Legal hacking

[Doug Stormforce]

Now I never belive much I read in the media.

If there is any true basis to this story its pretty scary.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5439604.ece

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Doug Stormforce

Now I never belive much I read in the media.

If there is any true basis to this story its pretty scary.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5439604.ece

Very scary-but...
Somehow I doubt there's any point in them even trying it-real offenders will have a damn sight more security than the police can hack. Any decent firewall or anti-spyware will pick up malware and if they can hack WPA security they'll be sat outside for a long time doing it.

It takes a bit more than a police training course to get into a PC that's properly protected from even the usual malware and viruses on the web. Proper hackers are a lot more intelligent than the police-and are capable of earning a damn sight more than the police will pay.

I strongly suspect this is the usual case of someone clueless at the top making a decision on something they know absolutely nothing about.

[JSP]

Exactly what Nos said. I've read private hackers forums at the invite of an associate, I wouldn't ever call her a friend. 99% of the content was beyond my knowledge. But what was plain to see was how clinical and professional they're approach was and they're knowledge of systems was amazing. It's a love job for them.
To try and train people to do that would be a huge task in it's self. But even then they would still just about be able to crack AVG.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Very scary-but...
Somehow I doubt there's any point in them even trying it-real offenders will have a damn sight more security than the police can hack. Any decent firewall or anti-spyware will pick up malware and if they can hack WPA security they'll be sat outside for a long time doing it.

It takes a bit more than a police training course to get into a PC that's properly protected from even the usual malware and viruses on the web. Proper hackers are a lot more intelligent than the police-and are capable of earning a damn sight more than the police will pay.

I strongly suspect this is the usual case of someone clueless at the top making a decision on something they know absolutely nothing about.

Ahh but you have missed the point. It's NOT the real criminals this Labour Government are so terrified of - it's the man in the street - he could be doing some terrible things - like putting his rubbish out too early or funding terrorism by buying smuggled in ciggies!!!

[tinker]

Using a program package like aircrack and injecting false packets into a WPA network it can be cracked in minutes rather than hours, computer mac address registered networks help but they are still vulnerable to a determined hacker/ bandwidth thief. This would allow access the hacked broadband connection and this has serious implications when used illegally by the hacker..........

[codprawn]

I agree wireless is full of holes.

Of course you could always encrypt your drives and data as well........

[fred bolton]

If you've got nothing to hide then it's no problem except the Police have a habit of abusing any additional powers they are given

[tinker]

Originally Posted by fred bolton

If you've got nothing to hide then it's no problem except the Police have a habit of abusing any additional powers they are given

From my experience Its not you who needs to hide, its the person who hijacks your wireless connections then downloads illegal content or commits an illegal act (usually hacking/ attacks). They need to hide and do it at the cost of an insecure wireless network.

Recent copyright and peer 2 peer convictions have highlighted the problem above, they trace offenders through IP address's then prosecute. Their computer is checked and they have no trace of the illegal download on the hard drive.

A common problem is people who leave their wireless network on 24 / 7, when not in use switch it off, then the hacker will use another network. All in my humble opinion.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by fred bolton

If you've got nothing to hide then it's no problem except the Police have a habit of abusing any additional powers they are given

Oh God do you REALLY believe that? Would you allow them to put a camera in your living room then?

I wouldn't trust this government with ANYTHING!!! Who would have thought they would actually snoop on people putting rubbish bins out or using DNA to check on whose dog has fouled the pavement. The list is endless - 1984 was spot on!!!

[JSP]

Originally Posted by codprawn

- 1984 was spot on!!!

That's true!

[Hightower]

Well I'll tell you all about the experience I had before Christmas.

Back in June I was having some Tax issues and wanted to gain access to my personal records.

I filled in an online form about gaining this information and waited and waited.....In the end I managed to resolve my problem with no help from filling in this form.

A month later and a large parcel turns up at home, recorded delivery no less!

I wonder what this is, I though as I walked though the door after a long day at work. I opened the parcel to find 25 years of income tax information that someone either photocopied or printed (looked photocopied to me) about 700 A4 pages worth

Ever since I have had various information arrive and in December I had a letter hand delivered, again recorded delivery. I opened this and found it was a CDR from the Tax credit people. "What the hell!" I though. Popped it in the old computer and found it contained 6 conversations I'd had with Tax Credit Helpline operators dating back to 2003.

So this means that they are recording every conversation that anyone has with Government departments and storing the information against your NI number....Now that is scary

[JSP]

In some ways I like the fact some government departments and companies record the phone calls as the amount of times I've had some toss pot on the other end is unbelievable! Helps when you moan to the manager.