Police to be able to remotely access PCs

[sstein]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/art...

Ignoring the myriad of technical problems involved in a authority gaining remote access to a home computer, I'm more concerned about the increasing powers of authorities. Wouldn't this be a step too far, even if it was bordering on the impossible to reliably execute given a criminal who has even a basic foundation in computer security.

How long until they ban mathematically strong encryption ?

I also notice they roll out the 'p' word whenever they are proposing something they know people will oppose


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Stuart

Edited by sstein on Monday 5th January 00:26

[10 Pence Short]

This is the way it works with Labour; you disagree that the Police need 42 day detention, access to your PC or ID cards. They say you support terrorism and organised crime. They tell you that paedophiles will run rampant and your house will be exploded.

Rule by rhetoric and fear, and it stinks.

[FourWheelDrift]

Not exactly ways different to how normal hackers gain access.

Times said:

He said the authorities could break into a suspect’s home or office and insert a “key-logging” device into an individual’s computer. This would collect and, if necessary, transmit details of all the suspect’s keystrokes. “It’s just like putting a secret camera in someone’s living room,” he said.

Police might also send an e-mail to a suspect’s computer. The message would include an attachment that contained a virus or “malware”. If the attachment was opened, the remote search facility would be covertly activated. Alternatively, police could park outside a suspect’s home and hack into his or her hard drive using the wireless network.

All of which can be blocked or stopped by anyone who would want to protect their data properly if they were a terrorist or a criminal. For example using removable HDDs that they take with themselves. Not using a wireless home network but cable and blocking all attachments.

People who have things to hide will not make it easy. It's not like they are going to leave their laptops on the tube or anything.

[AngryS3Owner]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Oh come on...