Police allowed to hack your computer

[Decode]

http://security.itproportal.com/articles/2009/01/05/uk-police-now-allowed-hack-your-pc/


The UK Home Office has increased the powers of police, by allowing them to routinely hack into citizens’ personal computers without even a court warrant. The technique, popularly referred to as “remote searching”, includes intruding into computers in offices and homes, so as to monitor email and web traffic.

The move, which is in line with the decision of European Union’s ministers in Brussels, has sparked resentment among several civil rights groups and opposition MPs.

According to EU’s recent proclamation, police across different member states of EU have been permitted to extend the scope of ‘intrusive surveillance of private property’ without a court warrant, and it will allow police forces from Germany, France, and other EU members to ask UK police to hack computers of users in UK.

Remote searching is usually carried out by sending an email consisting of a bug to suspect’s PC, which eventually passes on the required information, such as internet-browsing habits and email contents, to a distant surveillance squad.


In addition, this can also be achieved by inserting ‘key-logging’ applications into a computer that transmits details about every key hit by the user. Expressing anger over the new law, Liberty’s director Shami Chakrabarti said in a statement, “This is no different from breaking down someone’s door, rifling through their paperwork and seizing their computer hard drive”.

In my opinion key logging people is a bit too far. :L

[N!ck]

Can we charge them for bandwidth use?

[Fart]

Can we charge them for bandwidth use?
LOLOLOL

sounds like newbs using phishers to me.

[Pyroka]

Omg joining the police so I can hax.

[Dan!]

thats just bit to far if you ask me.

[Pyroka]

Not really, they can get a court warrant without even telling you and hack into it lolol.

[Dan!]

Not really, they can get a court warrant without even telling you and hack into it lolol.

I guess its just easy for them, thencoming and getting the pc its self.

[Pyroka]

Yeah exactly, sorta makes sense. Its getting rid of red tape which has stopped so many things, now they can inspect paedophiles computers. The one thing nobody thought about though is how now paedophiles will have to stay offline if they're not to be detected.

[DaveTaylor]

Yeah exactly, sorta makes sense. Its getting rid of red tape which has stopped so many things, now they can inspect paedophiles computers. The one thing nobody thought about though is how now paedophiles will have to stay offline if they're not to be detected.

They might just end up using a neighbors internet though :/

[GommeInc]

It just sounds like normal protocol to me. Don't read and download emails sent by people you don't know. Except, these hackers are now officials :D

This just seems like a waste of police time and money, when key strokes aren't going to prove alot, especially if you're playing Runescape or Habbo and saying "I'ma going to stab stab!"


They might just end up using a neighbors internet though :/
Or internet cafe :D

[Pyroka]

They might just end up using a neighbors internet though :/

Wont matter would it? They'd get into the network, notice theres 2 PCs there and investigate the location etc... Hm Im not sure what tech they have rly.

[DaveTaylor]

It just sounds like normal protocol to me. Don't read and download emails sent by people you don't know. Except, these hackers are now officials :D

This just seems like a waste of police time and money, when key strokes aren't going to prove alot, especially if you're playing Runescape or Habbo and saying "I'ma going to stab stab!"


Or internet cafe :D

On the sly side I see?

"So sir, what is your purpose of using the internet cafe today?"
"******* off to children"

[Pyroka]

On the sly side I see?

"So sir, what is your purpose of using the internet cafe today?"
"******* off to children"

LOL I can imagine Gomme saying that, and then turning away like nothings happened. :')

[DaveTaylor]

Wont matter would it? They'd get into the network, notice theres 2 PCs there and investigate the location etc... Hm Im not sure what tech they have rly.

From reading the post they will trace it by the internet connection first, so say the peado hasn't actually purchased a connection they won't know he exist pretty much, however if he/she is using a neighbors the police will know they have internet and then target there email address, if they keylog and realize it's not the person in the house they will obviously search round however to look into router logs you have to be inside the network and I am sure you would notice a guy/girl in a car with a laptop trying to hack your router.

[GommeInc]

On the sly side I see?

"So sir, what is your purpose of using the internet cafe today?"
"******* off to children"
Point? I do what I please :D

Pyroka love, you are over 16 aren't you? I'd feel guilty for cybering you on countless times and finding out you're a lesser, petal ;)

[Hayd93]

Can we charge them for bandwidth use?

ahahaha + rep just for that.

The thing i am wondering though is what about mac users. Mac is alot harder to hack. Its not impossible i know but surely they cant do that much.

[Dan!]

They might just end up using a neighbors internet though :/

thats true


ahahaha + rep just for that.

The thing i am wondering though is what about mac users. Mac is alot harder to hack. Its not impossible i know but surely they cant do that much.

im sure the police have their ways :8

[James!]

wot if they steal my furnis :(

[Dan!]

wot if they steal my furnis :(

ahahaha, yeh duh that the real reason for it :P:D

[Neil]

Don't let them know you're doing illegal stuff and they wont suspect you? xD I doubt they'll sit and hack everyone in a town.

[DaveTaylor]

ahahaha + rep just for that.

The thing i am wondering though is what about mac users. Mac is alot harder to hack. Its not impossible i know but surely they cant do that much.

They will use the kernel track, only huge exploit osx has which from what I remember is obviously an encrypted access but it was a way for apple to track what internal testers where doing when causing errors, it's one way it could be done, but that means apple releasing there encryption on it O_o, which is will small chance.

[:job2]

This just gives all the more reason to get a decent anti virus program that can detect key-loggers and a decent firewall to stop email attacks.

