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Hackers Publish Personal Data On Thousands of US Police Officers, Federal Agents (techcrunch.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: A hacker group has breached several FBI-affiliated websites and uploaded their contents to the web, including dozens of files containing the personal information of thousands of federal agents and law enforcement officers, TechCrunch has learned. The hackers breached three sites associated with the FBI National Academy Association, a coalition of different chapters across the U.S. promoting federal and law enforcement leadership and training located at the FBI training academy in Quantico, VA. The hackers exploited flaws on at least three of the organization's chapter websites -- which we're not naming -- and downloaded the contents of each web server. The hackers then put the data up for download on their own website, which we're also not naming nor linking to given the sensitivity of the data. The spreadsheets contained about 4,000 unique records after duplicates were removed, including member names, a mix of personal and government email addresses, job titles, phone numbers and their postal addresses. The FBINAA could not be reached for comment outside of business hours. If we hear back, we'll update. "We hacked more than 1,000 sites," said the hacker. "Now we are structuring all the data, and soon they will be sold. I think something else will publish from the list of hacked government sites." When asked if they were worried that the files they put up for download would put federal agents and law enforcement at risk, the hacker said: "Probably, yes." The hacker claimed to have "over a million data" [sic] on employees across several U.S. federal agencies and public service organizations.

161 comments

  1. Nothing like protesting bad cops giving tickets by ckatko · · Score: 0

    by having them all end up dead.

    1. Re:Nothing like protesting bad cops giving tickets by quonset · · Score: 1

      Nothing like protesting anarchists who think it's funny to destroy other people's property by having them all end up dead.

      Nothing like protesting all those hackers who think it's funny to release information on people by having them all end up dead.

      Same thing.

    2. Re:Nothing like protesting bad cops giving tickets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Nothing like protesting bad cops giving tickets by having them all end up dead.

      You know, between warrantless cell-phone surveillance, civil forfeit (ie theft), cops trying to arrest people for filming them and claiming it's illegal, and police shooting unarmed people ... I'm afraid I have little sympathy for law enforcement.

      They seem to think we have no privacy and anything they do is legal, even when they know damned well it isn't.

      As far as I'm concerned, this same shit should happen to everybody who works for Facebook or any other analytics company, anybody who makes surveillance products and doesn't seem to care they sell it to, and all of the other sacks of shit who actively erode our privacy.

      Boo mother fucking hoo.

      The police don't give a fuck about the law or your rights, so why the fuck would we think their privacy matters more than ours?

    3. Re:Nothing like protesting bad cops giving tickets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Next time you need a cop call a crack dealer instead.

  2. This by fluffernutter · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A lot of people say, if you do nothing wrong what do you have to hide? Well... this.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    1. Re:This by i.r.id10t · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Indeed. I work for the state of Florida, and on request our HR dept has to supply names, salaries, job titles, etc. Unless you are a cop or related to a cop or a DA or judge or ...

      And there are plenty of other laws that restrict people, other than cops. Heck, every single gun control law passed in the last 30 years has exemptions for police officers, even if the stuff isn't issued as a duty weapon/accessory.

      Whatever happened to "equal protection under the law" ?

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
    2. Re:This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Those people have not met the entitled sociopaths of this world yet.

    3. Re:This by fluffernutter · · Score: 0

      To me it's already scary that people think they need to own guns there because the police won't come in time. I fear it won't end well.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    4. Re:This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      When asked if they were worried that the files they put up for download would put federal agents and law enforcement at risk, the hacker said: "Probably, yes."

      Instead of using their skill to make the world a better place or even keeping it as is, they're using it to put people at risk. Regardless of their motivation (money) that's just so sad and a prime example of what's wrong with (some) people, organizations and governments.

      Sad.

    5. Re: This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      In the U.S. freedom means being allowed to carry a gun to feel safe. In Canada freedom means not needing to own a gun to feel safe.

    6. Re: This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      You must live in the parts that don't have moose.

    7. Re:This by quonset · · Score: 1, Insightful

      because the police won't come in time.

      The only possibility for police to come in time if a crime is being committed or if your life is in danger is to have police on every street corner.

      What's scary is you don't grasp this simple concept.

    8. Re:This by fluffernutter · · Score: 2

      Oh, right. We do have our Canadian "cop on every corner" program.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    9. Re:This by fluffernutter · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I still think the US will fall to rampant crime and chaos very soon. Really it's something I don't want to be right on, but there are too many people there who don't think they should have a responsibility to society. People like thrive in chaos. They are the warlords.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    10. Re: This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      moose is a euphemism for non-whites, the perps of most canadian crime.

    11. Re:This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry, were you trying to talk about US police officers and federal agents doing nothing wrong? Perhaps the reason they have so much fear is law enforcement doing things wrong and doxing leading to some unpleasant vigilante justice. There's a reason for the argument of police officers living in the area they serve. It not only makes them available and their presence as a deterrent, but it also prevents them from engaging in extra-legal law enforcement because they recognize it can have all sorts of bad consequences for themselves and their families. Yes, this can backfire and a popular person may be above enforcement because of fear of retaliation or the very few criminals may retaliate without any reason. Overall, though, it's a reasonable compromise when you want police to care about their community and have their priorities straight while not leaving them protected from prosecution or punishment by other, vested police officers.

    12. Re: This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, it's a big-ass damn animal that can stomp you to death. YAAFM

    13. Re:This by fluffernutter · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Listen, my point is, if you really need a cop on every corner or a gun to feel safe do your family a favour and move to a safe country.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    14. Re:This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Obviously sarcasm and we know you don't. Which is why in Canada, like everywhere else, police are a clean up crew, not crime *prevention*. OK, they may prevent some, but they're future crimes prevented by arresting someone they found through cleaning up an already accomplished crime.

    15. Re:This by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 1

      To me it's already scary that people think they need to own guns there because the police won't come in time.

      Don't call the police. Call a personal injury lawyer. They will be immediately there.

      On the downside, you will get a hefty bill for the matter.

      Maybe we need an emergency dispatcher number for lawyers . . . ?

      How about 666 . . . ?

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    16. Re:This by ArchieBunker · · Score: 2

      As the old saying goes I'd rather own a gun and never need it versus needing a gun and not owning one.

      --
      Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
    17. Re:This by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      The thing about life is that there is always a bad apple in every barrel. Every time there is an idea for a regulation that could flush out the bad apples, Americans complain the man is coming down on them.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    18. Re:This by msauve · · Score: 1, Troll

      Are you claiming that where you live, crime never happens unless there's a cop around? I see a simple solution to your crime problem.

      --
      "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    19. Re:This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Listen, my point is, if you really need a cop on every corner or a gun to feel safe do your family a favour and move to a safe country.

      Easy for you to _say_. Hard for most people to actually do. Even though I have desirable job skills, nobody is giving permanent residency visas to people my age, last I checked.
      Fortunately I live in a pretty safe place. And I'm a big guy, so when I go to less safe places I don't usually feel threatened.
      I feel sorry though for people who aren't as lucky as I am.

    20. Re: This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      50 years ago, being black, or gay for example, meant you were one of those bad apples which needed cleaning out.

    21. Re:This by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      if you really need a cop on every corner or a gun to feel safe do your family a favour and move to a safe country.

      Name a safe country.

      Hint: There is no such thing

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    22. Re:This by cayenne8 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Listen, my point is, if you really need a cop on every corner or a gun to feel safe do your family a favour and move to a safe country.

      Look, in the US, likely as not, your chances of having a home invasion, or having to use a weapon to defend yourself, for most people not in a gang is VERY low.

      Violent crime has been going down for decades.

      HOWEVER, there is a chance. Even people in good neighborhoods get home invaded. Guess what, the criminals know the good houses have stuff in them that is valuable.

