Property seized for being a Linux using computer enthusiast!!!

[Lucian Solaris]

This is asinine!  They can peel my Linux from my cold dead hands!



http://www.infowars.com/cops-think-linux-use-may-be-sign-of-criminal-behavior/

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Cops Think Linux Use May be Sign of Criminal Behavior

Posted By admin On April 14, 2009 @ 4:18 pm In Police State | 122 Comments
Matt Zimmerman
EFF
April 14, 2009

On Friday, EFF and the law firm of Fish and Richardson filed an emergency motion to quash [pdf] and for the return of seized property on behalf of a Boston College computer science student whose computers, cell phone, and other property were seized as part of an investigation into who sent an e-mail to a school mailing list identifying another student as gay. The problem? Not only is there no indication that any crime was committed, the investigating officer argued that the computer expertise of the student itself supported a finding of probable cause to seize the student’s property.

The warrant application [pdf] cites the following allegedly suspicious behavior:







Should Boston College Linux users be looking over their shoulders?

In his application, the investigating officer asked that he be permitted to seize the student’s computers and other personal affects because they might yield evidence of the crimes of "Obtaining computer services by Fraud or Misrepresentation" and "Unauthorized access to a computer system." Aside from the remarkable overreach by campus and state police in trying to paint a student as suspicious in part because he can navigate a non-Windows computer environment, nothing cited in the warrant application could possibly constitute the cited criminal offenses. There are no assertions that a commercial (i.e. for pay) commercial service was defrauded, a necessary element of any "Obtaining computer services by Fraud or Misrepresentation" allegation. Similarly, the investigating officer doesn’t explain how sending an e-mail to a campus mailing list might constitute "unauthorized access to a computer system."

During its March 30th search, police seized (among other things) the computer science major’s computers, storage drives, cell phone, iPod Touch, flash drives, digital camera, and Ubuntu Linux CD. None of these items have been returned. He has been suspended from his job pending the investigation. His personal documents and information are in the hands of the state police who continue to examine it without probable cause, searching for evidence to support unsupportable criminal allegations.

Next up? An emergency court hearing as soon as the court will hear us in which we will ask that the search warrant be voided and the student’s property returned. Stay tuned…

[Eckhart Tolle]

That's it.. I'm deleting my free and awesome Kubuntu OS and driving right down to the store to buy Microsoft Windows.

[Scootle]

Haha, they don't say that about illegally downloading Windows... and that actually is a crime.

[Lucian Solaris]

Hell, I would dump WinBlow$ and go Linux, but I've already done so...

That's it.. I'm deleting my free and awesome Kubuntu OS and driving right down to the store to buy Microsoft Windows.

[Overcast]

So my company is guilty of 'Criminal Behavior' because we use Linux for some production systems?

lol

That's retarded - I know from experience the US Government uses Linux on some stuff. - Cause I worked on them.

[TheHouseMan]

I have to say, if you want real security for your computer, use TrueCrypt encryption. That's the ultimate security solution.

[UKStewart82]

I've tried ubuntu, it was ok, I've wondering which one you guys think is the best.  I've got opensuse burnt and ready to go....whatcha think.

[blackturtle.us]

Where's the probable cause? The Constitution protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizure! Of course we all know that the bar is set pretty low when it comes to search warrants and that most searches and seizures are Constitutionally unreasonable, but this case is even more unreasonable than most!!!

[jimwill]

I've tried ubuntu, it was ok, I've wondering which one you guys think is the best.  I've got opensuse burnt and ready to go....whatcha think.

I tried a slackware distro, but you need to take a lot of time to learn how to use most, if not all, slackware based distro's.
I felt OpenSuse was too bloated, kinda reminded me of the latest versions of windows.
I now use Kubuntu - that's ubuntu with the KDE desktop. It seems to be pretty easy, has a lot of pre-compiled software that can be loaded with the 'adept' manager, and wine runs a lot of windows programs if you want them. I run the winXP version of spider card game, ms money, and a couple of other aps under either wine or dosbox.

Hope this helps some.

[Monkeypox]

I've tried ubuntu, it was ok, I've wondering which one you guys think is the best.  I've got opensuse burnt and ready to go....whatcha think.

