Big Brother Is Watching .. & Sneaking Your Info personal privacy violations

[RGPHNX 0]

Hi all,
came across this newspaper article (& web posts about it) the other day.
Thought it would be good for an opinion poll. re: more ways our personal privacy is being invaded. When will it all stop ?
The article talks about government agencies gaining access to your personal files in an underhanded/"sneaky" way without "due process" of law (ie. court orders..etc).
Here's the link(s) :
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/ln01a.html-FBI& computer repair shops
Guess everyone should learn computer encryption & hard drive "wiping" security precautions BEFORE having your computer repaired.
What do you think ?
RGPHNX

"The man who trades liberty for security deserves neither"

Hi again all,
the previous link at the Honalulu advertizer newspaper has been taken down. Hmmmmmm..... Wonder why ?
Here's a new link to the complete article (thank heavens for the internet ! )

http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/

What do you think ?
RGPHNX

Notice from BuffaloHELP:

Next time if you need to double post to correct your previous post, don't forget to click on REPORT with message to merge or to correct the link. Merged two posts.

[Dragonfly 0]

If you don't break any law of the land there is nothing to worry. I don't really care and mind if they are searching my iinformation and got it from somewhere. In any way if they want to get my information they can get it easily. Without any reason I don't think they will be interested to search and enquire about my information. On the other hand one should be careful not to store many important information in his/her computer. A computer can be infected by virus and also destroy files and folders. These days virus are too strong that they infect all types of folders and drives. Even if they come to know all about me it doesn't matter. They are not going to arrest me nor beat me up as long as I do not break the law of the land which they can do if they want any time. So, for me I have no problem. But if I do something illegal according to the law let them arrest me, beat me up according to the law of the land. This way this world would become a better place. In fact we should co-operate with any investigating team to make this world a better place to live in.

[ARNEL 0]

Well, the goverment has the right to do this kind of job but as long as no rules is violated, I mean with the permission of the higher court. Still, if the goverment is trying to collect private information from other computer it called hacking right? But hacking can be in many forms, legal and illegal purposes, if the goverment is advised to do the job for the sake of many, well it is ok as long as they have the blessing from the authority, but doing this chore without permission should be punishable by the laws since we have the law for anti-hacking. "The law applies to all other wise none at all. "However, many goverment agency especially today, used computer to track down all the illegal activity that they can used also in tracking down violators but with permissioin to do so...For me, as an ordinary citizen I don't care if they got many info from may computer, they don't find any vital info but only those of collections of mp3 songs and XXX movie.... do you think that is illegal?Hacking can be dangerous for firm and other business that have vital information relating to their activities. So I think they more concerned and focus hacking company's computer rather than the private computer, so what should I scared for? If they can do hacking do you believe other can hack them as well?

[clagnol 0]

For me, as an ordinary citizen I don't care if they got many info from may computer, they don't find any vital info but only those of collections of mp3 songs and XXX movie.... do you think that is illegal?

 

Songs and movies are intellectual property, so if you can't prove that you own the content, then, yes, it is illegal. Unless you live somewhere with few or no intellectual property laws. Also, are you certain that all of the actors in your pornographic films are of age? A lot of people got busted after the public found out that the older-looking Traci Lords was only 14 in her first films.

 

If they can do hacking do you believe other can hack them as well? 

156092[/snapback]

Hack the government? Sure, plenty of people can hack government servers. The hard part is not being tackled by FBI agents a few hours later.

[boyCradle 0]

almost everything is possible now. we cannot blame the government if they would track down and smeak on our computers especially now that child pornography and other unlawful activities are happening using personal computers.Some of the "hackings" that the government do are security purposes. This is like security of the people against the security of other peoples personal computers, our something to that effect.But in some countries like the Philippines, these hackings against child pornographers, and those so called 'Live online shows" using webcams, is worthless. they cannot arrest people because there are no laws regarding this cases. Like about those Live shows using webcams for business, we have no laws about that. is is not under the law against prostitution, they say, because there are no physical contact.

[SilverSoldierTT 0]

Well, I guess I am going to have to go with some of the other people's opinions on this one... After reading that file, I am surprised I dont find myself in disbeliefe, or awe... Fact of the matter is this really... The government does alot of things that they intend for the public to not find out about... Some we actually do find out about, and some we dont... in my opinion, if the governent really wants to find out what your PC habbits are, and what you are up to, they will... They can do it by whatever means necessary, but they will figure it out... If anything, I am shocked they chose to go by such a slow method as requesting the help of PC Techs at repair shops... They have their choice at getting court orders (and other law abiding ways), requesting help from repair techs, simply going in and taking the stuff, because the public generally chooses to ignore those people we call "weird/crazy" who claim the government is full of conspiracies and unconstitutional acts, or even simply using some of their own computer dudes to find loopholes in the security software (because no matter how advanced a program is, it ALWAYS has loopholes and backdoors), hacking into your system, and getting whatever they need first hand... Fact of the matter is, like I said before, if they want to know what you are doing, they will find out... and usually pretty easily... but, if you arent doing anything wrong, then 1) there is no reason to worry, because they obviously wont find anything, and 2) they wouldnt spend the money and resources needed going after someone's information if they havent been known or thought to have done something wrong... so here's my tips to you if this concerns you... either pack up the PC and get rid of it (about the only way to truely hide what you do on it, simply not have it), or be responsible and dont do anything wrong... because if you do, and they suspect you and feel the slightest urge to find out what you are doing, I can almost guarentee they will...

[youngHUNTER 0]

The goverment have all the time to do what are wanted to do. it could be out of the public or not. Hacking computers could be their ways to track down illegals as ARNEL said, but this chore has the authority to do, it is not means that goverment can do everything they want and how about our privacy as we are talking about? I believe that even they don't tell to the public that they do hacking for justice I know they did it quitely. As an individual it would be okay for me if the goverment hack my computer? but for those in the business or firm will not be okay for them. maybe they are more focus on the company's computer not the private pc, maybe they could but not so often... Anyway hacking could be in good or bad ways, if they just hack pc's for gather informations that they think they could give them lead to the target well, thats fine, but hacking and destroying computer that was more violence and expenssive...

[RGPHNX 0]

Hi again all,Nice thoughtful comments..Keep 'em coming ! :unsure:Anybody else ??RGPHNX