      In the best of cities, the police response time for emergency is like 8 minutes.

      A LOT can happen in 8 minutes.

      It think it is a good thing in the US to have the choice to be able to defend yourself with firearms. Criminals have them, you should be able to have them too.

      For the most part, the police are not there to prevent crimes, they are there to investigate crime scenes and find people to charge with crimes.

      Hell, there are even court cases in the US that establish that the police actually aren't under obligation to protect you.

      It's not the legal gun owners you have to worry about. Most gun crime in the US is by hand gun, rifles (even the "scary" semi-auto rifles like the AR or other models) account for a VERY small number of gun crimes.

      And of the majority of gun deaths (let's remove suicides, that shouldn't be included)...are gang members shooting each other with stolen hand guns.

      Yet...all the gun control being promoted, is not targeted at the largest problem. See this article The Assault Weapons Myth .

      To me, it is like insurance, you likely won't need it, you hope you NEVER need it, but it is good to have around in case you do.

      If you don't want a weapon in your house, fine...your decision.

      If you don't want to carry concealed in your daily life, then don't.

      But if "I" want to, and do so legally, then there is nothing that should prevent me from doing so, as insurance for my home, family and personal safety.

      When seconds and minutes count, it is 100% up to YOU to protect and defend yourself, no one else is going to be there.

      8 minutes is a lifetime when intruders are breaking into your home with you there.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    23. Re:This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

      I still think the US will fall to rampant crime and chaos very soon. Really it's something I don't want to be right on, but there are too many people there who don't think they should have a responsibility to society. People like thrive in chaos. They are the warlords.

      I'm more worried about the Ted Nugents and the Joe Walshes here who threaten to get their guns and start a violent insurrection if the "wrong party" gets more votes in the next election.
      And those are people who – theoretically – have lots of money. They're setting a bad example. I actually worry more about the less well off who follow them.
      But if there is post election violence, Ted and Joe pretty high profile; I know who I'll be aiming at. :-)

    24. Re:This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Name a safe country.

      Hint: There is no such thing

      Sure, no place is completely safe.
      But there are countries where Joe the Plumber isn't allowed to open carry a bump stock modified AK47 just because he has a small penis.

    25. Re:This by drinkypoo · · Score: 1, Troll

      Sure, no place is completely safe.
      But there are countries where Joe the Plumber isn't allowed to open carry a bump stock modified AK47 just because he has a small penis.

      Bump stocks are for dipshits. If you want to modify an AK47 for full auto, you can google "ak47 full auto mod" and find out how to do it. Do it from a McDonalds or something if you actually plan to do it, I don't own any AKs (or even ARs) so I just went ahead and did it from my browser :p

      In those countries, people are allowed to carry flammable materials, and drive cars. You could kill a whole building full of people with a car, some wood, and some matches. Just block one exit with a car, and one exit with a fire.

      The odds of being killed by a mass shooter are minuscule. I still think we should take steps to reduce mass shootings, but banning bump stocks was masturbatory.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    26. Re:This by sarren1901 · · Score: 2

      I'm definitely pro-gun but banning bump stocks really didn't seem so bad. Literally anyone that could fire a gun could likely add the bump stock. Modifying a semi-auto rifle to full, while definitely doable, is not something even the typical gun owner can do.

      Sure, they could learn to do it and likely it isn't so hard with a little practice and the proper tools but it definitely requires you be determined to buy all the stuff needed, learn to use it and then successfully mod your rifle. That's a big leap from driving to the store to buy your bump stock and away you go.

      Besides, it was an easy thing to ban since it really did effectively make semi-auto a full auto. You can get full auto, but requires a lot more paperwork. It's reasonable.

    27. Re:This by Immerman · · Score: 1

      Library, not McDonald's. Your phone/laptop/etc. still announces its uniquely identifiable properties to universe+dog no matter what network its on (though you can *maybe* prevent it if you know what you're doing, and not already under surveillance)

      Librarians on the other hand tend to be on the front lines of defending privacy - use their computers, and you can probably avoid leaving an incriminating record tied to you.

      --
      --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
    28. Re:This by Immerman · · Score: 0

      Yep, hand guns and combat rifles are pretty much the two kinds of gun designed specifically for killing people. And hand guns are designed to be covert and convenient as well. Never fails to amaze me how much more violently people react to combat rifles, when handguns are the more dangerous weapon in almost any non-battlefield scenario.

      --
      --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
    29. Re:This by RockDoctor · · Score: 1

      Heck, every single gun control law passed in the last 30 years has exemptions for police officers, even if the stuff isn't issued as a duty weapon/accessory.

      What?

      I may be misunderstanding this, but are you saying that Florida police have to actually buy their own guns? So, one cop in a patrol car could be carrying a 9.0678 mm bore weapon, and the cop in the passenger seat carrying an 11.43mm bore weapon, and neither able to use the other's ammunition?

      Assuming that guns are fairly expensive, I assume they're returned to the owner's next of kin after a death on duty ... and any appropriate court cases, appeals etc.

      Over here, if a piece of equipment is necessary to do a job (steel toe boots, flame-resistant coveralls, hard-hat, breathing apparatus), it's supplied by the employer, not the employee. In large part because if someone else (passer by, another worker) is injured by it, the responsibility for maintenance lays very clearly with the company director's and their maintenance procedures.

      --
      Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
    30. Re:This by TigerPlish · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Listen, my point is, if you really need a cop on every corner or a gun to feel safe do your family a favour and move to a safe country.

      Like England, who disarmed their populace and allow no firearms AND has ridiculous knife laws now has knife-murder problem?

      Beware any government who wishes to disarm its people. If you can't understand that, you don't understand freedom.

      --
      The "Civilized World" jumped the shark ca. 1973.
    31. Re:This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just the fact that a cop's testimony outweighs a normal citizen is sufficient cause for alarm.

      Meaning, if I punched Johnny in the belly and left no visible evidence, he goes and tries to file complaint, I deny it, without any other evidence, it wouldn't even go to trial because it would be his word against mine.

      If I went and did the same to a cop, there is no doubt I'd be charged, tried and convicted.

    32. Re:This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, he's saying that if you are a police officer, in addition the provided weapon, you can buy your own personal guns except from the laws that govern citizens.

      If I don't need a gun, then why does an off-duty officer need a gun? Law enforcement generally attracts bullies, they should be the last person allowed to own a firearm outside their job.

      --XYZZY--

    33. Re: This by nospam007 · · Score: 2

      Including the majestik møøse A Møøse once bit my sister... No realli! She was Karving her initials on the møøse with the sharpened end of an interspace tøøthbrush given her by Svenge - her brother-in-law - an Oslo dentist and star of many Norwegian møvies: "The Høt Hands of an Oslo Dentist", "Fillings of Passion", "The Huge Mølars of Horst Nordfink"... We apologise for the fault in the subtitles. Those responsible have been sacked.

    34. Re:This by Dunbal · · Score: 2

      Mass murder is not something the typical gun owner can or would do, either.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    35. Re: This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Until they find out that you are doing firearms research...

    36. Re:This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Listen, my point is, if you really need a cop on every corner or a gun to feel safe do your family a favour and move to a safe country.

      We did. It was called "white flight."

      Now we are racists for doing our families a favor and moving to the safe suburbs where we don't need guns.

    37. Re:This by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

      Listen, my point is, if you really need a cop on every corner or a gun to feel safe do your family a favour and move to a safe country.

      Moving to another country is usually easier said than done.

      [ Just ask the people traveling North at the U.S. Southern Border -- who are trying to do exactly what you just recommended. ]

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    38. Re: This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      So, if most gang members are shooting each other with stolen guns, where do they steal the guns from? If there are fewer legally-owned guns on the street and in people's homes, doesn't that mean there are less guns to steal?

