Slashdot Mirror


British Cops Hack Into Government Computers

CmdrGravy writes "The British Police have hacked into Government computers as part of the on-going 'cash for peerages' investigation. They've uncovered evidence which has, so far, led to one arrest and charge of perverting the course of justice for a leading Labour party figure. This charge carries a potential life sentence. The British police have the power to hack into computer systems as part of an investigation. On previous occasions they have said they did not believe the government was providing them with the information they had been asking for and had warned that they would seek other methods to gather evidence. The police won't say what tools they have used. From the article: 'The investigators did not have to notify No 10 if they were "hacking" into its system. One legal expert said: "In some cases, a senior officer can give permission. In other cases, you might need the authorization of an independent commissioner, who is usually a retired judge appointed by the Home Office."'"

19 of 247 comments (clear)

  1. That's Hot by Prysorra · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nothing like hot state-on-state action, eh?

  2. Cash for peerages? by UbuntuDupe · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah, how dare someone be able to get a peerage because of wealth. Everyone knows that's not how it's supposed to work. If this were to continue, well ... completely undeserving people could get one!

    1. Re:Cash for peerages? by Don_dumb · · Score: 4, Funny

      They even treat some people here like they are royalty.

      --
      If this were really happening, what would you think?
    2. Re:Cash for peerages? by elrous0 · · Score: 2, Funny
      Until today, I had never even heard the word "Peerage." In America you can't just buy your way into power. You have to be born into the Bush family to get it.

      -Eric

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  3. Re:What's wrong with the UK? by arevos · · Score: 2, Funny

    Here's what I don't get: this is the British police, not some elite hacking group. I think it's safe to say that no matter the level of security expertise of police computer experts, it's always going to be greater than the expertise of government IT staff.
  4. The police won't say by TheCybernator · · Score: 5, Funny

    The police won't say what tools they have used Kidnapping. Torturing. Unknown Prisons. Britney Spears.
    1. Re:The police won't say by LizardKing · · Score: 2, Funny

      Britney Spears.

      Yup, someone holding my eyelids open so that I had to look at another picture of Britney's cellulite? Or that "upskirt" shot of her rather ravaged beaver? It would have me confessing to anything.

  5. The hack was actually easy because by postbigbang · · Score: 4, Funny

    all the passwords were "NigellaDoMe"

    --
    ---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
  6. Re:What's wrong with the UK? by clickclickdrone · · Score: 4, Funny

    >Who was it cracked Enigma without a computer again?
    I think I'm safe in saying it wasn't the Metropolitan or City Police.

    --
    I want a list of atrocities done in your name - Recoil
  7. This is getting rather serious by Budenny · · Score: 5, Funny

    My sources tell me that, as usual, the most serious charges are related to secondary offenses.

    In the present case what is terrifying Government Ministers and senior figures in New Labour is that they may be charged with anti competitive behaviour and market manipulation - distorting the free market in peerages and other honours, and colluding with other honours suppliers. If the police start to suspect something like this has gone on, the Office of Fair Trading and the European Commission could get involved, and you know that when the Competition Directorate moves, terror strikes.

    It is truly tragic. Britain was always famous around the world as the country that operated the most open and transparent market for honours of all sorts. Its a great pity it has come to this.

  8. Re:What's wrong with the UK? by clickclickdrone · · Score: 4, Funny

    >a nuclear missile launch VB app
    Worringly, I would say it's quite likely there's a compiled VB4 package somewhere that runs under Win95 on an old Compaq 486 (DX, yay!) that has a tickbox marked 'Have you asked the Americans if it's OK?' that then enables a big red button that does the deed. Worse still, it's 30 lines of code, a 3rd party OCX (From the 'Custom Nuclear Controls Corporation') and cost £3.5bn to develop by a consortium of consultancies. Oh, and they lost the source code and the PC isn't backed up.

    --
    I want a list of atrocities done in your name - Recoil
  9. Re:Curiosity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Have you considered that maybe a warrant *is* the authorisation of an independent commissioner, who is usually a retired judge?

    Really the lesson here is that the British can fool an American by replacing a word with its definition.

  10. Obvious! by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 2, Funny
    One Westminster source said police inquiries seemed to have made a recent breakthrough. "Quite clearly, in the past few days, the police have found something quite significant, possibly a file dump of some kind," said the source.
    Of course it's all in the garbage file! Obviously, they've seen the film.
  11. Re:Curiosity by jguevin · · Score: 2, Funny

    True, just like a President can fool a Prime Minister by replacing material evidence with a really firm handshake. Or I can fool you by replacing your coffee with Folger's Crystals.

  12. Update: by Ajehals · · Score: 2, Funny

    Luckily....

    PC James Smith (now Lord Smith of Whitekirk) and Det Sgt Margaret Jackson (now Dame Jackson of Drumadoon) have said that nothing of interest was found. The supervising officer Det Insp Michael Parks (Now Lord Parks of Worth Matravers) stated that whilst nothing untoward had been identified, the procedures surrounding the "hacking" and its legality would be revised. "This revision is to be taken as the intrusion into downing street computers has caused undue distress and concern to members of the British government, and is therefore probably in contravention of the European Unions Human Rights Legislation" said a downing street media official Martin Smith-Spinalot. Lord Parks also noted that Mr John Hackeby, the home office official that had authorised the intrusion had been fired from the home office for theft of office supples and is in the process of being extradited to the United States due to his involvement in online gambling, terrorist funding and drugs trafficing, for which the US State department has said it probably has some sort of evidence, or could find some by strengthening or introduction legislation to allow it to do "anything it wants to do to fight bad things".

    (just in case anybody missed it, the above is fictitious and intended as light humour)

  13. Re:lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Recently I've been considering where to move when I leave America, if I can still reach the top of the toilet bowl to get out. After reading that the police can prosecute the Prime Minister...

    England++

  14. Re:lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    You're American, aren't you? In england we have wonderfu;l laws meaning the police aren't part of the government, and MPs and the PM can be prosecuted.

    Yes, the British system of government is fabulous.

    Especially if you want to buy a peerage.

  15. Re:lol by turgid · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...or Scotland, if you can stand the rain, cold wind, sarcasm, fried food and alcoholism.

  16. Re:Thank You by kv9 · · Score: 1, Funny

    This "LOL GUYS I BLEW BEVERAGE OUT OF MY NOSE" shit got old a really long, long time ago. I don't welcome our new beverage spilling overlords.

    in soviet russia, beverage blows you!