The Feds

[converge]

if only the government were ambitious enough to organize our technical assets for constructive purposes... intelligence, secuirty, promotion of democrary, etc etc so much talent outside of the DOD trained droids that could be utilized

well, regardless of your feelings for cDc.. look at what their doing to promote free speech, etc...

[Golden_Eternity]

Originally posted by HiValicious
I think feds waste too much time trying to stop computer crimes than murder, i sometimes think they would care about a site being altered from being hacked more than someone being killed.

What are you basing this opinion on? And, refresh my memory... how do the feds have jurisdiction over your average homicide?

[HiValicious]

....

Over an anerage crime they don't. But they do look into a lot of murder cases and stuff like that....

Here

http://www.azcentral.com/news/specia...noplot-ON.html
http://www.cnn.com/US/9812/27/crime/
http://fyi.cnn.com/2000/LAW/06/08/henry.avants/
http://www.ganglandnews.com/column174.htm

Here a few cases or murder and such things dealing with the feds, they should spend more times on things like this than computers.
Like i said, it's only my opinion.

[Taiteki]

Perceptions Versus Fact

The fact is, perceptions are the key to actions. While WE may feel that there are more important things the government could be concentrating their effort and resources on, the general public has been convinced that any sort of hacking is a threat, and is pressuring the government to crack down on it. Proprietary industry interests also play a large role here--organization such as the RIAA and SDMI would like nothing better than to prevent any reverse engineering or security-related research. This kind of pressure was the driving force in the passage of the DMCA, which is already being used as a very large stick to beat researchers (such as Sklyarov) over the head with. Law enforcement agencies have also, for years now, been clamoring for greater surveillance powers and looser evidentiary requirements for search warrants and evidence admissibility, and have used recent high-profile computer attacks, as well as the recent terrorist attacks, as justification for the expanded powers they've been seeking.
The confluence of these three forces is not something that a relatively small, computer-literate percentage of the population can hope to easily resist. I personally see things getting much worse for us in the next few years. While I hope that more rational heads will prevail, history has not shown a great preference for rationality :)

[simon]

The biggest problem with the "if they are not going through my hard drive" mentality is that it promotes abuses of power. If you don't care about them "just going through" Joe Shmoes computer down the block whats is stopping them from doing it to you?

Now granted not all law enforcement officers are "bad". Most all of "them" and people are good intentioned. But unfortunately as humans we can be put in situations where feel like we need to manipulate to keep control, or any other desired and familiar outcome.

I guess it would be great for all the law enforcement agents who are looking for terrorists on this server, and the kids participating to read "The Psychology of Police".

*Wonders if he should add *.gov *.mil to hosts.deny... hrm =] *

[starlapureheart]

To fed or not to fed...

I thought it was pretty cool having feds at Defcon. Not only was there the potential to obtain shirts, but you could talk to these people in a hacker context without getting the stone wall. I'd feel pretty weird hunting up a fed in regular life to sit down and chat over a cup of tea and a wargame, but didn't really have to worry about that at Defcon. It was an opportunity to find out where they're coming from and what sort of headspace they live in.

There is a downside though...being profiled as a hacker. I swear, one of them followed me to Seattle....

[red0x]

Re: not just that

Originally posted by Xp0nential
especially with the Patriot Act and its vague definition of what exactly is terrorism. They can easily label us if they want to as terrorist.

This bill is really dangerous and a breach of civil liberties. People should get informed about it.

later

hells yeah, why are we the only people in the world who care about sh1tty legislation like this?

--red0x

[red0x]

Originally posted by c0nv3r9
if only the government were ambitious enough to organize our technical assets for constructive purposes... intelligence, secuirty, promotion of democrary, etc etc so much talent outside of the DOD trained droids that could be utilized

well, regardless of your feelings for cDc.. look at what their doing to promote free speech, etc...

Yeah, cant wait for Project X, wish i'd a beaten Eliza in Cyberarmy and gotten on board that, I really wanna help!

--red0x

[astcell]

...hells yeah, why are we the only people in the world who care about sh1tty legislation like this?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Maybe because we are the only people in the world who get a chance to completely revamp their government every four years?

[red0x]

no man, i'm talking about us as hackers. no one else in america (ok, at least not alot of ppl) even know about the extent of the shittyness of this legislation. we need to start informing the masses, or corporate america is going to lead us to a silent grave. :(

--red0x

[astcell]

Very true Red0x, very true. A person is smart, but people are dumb animals who ought to be corraled. No one will see how this legislation hurts them as long as they voluntarily give up their rights under the name of National Security. But don't worry, there are lots of laws on the books that don't make sense any more, and no cop will enforce a law that gets no conviction in court.

Just hope you end up ona lot of juries. :)

[converge]

I'm sorry your honor, but could the witness explain what the purpose of a keyboard is again?