    39. Re:This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Probably because "there is always a bad apple in every barrel" applies to "the man" as much as any other group, yet we don't hear stories of police officers coming down hard on other police officers and accidentally killing them. The simple fact is, there's a history and a clear truth to the notion of the "the man is coming down" on whole barrels of apples when the police decide a few in the barrel are bad, and they over react with little to no consequence. So, you can come back to me and try to defend the watchers when they're being sufficiently regulated. Until then, it's just not something I or many others can swallow.

    40. Re: This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nah the cops and courts there just ignore the laws and constitution act. You dont resist the crooks because they won't hurt you then hope the cops find them. You allow drug rings to thrive because your cooks and rcmp are just as corrupt as the dealers. Take a harder look at your own system before you critisize.

    41. Re: This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is nothing wrong with Joe plumber carrying anything. Btw it is perfectly legal 5o carry a fully automatic m16 if you can afford one. Look up NFA weapons they are perfectly legal though a pain to get amd expensive.

    42. Re: This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Only a moron would call an ar15 a combat rifle. No one on this planet uses one in combat in a military setting. The thing that was the ar15 that was used in combat is not what we have now. That ar15 was renamed the m16. A semi automatic variant was created for the sporting community. Additionally you obviously know jack about firearms or your know this. You'd also know that the most dangerous rifles aren't the ones with a high capacity magazine. They are precision rifles with a suppressor(NFA item and perfectly legal) so the targets dont see the muzzle flash. A skilled shooter doesn't spray and pray. Quit spouting propaganda about subjects you know nothing about.

    43. Re: This by Immerman · · Score: 1

      Where do you see me mentioning the AR15? Yes, there are a lot of "lookalike" consumer weapons that wouldn't be particularly suitable for a combat setting - but even they would generally be preferable to a hunting rifle.

      Then you go on about snipers, I'm talking assholes shooting people in a fit of carelessness or passion, criminals shooting rivals and victims, and psychopaths shooting up churches, theaters, etc.

      I'm fairly certain that eliminating rifles of all kinds would have a very small effect on total gun deaths. Yes, they are far more dangerous in skilled hands (given the right environment and visibility). But by the same token, skilled gunmen are far more likely to treat their weapon with the respect it deserves.

      --
      --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
    44. Re: This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Freedom has nothing to do with feeling safe, it is about living your life without intrusion. If you think you need a reason to be free, you already failed in understanding.

    45. Re: This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sure, let's start by disarming law-abiding citizens and hoping eventually the criminals will run out. Great idea, champ.

      I guess it isn't even worth mentioning that out founding social contract invalidates and makes illegal every single gun law.

    46. Re: This by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      So, if most gang members are shooting each other with stolen guns, where do they steal the guns from? If there are fewer legally-owned guns on the street and in people's homes, doesn't that mean there are less guns to steal?

      So...there is a tiny minority of people that are gang members.

      So, we curtail the rights of the VAST majority of legal, law abiding citizens, just to cater to the lowest denominator ? A few ruin it for the vast majority?

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    47. Re:This by NormalVisual · · Score: 1

      You can get full auto, but requires a lot more paperwork. It's reasonable.

      Reasonable except for the whole "can't have been manufactured after May 19, 1986" thing, which in turn means the police can buy a brand-new full-auto MP5 for $1,500, while you get to pay about $30,000 for a 35-year old used gun, which of course is "working as intended" as far as the legislation's authors are concerned. This is assuming you're talking about the U.S.

      --
      Please stand clear of the doors, por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas
    48. Re:This by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      How disappointing for them that they only get a reprieve from violence for one or two years, and then America will be just as bad.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    49. Re:This by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      i've never really lived in a place in Canada where it was unavoidable. In every city there is the area with rough house parties, stay out of those areas and crime is almost non-existent. About all you gets is bored teens stealing bikes from sheds and all the parents denying it is their 'little angles' committing the crimes. I really can't imagine living in a place where it was that inescapable that you need a gun in your home considering the immediate danger that brings to families.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    50. Re:This by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      How many knife murderers kill 58 people and wound 422 all in one go? I guess the trick is to be able to throw the knives really far from the hotel room you barricaded.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    51. Re:This by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      They're who I am talking about. Many people out there hoarding guns and supplies waiting for the right moment. These are the people who voted for Trump, not because he will help the country but because he will tear it apart.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    52. Re:This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I really can't imagine living in a place where it was that inescapable that you need a gun in your home considering the immediate danger that brings to families.

      Move to a place that has poisonous snakes or alligators or crocodiles and you might change your mind about that - especially once you have children. I live in the city, but I know people not ten miles from here that - over the years - have shot multiple snakes on their property to protect their children.

      We do get occasional mountain lions in the city, and also bears - but both of them tend to avoid humans, and I'm rarely out late at night when the animal prowl, so I don't worry about much about either of these as potential threats. They tend to not see humans as potential prey, so as long as the animal doesn't get rabies ...

      It's not just the human predators that people are concerned about.

      Of course, in the households with responsible gun owners (more than 99.9%), the children learn gun safety from an early age (much like children have throughout much of US history, before Hollywood and others converted the firearm into a scary threat instead of a useful tool), so the firearms aren't an immediate danger in the house.

    53. Re:This by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      Well I chose to live in a neighborhood where the neighbors talk and there have been no crimes that anyone can remember. I mean the old man down at the end of the street remembered when the other house was built and how the plumbing ran through the yard but there is no talk of crime ever.

      These places do exist if you look for them and they are often affordable places to live. Owning a gun in itself represents a risk to your family so that can never be the best choice statistically speaking.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    54. Re: This by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      If you think people will break into your house, you're not free.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    55. Re:This by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      I'm not talking about wildlife. Yes agreed if a person lives in a place where there is wildlife that is a valid use for a gun, preferably the biggest canon possible so the noise scares them off. Criminals are humans, which make them much easier to anticipate.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    56. Re: This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do locks exist in your country? Do you have any regulations on businesses to prevent them from driving up and dumping waste all over your property?
      Humanity has many narcissists, sociopaths, and simply desperate people. You should fear these people, because they WILL hurt you for personal gain if you leave yourself open.
      The US has many issues with big and little crime for several reasons, but among them is the fact that it's wealthy. There's a ton of money floating around in the states, and that attracts nasty people like rats to cheese. It also attracts good people. Engineers, scientists, hard workers. Humanity has prospered on the back of these people more than it's suffered at the hand of the greedy. The US doesn't target perfection. It targets 80%.

    57. Re:This by RockDoctor · · Score: 1
      That is ... the sort of insanity I'd expect from America.

      Law enforcement generally attracts bullies, they should be the last person allowed to own a firearm outside their job.

      Perfectly sane. Would never be a question outside America.

      --XYZZY--

      Plugh!

      --
      Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
  3. We use to have all this public before by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It was called a Phone Book.

    1. Re:We use to have all this public before by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It was called a Phone Book.

      It is still all public, except for the privileged.
      The rest of you peons get your personal data traded multiple times daily. Boo hoo.

  4. Re: It's Putin's Fault by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Funny. The IT industry may never get their act together around security. Remember the good times before the Internet, people! Like stupidity central

  5. Looks like we're equal now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's cool, we'll wait to delete it until they delete their vast databases that are used to remove our freedoms.

    1. Re:Looks like we're equal now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We're not equal. Where the fuck is the link to the spreadsheet?

      This deserves to be on every billboard in America. If we, as private citizens, have no privacy, neither should they.

      Fuck. The. Police.

  6. Wakeup call, more like by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hey... "if they haven't done anything wrong, they have nothing to worry about."

    Sound familiar? Huh?

    Goose, gander. Karma, even.

