How accurate are those crime TV shows?
 

...about security? Like you'll see some crazed serial killer has accessed a webpage then they backtrack his IP address through some techno wizardy and find out not only his location, but the computer he used. Just curious how accurate those shows are? I know a bit about security but not all that much. Like I know their are some programs or things such as a router to help hide your IP and location and such but I don't know how tough those things really are at keeping people from getting your info.

The ISP helps give the police your location. If the ISP cooperates there's not a whole lot you can do.

In general:

Yeah, turns out TeeVee crime shows are hilarious. They feature technology that no agency can afford or systems that don't exist.

Also: CSI grunts aren't James Bonds driving hummers, carrying Kimbers, and taking their $300 sunglasses off every 4 minutes.

...

Indirectly related to the topic of accuracy of forensics on TeeVee crime shows, reality, and public perception:

I'd recommend reading this study... it's interesting.

What about proxies?

It can all lead back to you. It just depends on how much the investigating team is willing to dig and spend to find you--and this depends on what you are doing that would arouse suspicion. Downloading a few MP3s or movies? Probably not worth their time. Disseminating child pornography? May be worth their time if it's particularly heinous. Infiltrating bank and/or military websites and otherwise accessing privileged information? Definitely worth their time.

The age of proxies is pretty much over. There aren't any open proxies worth a crap any more.

You could go to a public place such as a business with open wireless or a school/library with public terminals. They usually resolve to just the router IP address as far as the external side goes (internet side of the router). Internally they usually resolve to non-internet-routable addresses (10.10.x.x or 192.16x.x.x); but these are trackable by the school or business and then you have to worry about cameras and witnesses that may have seen you.

However, the law is not very clear about using an IP address to establish identity. MediaPost Publications Court: IP Addresses Are Not 'Personally Identifiable' Information 07/07/2009

tor is the new hotness in anonsurfing. I remember when I used to surf through four or five daisychained proxies whenever I was up to no good...and by that I mean posting from alt accounts on other forums, lol

Tor: anonymity online

they make me laugh....

I find every aspect of CSI hillarious, and it's a franchise that I really like. :D

I had to explain at work to a colleague that the Michael Jackson autopsy results taking a few weeks to perform was normal, and that drug testing cannot be done in half an hour in a 10' x 10' lab staffed by one graduate.

From what I've seen in comparison of Law & Order, Criminal Minds, Bones, to real-life docudramas like The First 48, the detectives in this plane of reality rely more heavily off word-of-mouth and sessions of hour-long interrogation to nab a true suspect and subsequent confession/arrest. The "high-tech" aspect is rarily ever portrayed on-screen.

For whatever reason, it seems if the accused would just adhere to their right to keep silent, they would be released thereafter. In a good portion of cases, real-life murder mysteries are really devoid of DNA evidence and witness testimonials, so most of what it takes to shut the case is to obtain an admission of guilt, rather than trying to press circumstantial scenarios into a court of law.

So this thread just made it easier for people to be criminals again. I gotta hand it to TFP for raising spirits.., among other things.

Are you trying to tell us something? :expressionless:

I'll remember his face for when he's up on the EffaBeeEye's Top 20.