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FBI Agent Talks Crime, Macs

Posted by pudge on from the put-down-that-one-button-mouse-and-back-away-slowly dept.

hype7 writes "There's an article at SecurityFocus describing a visit an FBI agent to Washington University. His visit was ostensibly about computer security and the general public's complete lack of any idea on computer security whatsoever: 'I have spent a considerable amount in the computer underground and have seen many ways in which clever individuals trick unsuspecting users. I don't think most people have a clue just how bad things are.' His talk ranged from some of the pranks he's seen played on unsuspecting users, to Eastern European extortion of big banks." WeakGeek added, "FBI security guys are using Macs because, 'those machines can do just about anything: run software for Mac, Unix, or Windows, using either a GUI or the command line. And they're secure out of the box.' Another good quote: 'If you're a bad guy and you want to frustrate law enforcement, use a Mac.'"

9 of 654 comments (clear)

  1. Apple dot edu by morelife · · Score: 5, Funny

    Steve Jobs is smarter than Bill Gates. Not only is he giving discounted hardware and software to educational institutions k12 on up, he's found another entrance vector through which to enhance the brainwashing - send in an Agent with a "Macs are more secure, too" line.

    Shoulda taken the blue pill.

  2. So.. by iswm · · Score: 5, Funny

    I guess that explains why they use Macs in Hackers.

    --
    Buckethead
    1. Re:So.. by SleeknStealthy · · Score: 5, Funny

      The FBI agent also forgot to mention that as in Hackers, when you hack with a mac, cool greek symbols float around. Another perk of using such a proprietary machine.

      --
      Math
  3. You can't get better promotion than this by malus · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can see the headline on drudge now, "Terrorists Prefer Apple"

  4. Re:More good quotes... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "If you're a sadist/masochist when it comes to everyday uses for your PC, use a Linux based PC.

  5. Re:Perhaps other agencies as well.... by Elwood+P+Dowd · · Score: 5, Funny

    That was just because the computers came in black magnesium cubes. They looked the part.

    --

    There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
  6. And apparently so too are Canadians... by vicparedes · · Score: 5, Funny
    By and large, law enforcement personnel in American end up sending impounded Macs needing data recovery to the acknowledged North American Mac experts: the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Evidently the Mounties have built up a knowledge and technique for Mac forensics that is second to none.
    I suppose this makes Mac Data recovery Canada's 2nd largest export.
  7. New Mac commercial starring bin Laden by commodoresloat · · Score: 5, Funny

    "...I was trying to plan simultaneous suicide explosions in separate third world countries using the advanced CAJ (Computer-Aided Jihad) program that comes standard with Windows XP, when all of a sudden the computer was like, beep-beep-beep-beep-beep, and I was like, what in Allah is this? And I lost all the plans. It was going to be a really good terrorist strike too! Now I use a Mac. Apple: bringing you the user-friendly tools you need to exterminate all Jews and Crusaders!"

  8. Re:More good quotes... by GooTi · · Score: 5, Funny

    "... and throw in emacs or vi for a complete experience"