    1. Re:Wakeup call, more like by RecycledElectrons · · Score: 2, Insightful

      > Are you 14 years old? Go and fucking kill yourself, you degenerate retard.

      Their data is legally required to be public record anyway.

      Secret Police, like the East German STASI, always lead to abuse. Like this post, by a secret police, who commits a criminal violation of the anti-cyber-bullying laws.

      Criminal complaint filed. Demand for victim restitution registered.

    2. Re:Wakeup call, more like by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Test to verify that when posting anonymously, my name shows.

    3. Re:Wakeup call, more like by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Their data is legally required to be public record anyway.

      Secret Police, like the East German STASI, always lead to abuse. Like this post, by a secret police, who commits a criminal violation of the anti-cyber-bullying laws.

      Criminal complaint filed. Demand for victim restitution registered.

    4. Re:Wakeup call, more like by nospam007 · · Score: 1

      "Test to verify that when posting anonymously, my name shows."

      They fooled you, it still shows your name. :-)

    5. Re:Wakeup call, more like by McFortner · · Score: 2

      Hey... "if they haven't done anything wrong, they have nothing to worry about."

      What an interesting idea. And since they like releasing personal info, how about those hackers release and publish THEIR personal info too?

      --
      Beware of Sales Reps bearing gifts.
    6. Re:Wakeup call, more like by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey... "if they haven't done anything wrong, they have nothing to worry about."

      What an interesting idea. And since they like releasing personal info, how about those hackers release and publish THEIR personal info too?

      They have. Just not in the file dump :-D

  7. People abusing positions of power by Iwastheone · · Score: 5, Informative

    I know an adult woman, her dad is 'stalking' her via her cellphone, he's a cop. Constantly texts her how he knows exactly where she is and she is paranoid about it. I explained to her how yes, he can tap into her cellphone unless she pulls out her battery. Advised her to change her cellphone number and take screenshots of all texts he's sent to her. Smartphones are spy devices with antennas, anyone can stalk someones location. Now she knows to get an order of protection against him.

    1. Re:People abusing positions of power by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I know an adult woman, her dad is 'stalking' her via her cellphone, he's a cop. Constantly texts her how he knows exactly where she is and she is paranoid about it. I explained to her how yes, he can tap into her cellphone unless she pulls out her battery. Advised her to change her cellphone number and take screenshots of all texts he's sent to her. Smartphones are spy devices with antennas, anyone can stalk someones location. Now she knows to get an order of protection against him.

      Police cannot just tap a family members phone. The paranoid crap on here is not even close to how things actually work. It takes a near act of god to get a Title III wiretap. The Justice dept has to sign off and all other possible investigative methods must be exhausted.

    2. Re:People abusing positions of power by tquasar · · Score: 2

      Use a RFID blocking wallet or bag. https://www.amazon.com/Blockin...

    3. Re: People abusing positions of power by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can I still text and use Facebook with this?

    4. Re:People abusing positions of power by nadass · · Score: 2

      I know an adult woman, her dad is 'stalking' her via her cellphone, he's a cop. Constantly texts her how he knows exactly where she is and she is paranoid about it. I explained to her how yes, he can tap into her cellphone unless she pulls out her battery. Advised her to change her cellphone number and take screenshots of all texts he's sent to her. Smartphones are spy devices with antennas, anyone can stalk someones location. Now she knows to get an order of protection against him.

      That's a lotta FUD. Is the "Find my iPhone" function turned on? Or the feature where friends share their locations with their contacts? Or do they constantly post their own GPS coordinates on social media?

      As for "smartphones are spy devices"... everything is a "spy" device. Your use of a computer right now, sharing this story but without being an "anonymous coward," has already placed your adult woman's life in danger, because now people can connect the dots between you and them...

      At any rate, I, too, know some paranoid people. They think the federal government is interested in them! Of all 7.8 BILLION humans currently alive on the planet earth, THEY (the 1 person) is somehow top of the list! It's not logical thinking, it's barely rational, but they're paranoid and believe they're "next."

    5. Re:People abusing positions of power by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Police cannot just tap a family members phone. The paranoid crap on here is not even close to how things actually work. It takes a near act of god to get a Title III wiretap. The Justice dept has to sign off and all other possible investigative methods must be exhausted.

      LMFAO, yes all cops play by the book. Same for the people working in the telecoms companies, nobody has ever misused their position.

    6. Re:People abusing positions of power by burtosis · · Score: 2

      I object to government spying on all its citizens, not because I'm special or have anything to hide, but because of the leverage this gives the government to do wrong. It lets them know about every CEOs affair, and can manipulate stock prices or force them into cooperating. It allows for insider trading such that the only limit on making money is getting too big and obvious so as to be caught. It lets them dig up dirt and prosecute just some political opponents or activist groups while protecting others. On and on. It's bad enough what private companies can do with data, the last thing we need is the government taking all of the private data and adding thier own layer of spying underneath it by hijacking communication backbones and installing malware everywhere.

    7. Re:People abusing positions of power by shplopt · · Score: 2

      Where's the uncertainty? Individual police officers have direct access to real time E911 location data. This is not a conspiracy theory. It is well documented. There doesn't need to be a vast network of federal agents watching you, there just needs to be one cop who's an asshole.

    8. Re: People abusing positions of power by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Iâ(TM)ve totally never seen, first hand, telecom employees & contractors reading customersâ(TM) personal text messages for entertainment and forwarding them around via chat... or piles of printed death certificates and PII laying on the floor. lol. I wonder where all the burned DVD archives, collected weekly, went. I donâ(TM)t think it was for data retention.

    9. Re:People abusing positions of power by Iwastheone · · Score: 1

      I did also suggest a Faraday bag to her. Told her that's not an ideal solution and will drain her battery faster as the phone will try harder to locate cell phone towers. She has a good man as her SO, they are getting the SMS Backup+ app by Jan Berkel for her android phone. Then she can easily print out the texts for a judge to read. https://play.google.com/store/...

    10. Re:People abusing positions of power by Iwastheone · · Score: 1

      It's an android phone and gps confirmed off. Ever hear of stingray devices that police use but cannot admit to in court since..., 4th amendment? Cell phone tower triangulation? A laptop, a $35 darkweb program and about $50 if Radio Shack parts? Do nothing on any device whether it's a text/email/phone call that you would not want to be heard back in a courtroom. Do not commit a crime if you have your cellphone with you, even if it's off. If you cannot pull out the battery, it can be turned on remotely even though it is "off".

    11. Re: People abusing positions of power by Iwastheone · · Score: 1

      No, a Faraday bag blocks all signals.

    12. Re:People abusing positions of power by Iwastheone · · Score: 1

      P.S. If your phone has an un-removable, "sealed" battery and it is powered off, it still 'pings' cell phone towers. Learn the rules of modern life then act accordingly. If you don't, and commit an illegal crime, then you need to get used to a jail cell. Straight talk here.

    13. Re: People abusing positions of power by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Serious question - won't flight mode work also? Or is there a way around that?

    14. Re: People abusing positions of power by Iwastheone · · Score: 1
      I doubt if flight mode will protect you. While you're in flight mode your phone is still active. Even when turned off, if you have a sealed battery it still pings cell towers while "off". Only if you can remove the battery then it is not able to send anything. A "faraday' bag will prevent signals from being sent, but your phone won't be able to function. Your phone when on in a "faraday cage" bag will drain battery faster since it's trying harder to connect to a cellphone tower.

      "Flight mode" is a 'soft button', so you must assume that your phone is still able to communicate to cell towers/wifi/bluetooth hacks. If it's not a real hard wired "On/Off" switch, do not trust.

    15. Re: People abusing positions of power by Cederic · · Score: 1

      Even when turned off, if you have a sealed battery it still pings cell towers while "off".

