Big Brother is watching you - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Mephisto2 · 06-23-2005, 02:06 PM

I didn't know whether to post this in the computer forum or here, but based upon the content I thought this board was more appropriate.

Please read the following story.

http://c0x2.de/lol/lol.html

If this is to be believed, Dell are fitting their new laptops with keyloggers for the Department of Homeland Security!

Does anyone know if this story is trustworthy? Interesting indeed if it's true.

Mr Mephisto

j8ear · 06-23-2005, 02:32 PM

Sounds "reasonable" to me.

Unbelievable indeed. Possible, definately. Accurate, possibly.

I saw something the other day about Justice Department regulations propsed which would require ISPs to maintain connection logs for serious durations...like 5 years.

This wouldn't suprise me in least...but it does chill my libertarian ass to the bone.

-bear

samcol · 06-23-2005, 02:37 PM

Homeland Insecurity is sticking it's nose where it doesn't belong. Any experts on the patriot act? This sounds like something that may have been incorporated into the bill because I recall a lot about wire taping and the like while browsing it. I don't like corportations working this closely and especially secretly with the government.

Elphaba · 06-23-2005, 02:49 PM

The URL has me a little suspicious... lol/lol ?

samcol · 06-23-2005, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elphaba

The URL has me a little suspicious... lol/lol ?

I find it funny when people are so quick to question sources like that. Sure it doesn't have any flash animation pretty theme to it like fox news or cnn, but why does that make it less legit? To me it just seems like an average guy actually checking up on what the government is doing and reporting it. Also, do you doubt that Homeland Security and Dell would want to incorporate something like this?

Elphaba · 06-23-2005, 03:01 PM

Homeland Security is already taking the personal data of ordinary citizens to test a security system. So, no, I don't doubt it a bit.

lol/lol just strikes me as cute AOL speak. Take a deep breath, will ya?

irateplatypus · 06-23-2005, 04:53 PM

With my limited experience in FOIA (freedom of information act) requests, I think this is a hoax.

FOIA requests that I deal with are almost always requests for specific information. you have to know what you're looking for before you can ask the question. with no established link between the hardware and the DHS other than some policeman's recommendation, i can't picture someone actually asking DHS what a chip is doing in their laptop and expecting a decent answer.

i mean, what would you do if someone called your office and asked why their refrigerator made pear-shaped ice instead of cubes? there might be weird and sinister explanation... but how the hell would you know?

both the possibility of this actually happening coupled with the story's content/source makes this appear unlikely.

samcol · 06-23-2005, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irateplatypus

With my limited experience in FOIA (freedom of information act) requests, I think this is a hoax.

FOIA requests that I deal with are almost always requests for specific information. you have to know what you're looking for before you can ask the question. with no established link between the hardware and the DHS other than some policeman's recommendation, i can't picture someone actually asking DHS what a chip is doing in their laptop and expecting a decent answer.

i mean, what would you do if someone called your office and asked why their refrigerator made pear-shaped ice instead of cubes? there might be weird and sinister explanation... but how the hell would you know?

both the possibility of this actually happening coupled with the story's content/source makes this appear unlikely.

After researching this a bit, I found that Homeland Security did indeed sign Dell and Microsoft to some pretty nice contracts. I think this could give more credibility to the story, although it could be just an attack at Dell. Who knows.

Quote:

Dell to aid in homeland security

Round Rock-based Dell Inc. (Nasdaq: DELL) is one of 30 contractors that will help Bermuda-based Accenture Ltd (NYSE: ACN) implement a Department of Homeland Security contract potentially worth $10 billion.

The contract, which will help protect U.S. borders and track visitors to the country, is part of a initiative called US VISIT, or the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program. The program will use digital photographs, fingerprints and other biometric information.

The contract covers five years with five one-year options after that. The package could be worth up to $10 billion, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Other contractors that will participate include Raytheon Co. (NYSE: RTN), Titan Corp. (NYSE: TTN) and AT&T Corp. (NYSE: T).

Computer Sciences Corp. (NYSE: CSC ) and Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) also competed for the contract

Quote:

Homeland Security awards Dell, Microsoft $90 million contract

MICROSOFT HAS snagged a deal with the US Department of Homeland Security worth $90 million over a five year period.
That means the software giant will be the leading supplier of technology to the agency.

