now what happens when one slightly-crooked cop decides to give this combination to one of his friends, who in turn gives it to a few of their friends, and so on...

So what happens when a cracker gets hold of this device? How much easier is it going to be for him and his friends and anyone who happens to belong to the same torrent site to break into Windows machines once they've had a chance to mess with what's on that disk?

I'm just saying take into consideration just how much of a security risk that thumbdrive could be if it got into the wrong hands. And, considering Vista was available for download a good two weeks before it was officially released, I don't have much faith in Microsoft keeping it to themselves for very long...
 
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