      I don't believe you.

    16. Re: People abusing positions of power by Iwastheone · · Score: 1

      Even when turned off, if you have a sealed battery it still pings cell towers while "off".

      I don't believe you.

      Don't believe me, I'm cool with that. You have your opinion. I have my 'experience'. You think you're right, I 'know' that I'm right. I have relatives who work for the government in jobs that they cannot talk about. Years before Microsoft bought Skype, I bought a wifi tablet and said, "Now we can Skype to each other!" That relative instantly said back to me, "Oh no, Skype is not secure." Today we know that Skype is not secure, back then no one knew that. I'm a thinking man. So believe whatever makes you feel happy and safe. I know different. Cheers to you, sleep well in your ignorance. Ignorance is bliss. ;)

    17. Re: People abusing positions of power by Cederic · · Score: 1

      Strange. Here I was, expecting a thinking man to provide references, resources and evidence that he wasn't a paranoid fool.

      You failed.

    18. Re: People abusing positions of power by Iwastheone · · Score: 1

      Strange. Here I was, expecting a thinking man to provide references, resources and evidence that he wasn't a paranoid fool.

      You failed.

      Good morning "Cederic" I apologize for not providing references, resources and evidence. I do not personally know Edward Snowden. If you know his phone number give him a shout. He'll be able to provide all citations. Regards to you, iwastheone (aka on /. sternishefan, an older account here).

    19. Re: People abusing positions of power by Cederic · · Score: 1

      I don't know Snowden either, but I've seen and read plenty of the material he revealed.

      None of it included

      Even when turned off, if you have a sealed battery it still pings cell towers while "off".

      It's easy for you to convince me though. Just provide me with a link that supports this claim.

    20. Re: People abusing positions of power by Iwastheone · · Score: 1

      I just got done moving refrigerators, hooking up the ice cube/water line and I want the rest of my weekend for myself. Don't beleive me, we'll leave it at that. Have a good day. :)

    21. Re: People abusing positions of power by Iwastheone · · Score: 1
    22. Re: People abusing positions of power by Iwastheone · · Score: 1
      If I was rude to you Sir I apologize, it's been a very busy week/weekend for me. From provided link. https://security.stackexchange...

      If you have a phone with a removable main battery, you can try this: Disable the cellular network, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth etc on your phone by turning them off manually and then putting the phone into flight mode.

      Make a note of the current time shown on the phone and on your PC by writing it down on paper.

      Shut down the phone, remove the main battery and the SIM card. Now wait 5 minutes.

      Put the main battery back in, but not the SIM card and then turn the phone on again. The phone should still be in flight mode.

      Note the current time on the phone again and the current time from your PC.

      Remember when in Flight Mode and without the SIM card, the phone cannot get a time update from the cell tower. If a phone just stored the current time in flash memory before shutting down, then on powering on the phone it would be 5 minutes behind and match the time you wrote down on paper. This is because it would not know how much time had elapsed from when the phone had shut off and when it was turned on again. However that is not what happened, it kept up with the current time even when shut off and the battery was removed. That is because of the second battery on the phone.

      mobile phone circuit board

      This HowStuffWorks article looks into the inside of a digital mobile phone. Quoting from the article: "As you can see in the picture above, the speaker is about the size of a dime and the microphone is no larger than the watch battery beside it. Speaking of the watch battery, this is used by the mobile phone's internal clock chip." This would be similar to the function of a CMOS battery in every PC/laptop. There is also a February 2010 patent mentioning a primary and secondary battery of different size and capacity: "The first battery may discharge during use of the mobile phone without simultaneous discharge of the second battery. Upon discharge of the first battery, the second battery may not be automatically activated."

      A standard silver cell watch battery has a capacity of 200 mAh, a Zinc-air battery has a capacity of 620 mAh. From personal experience, my battery in my wristwatch has lasted for over a decade as it was just keeping the time, running alarms and the odd stopwatch. I am not certain which capacity the secondary battery is which is installed on most mobile phones but it could contain a newer, powerful one installed by the manufacturers. The design of mobile phones is typically a closed design. There is a new micro-battery that could fit in and power a credit-card-thin device and be charged 1,000 times faster than regular batteries. Therefore every time you charged your phone, it would charge the secondary battery as well.

      When the phone is turned off and the main battery is removed, the secondary battery could do more than just keep track of the time. It is all connected to the same circuitry so it could leave certain chips powered on in a low power state, for example the GPS, the microphone, the camera, or the closed baseband processor on every mobile phone.

      Now, hypothetically the secondary battery could be remotely activated and periodically do a burst transmission every x minutes and send GPS coordinates or microphone recordings back to your favourite 3 letter agency. If the chips were just passively transmitting, perhaps they need a StingRay or Reaper drone in the area to boost the signal. The cell tower itself may be powerful enough to pick up the signal.

      This article states that the NSA can technically listen in to the microphone of an iPhone even if it is switched off. In Edward Snowden's conversations with Laura Poitras he advised her to put her mobile in the freezer. In Snowden's NBC interview he mentions "They can absolutely turn them on w

    23. Re:People abusing positions of power by Iwastheone · · Score: 1
      Faraday cage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

      In his work on static electricity, Faraday's ice pail experiment demonstrated that the charge resided only on the exterior of a charged conductor, and exterior charge had no influence on anything enclosed within a conductor. This is because the exterior charges redistribute such that the interior fields emanating from them cancel one another. This shielding effect is used in what is now known as a Faraday cage.

    24. Re: People abusing positions of power by Cederic · · Score: 1

      The existence of adequate power to maintain accurate timekeeping is not evidence of radio signals while disconnected, even if I were to accept StackExchange as an authoritative source.

      I do not have an iPhone so Snowden's comments - even if true - do not apply. My phone can not be remotely switched on, and can not be tracked while switched off. Sorry.

  8. Reversible encryption by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Hey, they wanted reversible encryption. There ya go, the results delivered.

  9. Will police lives matter? by Jharish · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It would be interesting if the 'structure' they offer will be ways of finding all the cops that murdered black people because they're trigger happy around dark skin. I can't say if I'd be upset hearing some vigilantes decide to murder the racist cops who have all taken innocent black lives.

    1. Re:Will police lives matter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When civilization falls, cocksuckers like you will be the first to die.

    2. Re:Will police lives matter? by Jharish · · Score: 1

      When civilization fails, you won't be able to hide behind a computer screen and threaten people. Are you sure YOU'RE not gonna be the first to die?

    3. Re:Will police lives matter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When civilization falls, we will be able to hunt you down.

    4. Re:Will police lives matter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      It would be interesting if the 'structure' they offer will be ways of finding all the cops that murdered black people because they're trigger happy around dark skin. I can't say if I'd be upset hearing some vigilantes decide to murder the racist cops who have all taken innocent black lives.

      The vast, vast, VAST majority of the time that a black person is shot to death, the perpetrator is a black male. This is well established fact. If black people want to show that Black Lives Matter they need to start within their own communities and set the example there.

      By the way, also established fact: when inter-racial murder happens, a black person kills a white victim NINE TIMES more often than a white person kills a black victim. See FBI crime stats for all of the above (there's your reference).

    5. Re: Will police lives matter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you continue believing you're the only one capable of hunting, tough guy.

    6. Re:Will police lives matter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How about the white ones? You're aware a white person is more likely to be shot by a police officer than a black person, right? And that a police officer is *far* more likely to be shot by a black person, right?

      Your bigotry is evident.

    7. Re:Will police lives matter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      When civilization falls, I'm going to start with Hipsters and work my way down to the Skateboarders.

      Going to need lots of ammo.

    8. Re: Will police lives matter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You people gave up your guns.

      What are you going to do, throw coffee cups at me?

