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KodiacZiller
Premium Member
join:2008-09-04
73368

KodiacZiller to jaa

Premium Member

to jaa

Re: Computer technician finding illegal activity

There was a case of that in my local area not too long ago. A guy brought his computer in for repair (likely because of malware) and he was busted for child porn. No, it was not Geek Squad but some independent computer tech. Apparently the tech went rummaging through his files, found the CP then called the cops.

First of all, there is never any reason to take a machine in for "malware clean-up." But most people don't know the difference in malware or hardware issues, so I can't really blame them for that. But this particular guy in my town wins the Darwin award for thinking all of his illegal files would be safe.

The thing about child porn is even though I fully understand why it is illegal, I think there is a lot of room for abuse. For instance, what if a disgruntled computer tech plants it on someone's machine just for lulz? What if an angry spouse plants it on the other spouse's machine? There is really no way to prove who did what when more than one person has physical access to a machine. This is why it is imperative that people take responsibility for their own data. Don't trust it in anyone else's hands. If you have to take a machine in for repair, remove the hard drive and tell the technicians to use their own. If that's not possible, then encrypt your sensitive files.

Some people think CP should be legal. While I understand their position that mere bits of data shouldn't be illegal, could you imagine what it would be like if it were legal? Imagine searching your favorite adult site and finding a "kiddie" category section. That would be, um, a bit disconcerting to say the least. It'll never happen, which is why I would never trust other people with physical access to my machines. There's simply no telling what they may do (either maliciously or accidentally).

norwegian
Premium Member
join:2005-02-15
Outback

norwegian

Premium Member


I think that last part you could have left out altogether.

For me C/P is illegal and hopefully it will stay that way. If that became legal, every censorship law becomes voided.

However, as I came here due to search history mentioning C/P in the early days of XP without a firewall and an internal modem for connection, I am fully aware search history doesn't mean a lot with an inexperienced user, but as you back up all data when doing serious maintenance or wiping to start again, if you come across scan results suggesting images, you would have to consider it, otherwise I tend to keep a persons data their own and will not try to become the law unto myself, it makes for good business.

NormanS
I gave her time to steal my mind away
MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
TP-Link TD-8616
Asus RT-AC66U B1
Netgear FR114P

NormanS to KodiacZiller

MVM

to KodiacZiller
said by KodiacZiller:

Some people think CP should be legal.

Historically, child pornography wasn't illegal in the early '70s. Ironically, Hugh Hefner, Bob Guccione, and possibly even Larry Flynt got on the bandwagon to outlaw child pornography because they felt threatened by the competition from the publishers of child pornography.

Yes, it was very disturbing to see a child porn section in an adult bookstore; I stopped patronizing that store over the CP.

As for how to find files easily ...



JALevinworth
@embarqhsd.net

JALevinworth

Anon

+1 I have found things just by a matter of seeing the file name go by my eyes. Recent docs history or bookmarks history or cache, or even the actual files. An idiot on my corporate network (many years ago, pre-corporate proxy) kept not only his porn and mp3s, but images of his wife giving birth on his network share.

You can't miss some file names going by the backup routine: HotTeenAnalXXX.jpg; "PamAndersonXXTommyLeeBJ.mov"; "JenGivingBirth.jpg"; or NickelbackNoise.mp3

When I see that, I did have to give a heads up to the user to knock it off and get rid of it.

I don't riffle through files and otherwise respect privacy, the exceptions being either corporate policy issues or the law, such as if you even see a hint of CP, you have to confirm what it is. You are required by law to report any CP found and if you don't you are culpable at least in my state.

-Jim
ctggzg
Premium Member
join:2005-02-11
USA

ctggzg to NormanS

Premium Member

to NormanS
said by NormanS:

As for how to find files easily ...

Your Start Menu is a mess.



NormanS
I gave her time to steal my mind away
MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
TP-Link TD-8616
Asus RT-AC66U B1
Netgear FR114P

NormanS

MVM

said by ctggzg:

said by NormanS:

As for how to find files easily ...

Your Start Menu is a mess.

It is not.
Expand your moderator at work

Bishop
@rr.com

Bishop to KodiacZiller

Anon

to KodiacZiller

Re: Computer technician finding illegal activity

Well, I would just like to say that before you all go off spouting at the mouth, It would be nice if people know the facts. Not everything is what it seems or really, what you imagine in your mind.

I was a technician for a small computer store. It was my last day there as I had just got a new job at the local university. A person had brought there computer in for repair. Upon diagnosing the computer, it was determined that he was having hard drive (hd) failure. Called the customer and told him, he authorized to have new hd installed and to transfer stuff from old hd.

As I was trying to back up his data from his hd, it stopped and said that there was a lock on the file and that I would have to unlock file to proceed. I went to just change the attributes but that was not the case with the files. The only way to unlock the file was to open the file so I had to launch each and every file to unlock it.

Well, when I started, low and behold there was some disgusting CP on the hd. I was not even thinking of it as a crime, I was just disgusted by the content. After doing about a dozen files, all CP, I went and complained to the boss that I cant do it anymore and that I was disgusted with the photos on the computer. I told him what they were and that was when he informed me that I was to call the police. I told him that I didn't even want to get involved and that it was my last day anyways but that is when he said its the law.

Called the police, they came and took a report on how I found what I found and the rest is history.

As a footnote, the person whose computer it was, was a student at the university that I had just got hired at.

I did not snoop thru that customers computer and am I probably more concerned about a person's privacy than any of you. I felt offended by the comments even though my case happened about 10-11 years ago.

So I just want to say this in closing, you should not judge a case unless you know all the facts and since none of you really know the facts, well...

Blackbird
Built for Speed
Premium Member
join:2005-01-14
Fort Wayne, IN

Blackbird

Premium Member

said by Bishop :

... As I was trying to back up his data from his hd, it stopped and said that there was a lock on the file and that I would have to unlock file to proceed. I went to just change the attributes but that was not the case with the files. The only way to unlock the file was to open the file so I had to launch each and every file to unlock it. ...

I'm confused. How do you "lock" a file (without just changing its external read/write/hidden/etc attributes) but yet require that it simply be opened in order to "unlock" it... and what possible purpose would such a "lock" serve?

KodiacZiller
Premium Member
join:2008-09-04
73368

KodiacZiller to Bishop

Premium Member

to Bishop
said by Bishop :

Well, I would just like to say that before you all go off spouting at the mouth, It would be nice if people know the facts. Not everything is what it seems or really, what you imagine in your mind.

I don't know why you directed this at me. I merely told a story. I didn't say it is right or wrong to call the Police (it is probably legally required to call them). I only said not to expect privacy when having a computer repaired.