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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."
Only if you suscribe to the notion that police are there to fight crime. If you really know how things work, you understand that the most important thing is for the police forces to be able to justify their budgets with new equipment and more officers. This in turn is applauded by the providers of these devices because they are finally able to suck the government tit and don't have to make it in the real world.
9-11 was a watershed event for wannabe government contractors. All of a sudden there was an easy to sell justification for all kinds of products that couldn't make it in the marketplace. No longer was government welfare directed only to the weapons manufacturers.
If any of us were to go wardriving and the police observed it, an example would be made of you. Look at the people being charged for let's say not eating at an establishment but using the free internet access. And don't forget the pastor that was told he had to be inside the library or else be charged for unauthorized use. Question: What makes Law Enforcement above the law?(besides the wonderful patriot act) If they are allowed to access open networks what is stopping them from going further and cracking our encrypted AP as well and what they will leave behind (rootkits ....). I personally think that if this is allowed even more of our privacy rights to be destroyed. When is this going to stop.