    9. Re:Will police lives matter? by elrous0 · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      Hey asshole, contrary to what the mainstream media would have you believe, the vast majority of cops are decent people just trying to do their jobs. They don't want to ever have to shoot anyone, black or otherwise. And they get little to no thanks for a job in which they routinely have to deal with the biggest scumbags and nastiest situations that our society has to offer, so the rest of us won't have to.

      So fuck off with your SJW fantasies of hordes of racist cops roaming the streets just aching to find for a black person to murder.

      Don't like cops? I've got a very simple solution for you, snowflake. Just abolish them in your city. I'm pretty sure there isn't any law compelling your city or county to have a local police force. So just get rid of them if you hate them so much, then see what happens. I'm sure utopia will follow.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    10. Re: Will police lives matter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That doesn't excuse the pigs killing in cold blood

    11. Re:Will police lives matter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey asshole, contrary to what the mainstream media would have you believe, the vast majority of cops are decent people just trying to do their jobs. They don't want to ever have to shoot anyone, black or otherwise.

      But they'll be quick to cover for Bob because he reacted rashly and shot a person. It's the same with how most people don't go around turning in people they know who might be engaging in criminal activities. You don't want to turn in a "decent person" because they made a mistake. Except the mistake of shooting a person is pretty massive and shouldn't be glossed over. The problem then isn't the many decent people but those who use that as an excuse to not seek justice in the justice system. Perhaps it speaks to something that the police don't have faith in the justice system that they tend to be less than fully honest and forthright.

      And they get little to no thanks for a job in which they routinely have to deal with the biggest scumbags and nastiest situations that our society has to offer, so the rest of us won't have to.

      I'm pretty sure criminals routinely deal with more scumbags and nasty situations than the police do on a routine basis. Do we thank them? No. Yea, that'd be stupid.

      So fuck off with your SJW fantasies of hordes of racist cops roaming the streets just aching to find for a black person to murder.

      Right after the police fuck off with their fantasies of hordes of black gangs roaming the streets just aching to find a cop to murder. Funny how when you turn it that way and you *know* every cop has a gun that there aren't a lot more actual hordes of black gangs actively trying to protect themselves.

      Don't like cops? I've got a very simple solution for you, snowflake. Just abolish them in your city. I'm pretty sure there isn't any law compelling your city or county to have a local police force. So just get rid of them if you hate them so much, then see what happens. I'm sure utopia will follow.

      We tried that. That's how we got the US. Obviously it's not enough to throw off the yoke of oppression because over time institutions designed for freedom and security end up becoming corrupt. In the words of Thomas Jefferson, "the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants". Cops have been a bit too tyrannical. Do I think that the answer is cop killing? Not really. Do I think the answer is at least in part cops having the fear of being ambushed in their home? Hard to say. I think perhaps that'd at least begin to put them closer to equal footing to the many people they're supposedly there to protect and serve. The good apples, at least, may be inclined to kick out the bad apples more force-ably to forestall the idea that they're complicit or a bad apple themselves. That at least would be a good thing.

    12. Re:Will police lives matter? by Iwastheone · · Score: 1

      Well said! Wish I had mod points for you. ;/

    13. Re: Will police lives matter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are a bunch of anti-gun hipster losers. You couldn't hunt rabbits let alone humans. We have seen antifa, we are not afraid. You are nothing without a line of the cops you hate protecting you.

      Bring it on, soy baby.

    14. Re:Will police lives matter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Better than that. Leftists simultaneously hate cops and consider them racist murderers, yet say you should have all means and rights to defend yourself removed and should depend on the cops to protect you. Sucks to be black, I guess. Maybe leftists should check their privledge.

      I don't know how I was a leftist in the past. We all make mistakes.

    15. Re:Will police lives matter? by fafalone · · Score: 1

      Do cops more often shoot black men? Sure. Of course after you account for more encounters to begin with, and for threat level, that disparity is barely even significant.
      See this is the problem with SJWs, you think that minor difference is the problem, obsessed with turning everything into a racial thing. Guess what? Police shoot, beat, and tase unarmed white people too. They're trigger happy with everyone. THAT is the problem. We need to address that issue, to stop police abuse against everyone. The slight racial disparity is a secondary issue, what needs to be fixed is the primary issue of militarized police completely unwilling to deescalate or wait for a legitimate threat.
      Stop turning problems with police in general into only a problem for one race. Address police abuse as police abuse, not 'racists!'.

    16. Re:Will police lives matter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey Cocksucker, contrary to the bullshit you cops like to spew, there are far more incidents police abuse of power than get reported in the media. I know because I work for a government agency that has to defend you when you decide you want to abuse people. We end up paying out a shitload of money since they cannot hold you personally accountable. Unfortunately, our useless Supreme Court has given you an unlimited license to kill; all you have to do is utter the phrase "I felt threatened" and all accountability goes out the door. Did the guy you executed have a gun (or any weapon)? Nope, doesn't matter thanks to Tennessee v. Garner

      Apparently it's too much to ask for cops to serve and protect and not abuse the power you are given. You cops are cowards who hide behind qualified immunity and Police Officer's Bill of Rights that hide your misconduct from the people you are supposed to serve. If you cannot take the heat, then STFU and go find another job. But I am sure you will drive your car around with your hate symbol (the blue line of hate/desecration of the American flag) sticker on it because you enjoy the power trip.

    17. Re:Will police lives matter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who the heck are you talking to?

      Do you assume that the only people who respect and defend the police are cops themselves?

      Do you really think the people posting on Slashdot defending the police are all cops? How freaking delusional can you be?

      The MAJORITY of people support the police. The majority respect them, and are law-abiding themselves. Most of us aren't privileged snot-nosed SJW snowflakes like you.

    18. Re:Will police lives matter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Black males account for the plurality (about 80%) of violent crime. Primarily they victimize other blacks but the incidence of black perpetrator against white victim happens nine times more than the other way around. Over 50% of all murders involve a black male perpetrator. Primarily they kill black victims. These are facts (see: FBI crime stats compiled from police departments all across the country). If "Black Lives" really do "Matter" then it's up to the black community to start acting like they do. Otherwise they can hardly complain about "gentrification" on the one hand and "white flight" on the other when law-abiding people looking to safely raise a family don't want to be immersed in this kind of environment.

  10. MAGA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Lemme guess... password was "MAGA".

  11. Re: It's Putin's Fault by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Funny. The IT industry may never get their act together around security. Remember the good times before the Internet, people! Like stupidity central

    Before the Internet killed the newspapers and news magazines.
    Back then we had investigative reporting that uncovered the crap going on.
    Just think of this as the replacement for those.
    But without journalistic integrity.

  12. Weakness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Why does president Trump let this happen.
    It really shows how weak his leadership is.

  13. imagine if by e**(i+pi)-1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    These breaches illustrate is what is possible today. Personal information is still relatively harmless and could in principle be collected by anybody from publicly available information. Imagine forced backdoor technology (as proposed again and again both from democrat and republican politicians) is implemented: then also bank, tax, health or business information of a larger population can be collected and be made available on a large scale. If FBI affiliated sites can not keep their data safe, what guarantees that backdoor information will be kept away from the wrong hands, once such technology is implemented.

  14. Good thing they didn't have strong encryption laws by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Isn't this what the FBI wants for the rest of the sheep? Weak or zero encryption?

    Govt lists are never a good idea, especially unencrypted.

    Everyone deserves their privacy, unless they are under, active, directed, investigation. EVERYONE.

    Privacy was the intention of the 4th amendment. They never expected cameras, gps, and browsers to follow our every action around the world, storing the data forever.