I like PCLinux OS 2009.  http://www.pclinuxos.com/

[wvoutlaw2002]

I've been saying for a long time that Linux users have for some time been treated like they're with al-Qaeda. First the "student getting detention for passing out Helios Linux CDs" fiasco, then Ken Starks getting physically assaulted for being a Linux advocate, and now this. It makes me wonder if they put you in a terrorism database when you either download a Linux CD image or log on to the internet with a Linux-based OS.

[KI4BNC]

I like mint.I have been having some technical difficulties of late and am now able to get back here.I also have an older lap top that would like to put linux on but am having difficulties getting anything to load.I was trying nimblex but for some reason it won't take.I didn't want to go with any of the ubuntus so any suggestions would be helpful. it is a panasonic cf48 with a pentium 4 (1.6g) and 256mb ram.
as for being a linux user,I think it is a miscarriage of justice(yet another one)

[shirteesdotnet]

I've tried ubuntu, it was ok, I've wondering which one you guys think is the best.  I've got opensuse burnt and ready to go....whatcha think.

Its a personal decision. The look of Suse or Fedora are great. Ubuntu looks great too and easy to make your own look in it. I like Ubuntu the best... theyve got a great forum of people around the world ready to answer questions for free (ubuntuforums.org). Plus there are different flavors of Ubuntu. The main one, then youve got UbuntuStudio for design work, Edubuntu with educational stuff on it, Kubuntu and Xubuntu... theres even an Ubuntu Lite (U-Lite) for old old computers. On my older systems I use Crunchbang Linux which looks a lot like Ubuntu. Its really light and works great on our old P-III laptop as a central family computer that everyone uses to check their email, recipes, etc.

I just put Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope beta on my new Acer netbook with the EXT4 file system... the thing is FAST! It boots in like 15 seconds tops from the time I press the on button.

I have Ubuntu on 5 computers of mine and installed Ubuntu now on about 25 systems. If your computing needs are basic, like email, word processing, simple but fun games, flash or java games online, etc Ubuntu linux will serve you great with no viruses, no slow downs, etc. Some Windows products do work in Ubuntu (using Wine) and I personally use Photoshop and Dreamweaver just becuase that is what I know the best. If you have a newer system with lots of ram and a good memory card, you can run Windows XP or Vista virtually using Virtual Box within Ubuntu.

Anyways, I use Ubuntu becuase the regularly have updates to the OS twice a year and are always working to make it better.
------------

I think we should create a FAQ or a home here with links so people can easily install Ubuntu on their systems if they are interested. This way if anyone is interested we can just give them a link with simple how to's.

[Boubear]

Its a personal decision. The look of Suse or Fedora are great. Ubuntu looks great too and easy to make your own look in it. I like Ubuntu the best... theyve got a great forum of people around the world ready to answer questions for free (ubuntuforums.org). Plus there are different flavors of Ubuntu. The main one, then youve got UbuntuStudio for design work, Edubuntu with educational stuff on it, Kubuntu and Xubuntu... theres even an Ubuntu Lite (U-Lite) for old old computers. On my older systems I use Crunchbang Linux which looks a lot like Ubuntu. Its really light and works great on our old P-III laptop as a central family computer that everyone uses to check their email, recipes, etc.

I just put Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope beta on my new Acer netbook with the EXT4 file system... the thing is FAST! It boots in like 15 seconds tops from the time I press the on button.

I have Ubuntu on 5 computers of mine and installed Ubuntu now on about 25 systems. If your computing needs are basic, like email, word processing, simple but fun games, flash or java games online, etc Ubuntu linux will serve you great with no viruses, no slow downs, etc. Some Windows products do work in Ubuntu (using Wine) and I personally use Photoshop and Dreamweaver just becuase that is what I know the best. If you have a newer system with lots of ram and a good memory card, you can run Windows XP or Vista virtually using Virtual Box within Ubuntu.

Anyways, I use Ubuntu becuase the regularly have updates to the OS twice a year and are always working to make it better.
------------

I think we should create a FAQ or a home here with links so people can easily install Ubuntu on their systems if they are interested. This way if anyone is interested we can just give them a link with simple how to's.

That would be great.  I always wanted to do this, but I was afraid, because everyone makes it sound so difficult!!

