The Police are Examining My Laptop

[tesla78]

No, I didn't hack anyone's computer or commit any type of computer crime. I was a victim of a break-in. A few days ago, a thief broke into my office and helped himself to my laptop. Fortunately, they caught him redhanded. Unfortunately, the police won't release my property until they have examined it.

I doubt the police would be interested in my chicken recipe or letters to friends and family. What really concerns me is privacy. Do people have a right to privacy when their documents or electronic data are stolen from them? Since I bought the laptop used, should I be worried about the previous owner's usage? Any help would greatly be appreciated.

[Vincardog]

1. The Lap top is evidence in the trial. Don't worry be happy. As long as you don't have and child porn

[tesla78]

3. I am happy

The ass^&%^% that stole it should do some real time in jail. He broke into a few other places the same night.

[lvx35]

2. The beauty is that you can argue the theif put anything there.

That you don't want to be associated with. There is no failsafe method, with typical hardware alone, to determine the date something was put there. Write and modification times can be faked.

So you should be fine if you have anything politically naughty.

[tesla78]

7. Thanks, but there is nothing to argue

The previous owner is a female and those who have used it are also female so there is nothing to worry about.

I believe this issue is part of an agenda which involves broader government surveillance on U.S. citizens. Like the cops that want to randomly search houses without warrants.

[lvx35]

8. Broader surveillance is what its all about.

When I refered to political naughtiness, this is what I'm talking about. Its an oxymoron within any traditional interpretation of the constitution, but sadly when find ourselves in a time where certain sites you may have visited could qualify you as a "home grown terrorist", so be mindful, and certainly don't repeat the "I have nothing to hidden in my ass so I don't mind if they violate it with a camera" mantra that so many others do.

[tesla78]

9. Learned 2 good lessons.. ..

1. Thanks for your response. I am entrusted with confidential information such as passwords and business processes as part of my job. It could have been a lot worse if there was valuable data. We plan on implementing government strength encryption (ie: TrueCrypt, PGP.) to protect ourselves from snooping eyes.

The police will need a legal warrant if they want to snoop through our files. The data will be useless to a thief.

2. Secondhand laptops should be securely wiped before reinstalling the OS(ie: Eraser - Nuke Utility).

By sharing this experience on DU, I hope someone finds it useful. Laziness towards privacy/security can become very expensive.

[lvx35]

10. Thanks for the info! Glad you shared. nt

[Ian David]

11. Females do things like commit crimes (including kiddy porn) too.

Just because the last owner was a female does NOT assure you that it wasn't used for illicit purposes.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

4. Seems very intrusive...

...Unless you yourself are a suspect in some crime I don't see how they could justify this.

[tesla78]

5. It is intrusive

Somehow, I doubt the thief had time do anything illegal on it. My neighbor's place was also broken into.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

6. It feels like a very definite...

...push is on toward the police state right now. An individual's privacy means little or nothing.

[Ian David]

12. Can you get permission to copy your hard drive so you can get access to your files? n/t

[Indy Lurker]

13. Truecrypt

http://www.truecrypt.org/

It's great for encrypting chucks of your hard drive or USB drive.


It's portable, and it's free.

[begood]

14. hmmmm

does the gov. have access to the de-encrypting of this stuff?

[politicallore]

15. Do you look like a creepy guy???

lol, just kidding... This shouldn't happen, pure and simple.

[HumanBeast]

16. Circumstances

It depends on the circumstances. If the police caught the bandit using the laptop with certain programs, then yes. It sounds like they caught him before he turned the laptop on, so in that case, there would be no reason for examination.

[Tinita]

17. I would see a lawyer if I was you

Your civil liberties are being trampled on.

[dude77]

18. As long as you have no sensitive info in it

...I would not be worried.

[Gandolph]

19. kick n/t

[kestrel91316]

20. Ever hear of the right to be secure in one's property? And the

right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure??

Quaint concepts, I know, but they are in that piece of now-toilet paper known as the Constitution.