  15. Robert Peel's 9 Principles of Policing by Martin+S. · · Score: 1

    Robert Peel's 9 principles for policing by consent

    To prevent crime and disorder, as an alternative to their repression by military force and severity of legal punishment.
    To recognise always that the power of the police to fulfil their functions and duties is dependent on public approval of their existence, actions and behaviour, and on their ability to secure and maintain public respect.
    To recognise always that to secure and maintain the respect and approval of the public means also the securing of the willing co-operation of the public in the task of securing observance of laws.
    To recognise always that the extent to which the co-operation of the public can be secured diminishes proportionately the necessity of the use of physical force and compulsion for achieving police objectives.
    To seek and preserve public favour, not by pandering to public opinion, but by constantly demonstrating absolutely impartial service to law, in complete independence of policy, and without regard to the justice or injustice of the substance of individual laws, by ready offering of individual service and friendship to all members of the public without regard to their wealth or social standing, by ready exercise of courtesy and friendly good humour, and by ready offering of individual sacrifice in protecting and preserving life.
    To use physical force only when the exercise of persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient to obtain public co-operation to an extent necessary to secure observance of law or to restore order, and to use only the minimum degree of physical force which is necessary on any particular occasion for achieving a police objective.
    To maintain at all times a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and that the public are the police, the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.
    To recognise always the need for strict adherence to police-executive functions, and to refrain from even seeming to usurp the powers of the judiciary, of avenging individuals or the State, and of authoritatively judging guilt and punishing the guilty.
    To recognise always that the test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, and not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with them.

  16. Cops support taking our privacy.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    So why should they have any privacy themselves? Fuck 'em. No sympathy here.

  17. Has anyone yet got the idea by Sqreater · · Score: 1

    If you want something secure, you don't put it on a computer system. Paper files have much more security to them. And I read that the Kremlin went back to paper for some critical activities long ago. And people who put their passwords in online password sites, well, they are asking for it.

    --
    E Proelio Veritas.
  18. Back and forth and back and forth by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The only real victims here are the ones who unknowingly get caught up in someone else's war

  19. Maybe its just an indication... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hackers doing more & more brazen bad actions (especially against law enforcement who are just trying/working to protect & serve common good of general public), maybe just an indication of criminal punishments for them are not harsh enough, to make them really reconsider???

  20. You mean cops? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I thought they were called mounties, not moose.

  21. So like all of us corporate culture. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Because "fuck rights!", and "freedom (to make profit even when or even *with* harming people) over everything!".

    Like Gold Man-Sacks buying all of a certain food in the entire world, and storing it for months in warehouses, *only* so prices skyrocket and they can sell it for higher. Nevermind people literally fucking died from it! (Poor people, of course. Not them.)

    All "just business", right? "Fair game". The rules of a "free market". " Goldman Sachs did nothig wrong." --.--

  22. Already been done... by sdinfoserv · · Score: 5, Informative

    4000 records, small potatoes. The OPM hack did the same thing on a much larger scale 4 years ago. Back in 2015 the Federal Office of Personnel Management had their UN-ENCRYPTED files taken containing every single current and past Federal employee, and everyone who had ever applied for a top secret clearance. Over 21M people's personal information was taken, where as this was only 4000 unique records... .
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    1. Re:Already been done... by ebvwfbw · · Score: 1

      And whatever happened to that? It appears it went to a foreign government, like China and they're not disclosing it.

      I know the Government was upset about that and they're taking steps to stop it. Moving from the joke that is fisma to cdm. Cdm says - no access unless you have a PIV card. No password to hack any more. DHS is doing all of the non-dod agencies. You won't be able to even login to anything without a piv card. Shell to Linux host - need your piv card. They're taking the stupid idiots out of the equation. The ones that you can social in 5 seconds.

      A sign I saw in the 1990s seems so appropriate - "In God we trust. Everyone else get a X.509 certificate"

  23. And there's nothing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...nothing wrong with that.

  24. Oh, the irony ... by timholman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This incident (among many others) should be kept in mind when the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies insist on backdoor keys for smartphone and computer encryption.

    Federal agencies that can't their own data secure certainly won't be able to keep yours secure.

  25. Not Shocked by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    This does place police types at rick as well as their families and is a sad state of affairs. Yet, we do have a broken justice system that frequently enforces rotten laws, acts with discrimination, and is frequently ineffective or totally wrong as to whom they arrest and who they are willing to protect. At some point people do act up and strike back. Our laws need to be carefully over hauled with serious consideration as to the end consequences for the chain of events following arrest.

  26. How do you feel about encryption now? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Violated by the back door. Pity, that.

  27. I suspect this is just the start. . . by Salgak1 · · Score: 2

    Assange's "Deadman Switch" clicked last night (and you have to love the file dates. . .)

    And the "insurance torrents" are all back up:

    https://www.reddit.com/r/The_D...

    1. Re:I suspect this is just the start. . . by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 2

      I hadn’t thought about that... the timing of Assange’s arrest along with the upcoming 2020 US campaign where The Donald is worried about losing the Senate too.

      We all know how he loves WikiLeaks... I mean, how he doesn’t know anything about Wikileaks.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
  28. Black crime matters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Police officers unjustifiedly killing people is rare. That you're a sucker swallowing up anything the dramatizing news media feels like feeding you says a lot about your gullibility and lack of critical thinking.

    And of course your brain must really hurt when faced with the fact that in those rare instances of unjustified police shootings, white people are the greatest number of victims.

    If you need a slogan, try on "Black Crimes Matter" for size. Blacks cause 90% of the violent crimes, and far more damage than a few rare police mistakes ever will.

  29. Re: Nothing like protesting bad cops giving ticket by Plugh · · Score: 1

    Published by a former New Hampshire Legislator. Live Free or Die!
    Billyâ(TM)s Reward

  30. Re: Nothing like protesting bad cops giving ticket by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It would have the same effect...nothing.

  31. A million data [sic] --- ? by DavenH · · Score: 2

    Why 'sic' when it's grammatically correct?

    1. Re:A million data [sic] --- ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Exactly. "Data" is plural. "Datum" is singular.

  32. Fee, fie, foe, chum... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    n/t

  33. It depends on what state you live in... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The official position of the US Federal government is that the use of Stingrays does not require a probable cause warrant, because they claim Stingrays are a kind of pen register tap, which do not require a warrant, as decided in Smith v. Maryland. The government notes that they do not intercept the actual conversation, only tracking identity of the phone and its location. The devices do have the technical capability to record the content of calls and modify them, so the government requires these content-intercepting functions to be disabled in normal use. In September 2015, the US Justice Department issued new guidelines requiring federal agents to obtain warrants before using stingray devices, except in exigent circumstances. In 2015, the state of Virginia passed a law requiring the use of a warrant when using a stingray, and Washington state proposed a similar law. In addition, California, Minnesota and Utah have also passed laws requiring warrants for stingray use.

    1. Re:It depends on what state you live in... by Iwastheone · · Score: 1

      The official position of the US Federal government is that the use of Stingrays does not require a probable cause warrant, because they claim Stingrays are a kind of pen register tap, which do not require a warrant, as decided in Smith v. Maryland. The government notes that they do not intercept the actual conversation, only tracking identity of the phone and its location. The devices do have the technical capability to record the content of calls and modify them, so the government requires these content-intercepting functions to be disabled in normal use. In September 2015, the US Justice Department issued new guidelines requiring federal agents to obtain warrants before using stingray devices, except in exigent circumstances. In 2015, the state of Virginia passed a law requiring the use of a warrant when using a stingray, and Washington state proposed a similar law. In addition, California, Minnesota and Utah have also passed laws requiring warrants for stingray use.

      Replying since you posted AC, mod up insightful.

  34. This-society. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And to show my support for this course of action I'll download a song from Piratebay. Something, something, Don't fear the Reaper.

