Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!execu!sequoia!balkan!dogface!wnss!las From: las@wnss (root) Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk Subject: Re: relative unsophistication of the feds Message-ID: Date: 29 Dec 90 18:38:25 GMT References: <13541@uudell.dell.com> Organization: We Never Stop Searching, Austin, Texas Lines: 40 sblair@upurbmw.dell.com (Steve Blair) writes: > In , idjiot@cynic.wimsey.bc.ca (Terry) > |> don't for one second believe that the feds don't know how or can't > |> retrieve any computer operation in its running state if they so desire... > > Some law enforcement types don't have the slightest clue of > how to get into a system. To wit, a call was received to a person > who worked in the UNIX support group. The caller was the Travis County > (Austin, Texas) District Attorney's office. > > Seems that they'd confiscated a UNIX system with our s/w on it > in a drug raid. After a day of 2 of trying, and trying to get into > the system, they called in one of our UNIX support staff to the > DA's office to get into the system. > > steve Steve points out that in one case, the District Attoreny's office lacked the sophistication to deal with some evidence received in the course of a drug raid. But this may be an isolated instance. At the Austin Police Department (Travis County, Texas - same city!) there is (used to be?) at least one officer is quite familiar with computer crime. So familiar in fact that within in the last five years he ran a BBS Sting on at least two occasions. The mission, catch individuals dealing in stolen telephone credit card numbers. It was publically reported (on television) that some of the users were identified, and arrested. As is often the case when dealing with multiple agencies, and multiple juristiction (as was probably the case in the drug bust mentioned above) one hand may not know what the other is doing, and one agency may not be aware of the resources available at another agency. Austin is a small city. I suspect the problem may be even worse in larger communities. Lance Spangler [...] cs.utexas.edu!dogface!wnss!las Damn fine coffee Norma! Uh, that is you isn't it Norma? ALL OBLIGATORY QUOTES, DISCLAIMERS, AND OTHER MEANINGLESS DRIVEL APPLIES!