According to a report on Reuters, both Dell and Microsoft will provide desktop and server products.

As many as 140,000 desktops will be part of the deal, with the Department claiming that the two vendors will provide a common IT environment for the agency's work.

Redlemon · 06-23-2005, 05:58 PM

Hoax.

http://www.snopes.com/computer/internet/dellbug.asp
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000317047049/
http://www.boingboing.net/2005/06/16...theory_of.html

Mephisto2 · 06-23-2005, 08:40 PM

Cool. Thanks for clearing that up.

I thought it was a bit "too bad" to be true.

Mr Mephisto

chickentribs · 06-23-2005, 09:21 PM

A couple of things that tipped it off for me were the unverifiable web address, the large Times New Roman font and poor contruction of a web page by an "EE by trade", and the garbage ties holding the wires to his circuit board, and the iBabes mirror. Michael Dell is a wealthy Texan with an open checkbook - his government contracts are well secured.

We should all take note to how spooked we are though - that is a very real issue. "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself" FDR, 1933.

06-23-2005, 02:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mephisto2 Junkie	Big Brother is watching you I didn't know whether to post this in the computer forum or here, but based upon the content I thought this board was more appropriate. Please read the following story. http://c0x2.de/lol/lol.html If this is to be believed, Dell are fitting their new laptops with keyloggers for the Department of Homeland Security! Does anyone know if this story is trustworthy? Interesting indeed if it's true. Mr Mephisto

06-23-2005, 02:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
j8ear Gentlemen Farmer Location: Middle of nowhere, Jersey	Sounds "reasonable" to me. Unbelievable indeed. Possible, definately. Accurate, possibly. I saw something the other day about Justice Department regulations propsed which would require ISPs to maintain connection logs for serious durations...like 5 years. This wouldn't suprise me in least...but it does chill my libertarian ass to the bone. -bear __________________ It's alot easier to ask for forgiveness then it is to ask for permission.

06-23-2005, 04:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
irateplatypus can't help but laugh Location: dar al-harb	With my limited experience in FOIA (freedom of information act) requests, I think this is a hoax. FOIA requests that I deal with are almost always requests for specific information. you have to know what you're looking for before you can ask the question. with no established link between the hardware and the DHS other than some policeman's recommendation, i can't picture someone actually asking DHS what a chip is doing in their laptop and expecting a decent answer. i mean, what would you do if someone called your office and asked why their refrigerator made pear-shaped ice instead of cubes? there might be weird and sinister explanation... but how the hell would you know? both the possibility of this actually happening coupled with the story's content/source makes this appear unlikely. __________________ If you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves. ~ Winston Churchill

06-23-2005, 05:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	Hoax. http://www.snopes.com/computer/internet/dellbug.asp http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000317047049/ http://www.boingboing.net/2005/06/16...theory_of.html __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

06-23-2005, 09:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
chickentribs Addict Location: Mansion by day/Secret Lair by night	A couple of things that tipped it off for me were the unverifiable web address, the large Times New Roman font and poor contruction of a web page by an "EE by trade", and the garbage ties holding the wires to his circuit board, and the iBabes mirror. Michael Dell is a wealthy Texan with an open checkbook - his government contracts are well secured. We should all take note to how spooked we are though - that is a very real issue. "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself" FDR, 1933. __________________ Oft expectation fails... and most oft there Where most it promises - Shakespeare, W.

06-23-2005, 02:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
samcol Junkie Location: Indiana	Homeland Insecurity is sticking it's nose where it doesn't belong. Any experts on the patriot act? This sounds like something that may have been incorporated into the bill because I recall a lot about wire taping and the like while browsing it. I don't like corportations working this closely and especially secretly with the government.

06-23-2005, 02:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
Elphaba Deja Moo Location: Olympic Peninsula, WA	The URL has me a little suspicious... lol/lol ?

06-23-2005, 03:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
Elphaba Deja Moo Location: Olympic Peninsula, WA	Homeland Security is already taking the personal data of ordinary citizens to test a security system. So, no, I don't doubt it a bit. lol/lol just strikes me as cute AOL speak. Take a deep breath, will ya?

06-23-2005, 08:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mephisto2 Junkie	Cool. Thanks for clearing that up. I thought it was a bit "too bad" to be true. Mr Mephisto