  35. Gotta Love It by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    OMFG, I'm lovin3 this fact..

  36. Re: Nothing like protesting bad cops giving ticke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Spot on.

  37. Hark, the post-truth liberal speaks! by Shane_Optima · · Score: 1

    Aall you folks who think that it's only the right that engages in scaremongering and hyperbole and doesn't care about the facts... observe! Observe and be disillusioned.

    Why do you think the USA will fall to "rampant crime and chaos very soon"? We survived the gangster Prohibition years and the huge violent crime wave of the 70s-80s. The last time I checked, crime levels today are nowhere near either of those eras (including minors being murdered).

    The really worrying thing about the right-wing version of this sort of fear-mongering (*only* this sort... I'm not talking about the other sorts of rabble-rousing that they do--anti-communism, anti-transgender, other sex-scare shit, etc.) ... is closer to reality than the mainstream left's fear-mongering.

    What do I mean by that? Well: 1. There really is a huge messy, violent drug war going on in Northern Mexico (gang vs. gang and us vs. gangs and Mexican authorities vs. gangs and Mexican army vs. Mexican corrupt cops and it goes on and on ). Trump didn't make that up, and if you ask anyone who lives there they will tell you it's got significantly worse over the past 20 years. It's vicious and nihilistic and... very corrosive to civilization, I don't know how else to put it. it's significantly messed up Mexico's society and economy, and yeah some of that nastiness spills over into the USA. (See disclaimer below)

    [Disclaimer: a physical wall is fucking retarded, amnesty for 'rooted' and law-abiding Dreamers is the only sane or humane thing to do, and as a left-libertarian I favor a lot of de-criminalization and de-escalating of the drug war, and of course the USA is a major part of the problem by leaning on Mexico so hard to fight our war on drugs--thus jacking up the prices and enabling the black market to flourish.]

    2. Islamism movements in other countries, with associated issues of terrorism and caliphate restorationism and all that--*are* really fucking scary and they aren't going away. Poll results on what average citizens from Saudi Arabia or Egypt or Afghanistan or Pakistan believe, for instance, is really terrifying, especially if you look at the trend lines of the past few decades. (And even a "progressive" and "secular" country like Turkey still has poll results that are more conservative sounding than Texas.) Fox News will say stupid and bigoted things about Muslims, sure. "Not all Muslims blahblahblah", yes yes I agree. Sure.

    But underneath the hate and the bullshit and the "othering" that you wring your hands over, there is a real story there. Fox News isn't making up something out of thin air when they talk about Islamism and jihad. Globally speaking, it really is much, much, much more serious and cancerous problem than, say, white supremacy. The evil ultra-conservative Islamists are in control of multiple governments. They have the ability to control the lives of hundreds of millions of people, and they have militarizes. Bad and partisan rhetoric, but it's not a fantasy. Ditto the drug gangs in Mexico--not something Fox News made up whole cloth.

    But YOU are making up something out of thin air when you predict the imminent collapse of American society (presumably) based on sensationlist reporting of shootings, despite the fact that things are much better than they were in the late twentieth century (and much MUCH better than they were in the early twentieth century.)

    Yes, we have a murder rate that is too high for a "developed" nation and part of that is the availability of guns. But it's not a catastrophic problem. Car accidents still kill like 5x more people, the last time I checked. And despite what your echo chamber wants you to believe, it's not a growing problem.

    Yea this is an overkill of a reply but I just wanted to point out... this is why it's so much cooler and sexier to be an outspoken right-winger than a left-winger these days. This is why there is still no "alt-left"... on so many issues, their hype machine remains woefully mis-calibrated.

    1. Re:Hark, the post-truth liberal speaks! by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      Yeah, you aren't exactly 'helping' your case.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    2. Re:Hark, the post-truth liberal speaks! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Aall you folks who think that it's only the right that engages in scaremongering and hyperbole and doesn't care about the facts... observe! Observe and be disillusioned.

      Why do you think the USA will fall to "rampant crime and chaos very soon"? We survived the gangster Prohibition years and the huge violent crime wave of the 70s-80s. The last time I checked, crime levels today are nowhere near either of those eras (including minors being murdered).

      The really worrying thing about the right-wing version of this sort of fear-mongering (*only* this sort... I'm not talking about the other sorts of rabble-rousing that they do--anti-communism, anti-transgender, other sex-scare shit, etc.) ... is closer to reality than the mainstream left's fear-mongering.

      What do I mean by that? Well:

      1. There really is a huge messy, violent drug war going on in Northern Mexico (gang vs. gang and us vs. gangs and Mexican authorities vs. gangs and Mexican army vs. Mexican corrupt cops and it goes on and on ). Trump didn't make that up, and if you ask anyone who lives there they will tell you it's got significantly worse over the past 20 years. It's vicious and nihilistic and... very corrosive to civilization, I don't know how else to put it. it's significantly messed up Mexico's society and economy, and yeah some of that nastiness spills over into the USA. (See disclaimer below)

      [Disclaimer: a physical wall is fucking retarded, amnesty for 'rooted' and law-abiding Dreamers is the only sane or humane thing to do, and as a left-libertarian I favor a lot of de-criminalization and de-escalating of the drug war, and of course the USA is a major part of the problem by leaning on Mexico so hard to fight our war on drugs--thus jacking up the prices and enabling the black market to flourish.]

      2. Islamism movements in other countries, with associated issues of terrorism and caliphate restorationism and all that--*are* really fucking scary and they aren't going away. Poll results on what average citizens from Saudi Arabia or Egypt or Afghanistan or Pakistan believe, for instance, is really terrifying, especially if you look at the trend lines of the past few decades. (And even a "progressive" and "secular" country like Turkey still has poll results that are more conservative sounding than Texas.) Fox News will say stupid and bigoted things about Muslims, sure. "Not all Muslims blahblahblah", yes yes I agree. Sure.

      But underneath the hate and the bullshit and the "othering" that you wring your hands over, there is a real story there. Fox News isn't making up something out of thin air when they talk about Islamism and jihad. Globally speaking, it really is much, much, much more serious and cancerous problem than, say, white supremacy. The evil ultra-conservative Islamists are in control of multiple governments. They have the ability to control the lives of hundreds of millions of people, and they have militarizes. Bad and partisan rhetoric, but it's not a fantasy. Ditto the drug gangs in Mexico--not something Fox News made up whole cloth.

      But YOU are making up something out of thin air when you predict the imminent collapse of American society (presumably) based on sensationlist reporting of shootings, despite the fact that things are much better than they were in the late twentieth century (and much MUCH better than they were in the early twentieth century.)

      Yes, we have a murder rate that is too high for a "developed" nation and part of that is the availability of guns. But it's not a catastrophic problem. Car accidents still kill like 5x more people, the last time I checked. And despite what your echo chamber wants you to believe, it's not a growing problem.

      Yea this is an overkill of a reply but I just wanted to point out... this is why it's so much cooler and sexier to be an outspoken right-winger than a left-winger these days. This is why there is still no "alt-left"... on so many issues, their hype machine remains woefully mis-calibrated.

      People will start a civil war that kills a couple of hundred million Americans just to shut up insufferable cunts like you, and I support them 110%.

    3. Re:Hark, the post-truth liberal speaks! by Shane_Optima · · Score: 1

      My only "case" here was to point out that liberals aren't helping their own case because the right wing's hysterics are less detached from reality. The left demagogues are less competent than the right's demagogues. This is the truth, and I do not believe in holding one's tongue re: the truth in the service of some larger "case".

    4. Re:Hark, the post-truth liberal speaks! by Shane_Optima · · Score: 1

      The people who don't want to hear this don't own the guns.

    5. Re:Hark, the post-truth liberal speaks! by Shane_Optima · · Score: 1

      Also, if you can't suffer the truth, that's a problem for you and your platform.