Big Brother is Searching your Hard Drive

[McClaud]

Even if they confiscate my computer, they won't find anything. Because if I do something illegal, the first thing I'll do is smash my HDD. And I'll never put something horrible on my laptop when I travel. JFC.

They can't believe we're that stupid once they pass the law to not use external HDDs that are easily hidden or destroyed.

Yeah, it won't pass. The California Senator proposing it has tried something similar to this before and it failed.

 

[TechNoFear]

The US has had the right to search your digital data (with probable cause) since 2001 when leaving the US (US v Roberts). Or entering the US since 2003 (US v Irving).

Probable cause was no longer needed in 2006 (US v Romm).

In 2007 this was expanded to include all paper docs as well.
http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2008/09/23


Simple solution is to use encryption (PGP, TrueCrypt etc) and a rootkit. US v Boucher shows that you can possibly use the US 5th to avoid disclosing the password.


I was supposed to travel to the US to liase with General Electric on a new IPC system to be fitted to the DASH and EVO locomotives, as I was part of the project to make these locomotives robotic (driverless).

I had planed for a friend (an IT security expert) set up my laptop with his anti intrusion apps (software that attacks any PC trying to access it without authorisation).

The project was one of the first to be canned in response to the economic downturn.

 

[Lavi]

And by the Obama legislation you mean one senator out of California?

Relax people. This isn't happening.

Exactly.

So of course expect 5 more pages of panic and blaming communists.

HOLY CRAP! THE COMMIES ARE GOING! RUN ET RUN!

 

[megapenguinx]

And by the Obama legislation you mean one senator out of California?

Relax people. This isn't happening.

+1 for research!
But seriously, this won't pass. Just seems to be a lobbyist interest bill.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

I sense anyone doing anything seriously illegal like large scale piracy will have countermeasures, or like the above, just move to a non windows solution, which the 'experts' involved probably can't even imagine exists.

Honestly, if their experts are anything like the experts who give opinions to the media, we have nothing to fear.

 

[The Random One]

US v Boucher shows that you can possibly use the US 5th to avoid disclosing the password.

Ha, that's pretty awesome. Wouldn't pleading the 5th essentially be a confession that you're guilty, while at the same time denying them access to the proof that you are? Cool.

 

[The Madman]

Even if I weren't Canadian, who cares?

You think the government really gives a damn about those pirates mp3's and a folder full of porn? Really?

I *wish* I had something cool enough to be worth hiding. Worst case scenario they search my HD and discover I got some kinky tastes, big whoop!

 

[JWAN]

And by the Obama legislation you mean one senator out of California?

Relax people. This isn't happening.

Obama supports it, and don't forget Obama also supports controlling businesses that get into financial trouble

this is the most massive expansion of Government in US history and its just a massive grab for power.

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

I don't care, I have nothing to hide. All the government will learn from searching my HDD is that I have a lot of stuff related to video games.

Everyone has something to hide.

Anything you have on your HDD, they will most likely be able to see. Even stuff you thought wasn't there..

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

US v Boucher shows that you can possibly use the US 5th to avoid disclosing the password.

Ha, that's pretty awesome. Wouldn't pleading the 5th essentially be a confession that you're guilty, while at the same time denying them access to the proof that you are? Cool.

The fifth gives you your basic rights at a national level, one of these is the right to not give evidence that could be used against you.

I sense anyone doing anything seriously illegal like large scale piracy will have countermeasures, or like the above, just move to a non windows solution, which the 'experts' involved probably can't even imagine exists.

Honestly, if their experts are anything like the experts who give opinions to the media, we have nothing to fear.

Their people are smart, beyond belief.

People understanding it on the other hand, and relaying it back to the people is hell of a different situation..

 

[NoTroll]

I don't care, I have nothing to hide. All the government will learn from searching my HDD is that I have a lot of stuff related to video games.

Everyone has something to hide.

Anything you have on your HDD, they will most likely be able to see. Even stuff you thought wasn't there..

Oh no my CP.

