Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!digibd!merlyn
From: merlyn@digibd.com (Brian Westley (Merlyn LeRoy))
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: "Bad" backups
Message-ID: <1990Dec11.164524.1860@digibd.com>
Date: 11 Dec 90 16:45:24 GMT
References: <1990Nov30.133254.3737@eff.org> <1990Dec08.171628.10447@digibd.com> <1990Dec9.155404.4847@eff.org>
Organization: DigiBoard Incorporated, St. Louis Park, MN
Lines: 41

In article <1990Dec9.155404.4847@eff.org> mnemonic@eff.org (Mike Godwin) writes:
>Not only will law-enforcement officers regard your suggestions
>(not yours in particular, but similar suggestions by others)
    [ keep everything in RAM -ed]
>as legitimizing no-knock searches, but this already has been the 
>case. See, e.g., McEwan and Conly's articles on computer crime.

I'd say you should be protesting THEM, then.

Do you also feel that people who only let cops into their homes with a
search warrant "legitimize", say, helicopter searches?  I think
(1) people OUGHT to insist on warrants, and (2) cops ought NOT use helicopters
to spy on people without a warrant (even though it's legal, sigh).
However, I refuse to accept that (1) "legitimizes" (2), OR keeping
data in RAM "legitimizes" no-knock searches, OR private citizens
shooting armed people breaking into their homes "legitimizes" raking
homes with machine-gun fire before executing a no-knock search.

If you think keeping data in RAM should be illegal, fine.  Pass a law.
Right now it's legal.  If you are scared of people performing LEGAL ACTS
because the state might not like it, or I shouldn't be advocating same,
too bad.

>Moreover, anyone who arranges for the destruction of data in
>the belief that his equipment is likely to be seized is laying himself
>open for an obstruction-of-justice prosecution.

I did not advocate that anyone break the law, just keep their sensitive
data "fragile".  Am I prohibited from laying shag rugs since the cops may
pick up a static charge and zap my computer as they walk over to seize it?
Do I have to have "watch your head" signs so the cops don't hurt themselves
as they trash^H^H^H^H^Hsearch my house?

>--Mike

-----
Merlyn LeRoy (backed-up)
Don't write anything down.
Keep everything in RAM.
Question Authority.
Obfuscate C.