Colorado Sheriffs To WarDrive For Safety

rwx writes "The Sheriff's Department in Douglas County, Colorado says it's going to start warning computer users that their networks may be vulnerable to hackers. It plans on equipping its patrol cars with devices that detect unprotected computer networks, and distributing brochures to computer users in vulnerable areas, instructing them on how to password protect their networks."

Comments

Limit access?

[JayDot]

Will this limit access on that great free wireless lan called "linksys"? I hope not; I didn't want to have to actually pay for Internet access after college.

Check to see if my front door is locked

[bigtrike]

While they're at it, they may as well check to see that people's front doors are locked too. Criminals might break in and use their computer when they can't get a wireless signal.

Re:Yeah

[script_daddy]

Heh, the first response to a story is almost always a snarky putdown; I think it's become something of a tradition. God forbid the story is a dupe, then there's going to be snark overload.

I swear to God, if a news-item such as this would appear on the frontpage ..

Bill Gates has announced that he's realizing that Microsoft Windows is an inferior product and has decided to rebuild Windows Vista on a Linux kernel and release it under a FOSS license. Additionally, he is reported to have bitchslapped Steve Ballmer repeatedly claiming that "[sic] Man, I've been fucking longing to do that."

.. it's a pretty safe bet that the first reply would be something like this:

Yeah, so why didn't he hit him with a proper blunt weapon or shoot him in the face or something like that?

Re:This isn't their 'department'...

[QCompson]

And that would be a bad thing?

Yes, how could police officers going onto your private property and testing your doors to see if they are locked possibly be a bad thing?

I actually have a local policeman that comes into my house at night and makes sure I place my wallet in a secure location before I go to sleep. He also checks all the window-blinds to make sure no terrorists or pedophiles can see into our windows. Recently, I put in a request for a uniformed officer to monitor my children while they draw pictures; I wouldn't want them to poke themselves in the eye with a crayon.

Given the state of affairs today, I'd prefer everyone be required to pass a proficiency test and receive a license to use a computer.

Agreed. Computers are very, very dangerous if they fall into the wrong hands. If there was some way we could pour money into a complicated beuraucratic licensing system, I'd be all for it.

Re:how long

[MooUK]

NO! Not the free beer! Save us all!