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

As long as that's all they're doing

[Jabrwock]

I don't see the harm. Now if they are doing anything like making notes on who's routers are open for future "fishing expeditions", I'd be concerned, but if all they're doing is saying "hey bud, your front door is unlocked, just ta let ya know..."

Seeing as how most people have no idea that their wireless routers are so insecure by default...

This is what real cops do

[MikeRT]

Cops aren't supposed to armed and trained like the military. Their purpose is to keep the peace and peacefully prevent crime where they can. A large part of that is politely informing private citizens if they see something that could get them victimized. It's not common anymore because riding around with a loaded gun and the ability to bust down doors to raid drug users/dealers (if your stash is big, you must be a dealer). It's just not cool to do such old granny policing when the SWAT offers you the chance to play urban warfare with targets that typically don't fight back.

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?