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

I don't care, I have nothing to hide. All the government will learn from searching my HDD is that I have a lot of stuff related to video games.

Everyone has something to hide.

Anything you have on your HDD, they will most likely be able to see. Even stuff you thought wasn't there..

Oh no my CP.

You probably have a fuckton on it, hidden away.

Just sayin'.

 

[NoTroll]

I don't care, I have nothing to hide. All the government will learn from searching my HDD is that I have a lot of stuff related to video games.

Everyone has something to hide.

Anything you have on your HDD, they will most likely be able to see. Even stuff you thought wasn't there..

Oh no my CP.

You probably have a fuckton on it, hidden away.

Just sayin'.

You sussed me out.

 

[ElderScribe]

Feh, let them, i have nothing to hide.

 

[ButtonedDownParadox]

And by the Obama legislation you mean one senator out of California?

Relax people. This isn't happening.

Obama supports it, and don't forget Obama also supports controlling businesses that get into financial trouble

this is the most massive expansion of Government in US history and its just a massive grab for power.

I apologize for being unable to simply take your word on that. He'll listen to the said senator from California and her presentation just like he does with anything. Why just recently someone came forth to privatize Veteran benefits and that isn't going through. So if you consider that support...

Tell me more of this massive grab for power that you speak of and "controlling businesses that get into financial trouble". Is he extorting? "Oh sure AIG. I'll bail you out and let you give bonuses to the people who sank the company in the first place and catch a ton of shit for it...but one day I'll ask for a favor and that day may never come..." and AIG kisses his ring and stuff? Please. Enlighten me. Because apparently I have forgotten.

 

[TechNoFear]

Obama supports it, and don't forget Obama also supports controlling businesses that get into financial trouble

True, but only in defined extreme circumstances. Mom and Pop businesses will not be effected.

This is required because self regulation of many finacial markets and instruments (ie hedgefunds, CFDs etc) has not worked.

Or Fannie Mae, received US$57.8 billion and paid 4 execs US$4.4 in bonuses.

AIG received US$170 billion of tax payers money paid US$165 million in bonuses.

This was your tax dollars that made those execs very rich, even though they bankrupted their companies.

You don't mind that kind of abuse continuing unregulated?

this is the most massive expansion of Government in US history and its just a massive grab for power.

This statement is pure is hyperbole IMO.

As I pointed out, this is already law when passing a border in the US.

Ever heard of 'carnivore' or 'dirt'?
Both legal malware created by the US government.

Ever heard of 'WMD', 'renditions', 'gitmo' or 'Abu Ghriab'?
How can you compain about privacy issues when your previous government sanctioned kidnap, torture and refused to honour the Geneva Convention?

 

[Zersy]

Something like that is already happening where I'm from.

Where are you from ?

 

[Vern]

The government will always go overboard with any power we let them get away with. After the Patriot Act, which was endorsed on both sides, almost all of our rights against illegal search and seizure can be loopholed or side stepped. This is just another scoop on top of a giant shit cake. It'll get passed on the basis of stopping pedophiles, because if you vilify one possible result of it then people will support it regardless of the other far reaching invasions of privacy. Simply put, even if you have nothing to hide, the government should not be able to force you to prove you have nothing to hide. You should not be treated like a criminal just for being a citizen. There's this nice "Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law" thing we used to have. At this point we're being treated as guilty until proven innocent.

 

[Altorin]

I don't care, I have nothing to hide. All the government will learn from searching my HDD is that I have a lot of stuff related to video games.

Everyone has something to hide.

Anything you have on your HDD, they will most likely be able to see. Even stuff you thought wasn't there..

while it's true that "deleting" things off a Hard Drive doesn't immediately remove them, they only remain on the drive until they space they occupied is filled with something else, at which time they are gone forever, never to be recovered.

In fact, there are several applications that do just that.. Fill the space vacated by deleting files with meaningless jibberish. Likewise, powerful magnets can have a similar effect of destroying data irreparably (Although it's not 100% certain, as magnets are tricky things).

The people of whom any piracy bill would be attempting to target know this.