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College Police Think Using Linux Is Suspicious Behavior

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the so-is-your-mom dept.

FutureDomain writes "The Boston College Campus Police have seized the electronics of a computer science student for allegedly sending an email outing another student. The probable cause? The search warrant application states that he is 'a computer science major' and he uses 'two different operating systems for hiding his illegal activity. One is the regular B.C. operating system and the other is a black screen with white font which he uses prompt commands on.' The EFF is currently representing him."

14 of 1,079 comments (clear)

  1. sure it is by platypussrex · · Score: 5, Funny

    This would be funny except it's scary instead . . .

    1. Re:sure it is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      What's scary about it. The Police are merely guarding our rights and preventing any of those terrifying terrorist hacker nazi communist muslims from setting off a dirty bomb and infecting us with anthrax.

      Don't you feel that giving up a few freedoms is worth the security that the Boston College Campus Police can give you in return?

    2. Re:sure it is by Wonko+the+Sane · · Score: 5, Funny

      We might as well give up. The country is lost. If you can't beat 'em - join 'em.
      Repeat after me:

      Four legs good - two legs bad
      Four legs good - two legs bad

    3. Re:sure it is by Gabrill · · Score: 5, Funny

      It was one time, and consensual! * This is a joke, and in no way represents an actual occurrence.

      --
      Always going forward, 'cause we can't find reverse.
    4. Re:sure it is by Shakrai · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hey, is it any surprise campus security are afraid of Command Line Interface Terrorism?

      Yes, actually it is surprising. Anybody who has ever seen 24 knows that terrorists and the Government both rely on a single GUI interface for everything from tracking motor vehicles to taking over nuclear power plants.

      --
      I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
      We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
    5. Re:sure it is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Make no mistake, campus security has always been afraid of the C.L.I.T. and any C.L.I.T. based activities.

      In fact, C.L.I.T. usage is on the rise in colleges around the globe, and there are rumors that even girls are starting to utilize the C.L.I.T.

      Luckily, some campus security teams are starting to employ the Defense Intercept Command Kernel (D.I.C.K.) to keep C.L.I.T. in it's place.

    6. Re:sure it is by Hurricane78 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Try that with me. I would have wrecked the keyfile device before they could get trough the door. Then even I could not give them a password.

      And about hitting me until I confess things I did not do. Well, in such cases, I switch on some kind of "crazy mode". I hit myself, laugh at their faces, put off all my clothes, twitch crazily. All that shit. Until their inability to understand me would start to become plain fear, and they would send me off to some doctor. From there I would get out.
      Also, If I could, I would take some weird pill that would make this an even better show.

      Don't fuck with me. You don't know what I have seen in my life! I can rip your whole reality apart in seconds.

      --
      Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
    7. Re:sure it is by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 5, Funny

      Obviously, using command line is not "probable cause" for doing anything.

      Yes it is, if you're giving commands to destroy public infrastructure. By the time he was arrested, the machine had already reported a broken pipe.

    8. Re:sure it is by mackyrae · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah well, good thing my terminal has a pink background with black text. Pink is proof that anything I do in my shell is legal.

      --
      look! it's a bird, it's a plane, it's....a girl? yes, a girl browsing Slashdot on Linux
    9. Re:sure it is by theNetImp · · Score: 5, Funny

      Apparently becoming a campus cop was the only way they were going to make it to college.

    10. Re:sure it is by MightyMartian · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah well, good thing my terminal has a pink background with black text. Pink is proof that anything I do in my shell is legal.

      I think my roommate is a gay terrorist...

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  2. So Very Painfully Humiliatingly Guilty by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Funny

    Judge: Would the prosecution give its opening statements in this case?
    Prosecutor: Ladies & gentlemen of the jury, I have every intent to prove to you today that the defendant is not only guilty but that the warrant application that granted us the right to acquire evidence practically wrote itself! Now, I am going to outline the warning signs that were evident in the days leading up to this case. I want you to close your eyes for a second and imagine your warm and fuzzy graphical (that's geek speak for 'good') user interface of Windows XP--that all you good Christian patriots use. Ah, the field of green with a blue screen and your well known icons and start menu where everybody knows your name and system tray with your favorite purple gorilla and application bar ... and uh--who's that over there?--it's Clippy!
    *pauses until he sees smiles cross the juries faces*
    Prosecutor: Now, imagine that all that is taken away and you're left with the cold dark nothingness of space--like before God created the earth. The heavens and stars aren't even there. It's nothing! And there, blinking unendingly, with no remorse or care for anything good is an intimidating cursor after some letters and symbols that no American could decipher. And as you type things like "I want to order shoes on Amazon" it responds only with the cold harsh words of the devil telling you that ordering shoes on Amazon is not a valid command. And Clippy? Clippy is dead.
    *takes a drink of water and smiles smugly as the jury begins to scowl*
    Prosecutor: And this is what the defendant used to send that e-mail. This ... this evil operating system is what hackers use. Maybe those hackers are the same ones that stole your credit card information? Maybe this operating system can only be understood by the criminally insane? I know I can't use it. It would be like me trying to read a book in German. You know who else spoke German? Hitler.
    Prosecutor: So you see, this warrant was basically granted from keystroke one after we found out that the defendant was using Linux--an operating system that encourages you to use a file sharing software to install it. The warrant is valid, I'm just asking you what else might have been done with Linux and its evil knowledge installed on that college student's head and computer. Your honor, I rest my case.

    --
    My work here is dung.
  3. Re:What? by b0ttle · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not if you use windows.

  4. Re:Probable Cause? by InsertWittyNameHere · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is why I go to great lengths to prove I have nothing to hide...

    ...I always talk on my phone with speakerphone on. I have nothing to hide.

    ...If I have a dirty thought I yell it out. I have nothing to hide.

    ...When I use a public washroom I'm always sure to leave the stall door open. I explain what I'm doing as I'm doing it so that they know there isn't a weapon in my hand and my actions aren't a threat to them.

    ...I walk around wearing nothing but a trench coat and routinely open it in front of unsuspecting young woman. I want the world to know I have nothing to hide.

    Just doing my part to make the world a better place. Your welcome!