The Times: Police set to step up hacking of home PCs

Totally_Baffled · Post by **Totally_Baffled** » 31 Mar 2009, 20:36

If the home office snoops on PC's, I guarantee if they look on the domestic PC of the home secretary they will find porn! (hope they havent claimed for the membership fee on expenses!)

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 31 Mar 2009, 22:04

If you just send your message on the back of a picture postcard starting with Weather here, wish you were lovely... the spooks will never bother reading it.

DominicJ · Post by **DominicJ** » 01 Apr 2009, 09:56

I agree with what MacG just said.

Can anyone suggest a good opensource firewall then?
I would switch to linux but my PC is primarily a gaming machine.

fifthcolumn · Post by **fifthcolumn** » 14 Apr 2009, 22:01

Mobbsey,

Your knowledge makes me wonder exactly what sort of activities you were involved in.

In any event, you're right. Jackbooted thugs often don't even know what the law is. They just *assume* they can do whatever they want. If you call them on it (and know exactly what you're talking about) then they will generally back off and only come back once they get their shit together.

e.g.
At some unspecified point during the 80s when I'm up to my eyes in debt and about to go bust:

Sherriffs officers (knock knock)
me: yes
them: we have come to poind your goods in order to take care of non payment of poll tax
me: who are you looking for
them: mr jack smith. Is that you?
me: No. I'm mr bill smith.
them: does mr jack smith live here?
me: yes. But this is my property. I refuse permission to enter the premises. Get off my land.
them: curses and swearing

weeks later
them: knock knock
my brother: yes
them: we have a warrant to seize and poind your goods mr bill smith.
my brother: I'm not mr bill smith I'm mr brian smith.
them: screams of despair.

About a year later:
tax man: mr smith I'd advise you not to be so cavalier. We have a big stick you know.
me: thinking (yeah right)
tax man: we will confiscate your assets if you do not pay us.
me: thinking (yeah right)

assets sold at flea market for cash

tax man: what happened to your assets?
me: sold at the flea market
tax man: where are the proceeds?
me: used for living expenses
tax man: oh.

Can't get blood out of a stone.

Also:

police: is that your car?
me: yeah
police: looks like it's been hotwired. do you have the keys?
me: of course. (throws them to the cop). take a look if you like.
police: it's a feckin mess
me: you want to clean it?
police: feck that. (throws keys back)

The key point is to not be intimidated.

DominicJ · Post by **DominicJ** » 15 Apr 2009, 11:14

The law has since been changed, the sherrif no longer needs to inform you, they can happily kick your door in when your at work and loot your house.

It was changed in anticipation of people refusing to buy I.D cards.
It wouldnt be a criminal offence, so no courts to bother with, they'd just sick the baillifs on you, no recourse.