Where I am from the police are AWFUL, there stupidly slow at responding to calls, they don't punish anyone because they cant be bothered to fill out the forms and generally don't give a *REMOVED*

A while ago at work I had some drunk girl try and steal some stuff, then threatened me, then threw a bottle of carlsberg at me, it got so bad I had to use the panic button under the counter as I didn't have time to phone them... anyways, it took them 30 minutes to get there :| I remember thinking 'its just as well I didn't press it because I was held at gunpoint'

I think its bad that they are going to make police spend there time looking at people downloading songs rather than out doing something useful. Total waste of time

Edited by Myke (Forum Super Moderator): Please don't avoid the filter.

[iUnknown]

Can't you just imagine a nerd team in a little basement room of a police station hacking peoples runescapes/habbos and going "i havz a warrantz!11"

[James!]

I remember crapping myself when I searched child pron on Google Trends :( I thought they would arrest me just for searching it on Trends.

[myke]

Surely this is a breach of my human rights?!?!? CRI.

Good, if they use it responsibly...

Uhh... think they'll go after illegal downloaders?

[Decode]

This just gives all the more reason to get a decent anti virus program that can detect key-loggers and a decent firewall to stop email attacks.

Or simply don't open email attachments. You don't really need to get a better virus scanner or anything.

Can't you just imagine a nerd team in a little basement room of a police station hacking peoples runescapes/habbos and going "i havz a warrantz!11"
They don't even need warrants now :O

I remember crapping myself when I searched child pron on Google Trends :( I thought they would arrest me just for searching it on Trends.
YOU DID WOT?

Surely this is a breach of my human rights?!?!? CRI.

Good, if they use it responsibly...

Uhh... think they'll go after illegal downloaders?

I encrypt my drive for storing DVD's with Truecrypt because its full of stuff that I have payed for. So I'd say I'm safe :P

[James!]

Or simply don't open email attachments. You don't really need to get a better virus scanner or anything.

They don't even need warrants now :O

YOU DID WOT?


I encrypt my drive for storing DVD's with Truecrypt because its full of stuff that I have payed for. So I'd say I'm safe :P
http://www.google.com/trends

Lets you know which country have searched the same thing the most ammount of times.

Istanbul, Turkey apparently. You thought I was a pedo for a minute didn't you?

[iUnknown]

now when you type in limewire on your computer a whole anti-riot police team burst through all your windows...

[Pyroka]

http://www.google.com/trends?q=JAILBAIT&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

I let out a small giggle just by looking at that hee hee hee.

http://www.google.com/trends?q=Sex&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

OMG LOL.

[Jordy]

ahahaha + rep just for that.

The thing i am wondering though is what about mac users. Mac is alot harder to hack. Its not impossible i know but surely they cant do that much.This video could not be more appropriate for your post :P

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=TlNxib1zXmA

[Pyroka]

Oh my god LOL thats great Jordy :P

[Tomm]

All I can say is: I wish the police good luck with hacking my network ;)

[Jahova]

Isn't this like conflicting with data protection act or somthing. Also, I wouldn't want the police looking at my PC, I got personal stuff on there.

[Jordy]

Isn't this like conflicting with data protection act or somthing. Also, I wouldn't want the police looking at my PC, I got personal stuff on there.We are talking about the police, even before this came into place they could get a court warrant and come into your house to examine your HDD, you shouldn't have personal information if you don't want people looking at it and it doesn't really conflict with the data protection act providing our data is only seen by those whom it may concern, is kept encrypted and securely and not lost on trains or sold on ebay.

[Jackboy]

Don't let them know you're doing illegal stuff and they wont suspect you? xD I doubt they'll sit and hack everyone in a town.

I would if i had the powerz


All I can say is: I wish the police good luck with hacking my network ;)

Lol you don't think they will? How come :p

[Tim.]

In my opinion hopefully this will make us alot safer in terms of getting evidence against extremists, pedofiles, etc etc

[GommeInc]

Surely privacy is the main reason they can't do this? Bank details, online store accounts... Sounds a bit too risky for the police, you can't trust everyone! And imagine if the government lose more data randomly to people on the street :P

[Mounta1nGoat]

Will they pay A/V developers to not detect police viruses lol. I'd laugh if my A/V popped up with "They're watching you...".

[brandon]

All it takes is one bent copper and bam. Data Protection Act 1998 and Computer Misuse Act 1990 also prevent it but why let rules intervene?

[Jord]

Omg joining the police so I can hax.



me too haha God I would love to be able to hack anyone

[efq]

They want our porn :(

If they bug me, I'll send them a happy note back :)

[--ss--]

crap gotta hide my 150gb porn now

[Jordan:A]

Well if they need a warrant to search you're house, shouldn't it be the same

[GommeInc]

me too haha God I would love to be able to hack anyone
And do it legally? :P

If they want your porn, put it on an external HDD and turn it off when you're not using it :P

[Alkaz]

Im supposing its for things like pheadophiles and things like that??

[scottish]

British law already allows police to remotely access computers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, which allows surveillance to "prevent or detect serious crime".

A spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) told The Times newspaper that police were already carrying out a small number of these operations among the 194 clandestine searches last year of people's homes, offices, and hotel rooms.


"The UK has agreed to a strategic approach to tackling cybercrime with other EU member states, but this is separate from existing UK laws," the Home Office said in a statement, adding that the plan is not legally binding and there is no timescale for implementing the strategy.

Professor Peter Sommer, a cybercrime expert at the London School of Economics, doubts that the strategy will increase the amount of police hacking.

[Cylinder]

There will be limits, restrictions and other things. It won't be as the article states "they can hack your PC"

[e5]

This was posted a few days ago wasn't it?

[Ini]

I don't really read e-mail anyway, and when i do i never download thing from them unless i no 100% what it/they are besides all the movies i download are stored on a portable hard drive which is disconnected and hidden every night. (due to police doing drug raids - i just think they dont like me :) )

Anyway basically keep everything portable and out of there sight then they cant do you for nothing :)