Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

The Police are Examining My Laptop

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Civil Liberties Donate to DU
 
tesla78 Donating Member (68 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-20-07 05:08 PM
Original message
The Police are Examining My Laptop
No, I didn't hack anyone's computer or commit any type of computer crime. I was a victim of a break-in. A few days ago, a thief broke into my office and helped himself to my laptop. Fortunately, they caught him redhanded. Unfortunately, the police won't release my property until they have examined it.

I doubt the police would be interested in my chicken recipe or letters to friends and family. What really concerns me is privacy. Do people have a right to privacy when their documents or electronic data are stolen from them? Since I bought the laptop used, should I be worried about the previous owner's usage? Any help would greatly be appreciated.
Refresh | +1 Recommendations Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
Vincardog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-20-07 05:10 PM
Response to Original message
1. The Lap top is evidence in the trial. Don't worry be happy. As long as you don't have and child porn
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
tesla78 Donating Member (68 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-20-07 05:18 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. I am happy
The ass^&%^% that stole it should do some real time in jail. He broke into a few other places the same night.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
lvx35 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-20-07 05:12 PM
Response to Original message
2. The beauty is that you can argue the theif put anything there.
That you don't want to be associated with. There is no failsafe method, with typical hardware alone, to determine the date something was put there. Write and modification times can be faked.

So you should be fine if you have anything politically naughty.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
tesla78 Donating Member (68 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-20-07 05:59 PM
Response to Reply #2
7. Thanks, but there is nothing to argue
The previous owner is a female and those who have used it are also female so there is nothing to worry about.

I believe this issue is part of an agenda which involves broader government surveillance on U.S. citizens. Like the cops that want to randomly search houses without warrants.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
lvx35 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-20-07 11:27 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. Broader surveillance is what its all about.
When I refered to political naughtiness, this is what I'm talking about. Its an oxymoron within any traditional interpretation of the constitution, but sadly when find ourselves in a time where certain sites you may have visited could qualify you as a "home grown terrorist", so be mindful, and certainly don't repeat the "I have nothing to hidden in my ass so I don't mind if they violate it with a camera" mantra that so many others do.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
tesla78 Donating Member (68 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-21-07 03:34 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. Learned 2 good lessons.. ..
1. Thanks for your response. I am entrusted with confidential information such as passwords and business processes as part of my job. It could have been a lot worse if there was valuable data. We plan on implementing government strength encryption (ie: TrueCrypt, PGP.) to protect ourselves from snooping eyes.

The police will need a legal warrant if they want to snoop through our files. The data will be useless to a thief.

2. Secondhand laptops should be securely wiped before reinstalling the OS(ie: Eraser - Nuke Utility).

By sharing this experience on DU, I hope someone finds it useful. Laziness towards privacy/security can become very expensive.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
lvx35 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-21-07 08:56 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. Thanks for the info! Glad you shared. nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Ian David Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-27-07 08:13 AM
Response to Reply #7
11. Females do things like commit crimes (including kiddy porn) too.
Just because the last owner was a female does NOT assure you that it wasn't used for illicit purposes.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Mr_Jefferson_24 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-20-07 05:20 PM
Response to Original message
4. Seems very intrusive...
...Unless you yourself are a suspect in some crime I don't see how they could justify this.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
tesla78 Donating Member (68 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-20-07 05:28 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. It is intrusive
Edited on Tue Nov-20-07 05:33 PM by tesla78
Somehow, I doubt the thief had time do anything illegal on it. My neighbor's place was also broken into.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Mr_Jefferson_24 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-20-07 05:42 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. It feels like a very definite...
...push is on toward the police state right now. An individual's privacy means little or nothing.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Ian David Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-27-07 08:14 AM
Response to Original message
12. Can you get permission to copy your hard drive so you can get access to your files? n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Indy Lurker Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-04-07 02:22 PM
Response to Original message
13. Truecrypt
Edited on Tue Dec-04-07 02:22 PM by Indy Lurker
http://www.truecrypt.org/

It's great for encrypting chucks of your hard drive or USB drive.


It's portable, and it's free.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
begood Donating Member (48 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-14-07 09:52 AM
Response to Reply #13
14. hmmmm
does the gov. have access to the de-encrypting of this stuff?
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
politicallore Donating Member (713 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-11-08 01:48 AM
Response to Original message
15. Do you look like a creepy guy???
lol, just kidding... This shouldn't happen, pure and simple.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
HumanBeast Donating Member (11 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-23-08 12:18 PM
Response to Original message
16. Circumstances
It depends on the circumstances. If the police caught the bandit using the laptop with certain programs, then yes. It sounds like they caught him before he turned the laptop on, so in that case, there would be no reason for examination.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Tinita Donating Member (11 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-26-08 08:38 PM
Response to Original message
17. I would see a lawyer if I was you
Your civil liberties are being trampled on.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
dude77 Donating Member (16 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-29-08 02:15 PM
Response to Original message
18. As long as you have no sensitive info in it
...I would not be worried.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Gandolph Donating Member (14 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-02-08 11:00 AM
Response to Original message
19. kick n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
kestrel91316 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-05-08 12:19 AM
Response to Original message
20. Ever hear of the right to be secure in one's property? And the
right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure??

Quaint concepts, I know, but they are in that piece of now-toilet paper known as the Constitution.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Sun Feb 09th 2025, 08:55 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Civil Liberties Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC