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NYPD Detective Accused of Hiring Email Hackers
An anonymous reader writes "Edwin Vargas, a detective with the New York City Police Department, was arrested on Tuesday for computer hacking crimes. According to the complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court, between March 2011 and October 2012, Vargas, an NYPD detective assigned to a precinct in the Bronx, hired an e-mail hacking service to obtain log-in credentials, such as the password and username, for certain e-mail accounts. In total, he purchased access to at least 43 personal e-mail accounts belonging to 30 different individuals, including at least 19 who are affiliated with the NYPD."
$50 - $250 for an NYPD Detective's email login and password? Ack!
When I was hired as a fireman, one of the things my new chief told me was that when you accept that badge, people have a certain level of expectation for trustworthiness, and anything you do - illegal or not - will no longer be reported as "man" or "suspect" in the arena of public opinion, but now it becomes "fireman cut me off on the highway" or "Firefighter acts like a douchebag in grocery store". And then it reflects on all firemen, no matter how unfair that can be.
This cop has just done the entire law enforcement profession a great disservice, but the public trust of law enforcement is wearing thin as it is at this point...
In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
Once again, a woman is to blame. It's usually either that, or money.
The reason for the digital snooping appeared to be personal, law enforcement officials said: Detective Vargas, 42, suspected a former girlfriend — also an employee of the Police Department, an official said — had started a new relationship with a fellow officer.
So... it's the woman's fault that the pig she dumped turned out to be a stalker?
Wow. Just.... just wow.
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame
But Jimmy knows it's his own damn fault
From TFA:
"Of all places, the police department is not a workplace where one should have to be concerned about an unscrupulous fellow employee." commented FBI Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos.
Hmm, let me fix that for you, Mr Venizelos:
"Of all places, the police department is the workplace where one should be most concerned about an unscrupulous fellow employee."
Glad I could help.
"Here Lies Philip J. Fry, named for his uncle, to carry on his spirit"
wonder what the username and passwords for electrical grid employees are going for...
Where are were the hacked email accounts hosted?
Were they on some dedicated police email server or were they webmail accounts (Gmail etc.)? How did the hackers get in so easily, apparently? Inquiring minds want to know.
I feel like I'm getting a far more credit in these responses than I deserve. I merely wanted to communicate something my old chief said that resonated with me as an important fact about being in the public service, and by extension, the public eye. But thank you.
On an unrelated note, I can't remember why I disabled my karma bonus, but I don't miss it. The setting to change your default is somewhere if you don't like using it.
In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
+1 if i had mod points today... Unfortunately the right-wing, pro-police-state idiots have already modded you down.
I think that the fire department is a great public service, and I don't condemn their service, but show me ONE that has ever in their lives stood up for what is right and testified against ANYONE with a badge who has abused their power.
Every fireman I have ever met has been a self-absorbed prick who thinks he's a at the same level as a cop and therefore above the law, and better than everyone else on the planet.