[JBS]

It really annoys them when people use an OS they can't break into because Linux does not leave back doors open for them. Where do these people get off thinking that they can take anyones personal property with no warrant, no crime and only a a suspicion of some idiot? I have Linux on all my computers. How did he know he had Linux OS anyway? They took the property first and asked questions later. I can't even imagine the perversity of this. This is stupidity beyond limits.

[L2Design]

Windows is spying on all of us. They probably know if you're not Windows then
you're Linux by the IP address? I'm not a tech person. Just my gut. My laptop
has slowed down like something is going on behind the scenes. I've done a virus scan with BitDefender.

Bill Gates is a demon.

[rawiron1]

You can't trust them Linux users.

Jason

[shirteesdotnet]

That would be great.  I always wanted to do this, but I was afraid, because everyone makes it sound so difficult!!

Boubear, I'll make something up (howto's and the basics) over the next week and see if we can get it sticky'd.

[zafada]

Linux got gay easy over the years.  Don't be afraid of it, it's just that there's really not much of a purpose for it if you're not a developer.

As for Linux having to do with criminal activity, that's a stretch.  Serious, go to google and you can find a billion torrents for operating systems for both Mac and Windows and a whole variety of other applications.

I think being a cop is a sign of criminal activity.  Stupid bitches...

[gunDriller]

Hell, I would dump WinBlow$ and go Linux, but I've already done so...

The aps. I'm learning are mostly Windows (CAD, Animation) but I've been thinking
of abandoning Windows because of their abandoning Windows XP.

Thankfully, many 3D aps are being ported to Linux.

The government is behaving as if they are paid to maintain Microsoft revenues -
whether or not they are.  Amazing.

Why not just re-name the country -
the United States of Lockheed, Monsanto, corporate health care, & corporate software ?

[White Rose Sophie]

Boubear, I'll make something up (howto's and the basics) over the next week and see if we can get it sticky'd.

Please do, and THANK YOU!  I've been wanting to migrate but it just sounded too daunting for someone with limited tech knowledge.   

[shirteesdotnet]

The aps. I'm learning are mostly Windows (CAD, Animation) but I've been thinking
of abandoning Windows because of their abandoning Windows XP.

Thankfully, many 3D aps are being ported to Linux.

You'd be surprised... a lot of animation studios like Dreamworks and Sony Animation use linux for their movies... some really good 3D programs being used by them are free, such as Blender. I dont use them, but have em installed when I finally get to them on my "to learn" list Judging from the screenshots around the net, it looks really powerful. A friend of mine who just got laid off of Yahoo said using linux is encouraged to help employees grow and develop new software. On a side note, he said the only people Yahoo is hiring or retaining now are Indians and Chinese who come here on student visas. I guess they are cheap and since they are here on student visas can get around some laws otherwise not possible if they were Americans.

[jimwill]

That would be great.  I always wanted to do this, but I was afraid, because everyone makes it sound so difficult!!

Please do, and THANK YOU!  I've been wanting to migrate but it just sounded too daunting for someone with limited tech knowledge.

I know money is getting tight, but if you can pick up an older computer cheaply, with at least a 10 gig hard drive and 512 meg memory then you can put linux on it and experiment until you decide whether you like it or not. Many versions of linux (called disto's) come as a "live cd" which means you can put the cd in your computer and boot off of it to play around with, or install. Linux will run slower from the cd than from the hard drive. You may be surprised to find that when installed it boots faster than your fast windows machine! It does not need to load up the virus scanners and other garbage that windows has!

[shirteesdotnet]

If you are interested in just trying linux without disrupting your XP or Vista, you can try the Wubi installer...

http://wubi-installer.org/

You'll need 256mb memory, at least 5gb extra hard drive space on your computer, AND a decent speed internet connection. Anything over 1.5 megabits is going to be good. Go to a site like Speed Test to double check... http://www.speedtest.net/  This might take anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes depending on how fast your connection is.

So download the wubi installer. It is an EXE file. Run the program. Pick your username, hard drive size, password, etc. It will then download Ubuntu and install Ubuntu onto your computer, without messing with your XP. What this does basically is create a virtual drive within Windows. Windows will not be affected in any way. Windows will see this as just another program that was installed and if you dont like Ubuntu, you can just go and remove it like any other program you dont like in Windows.

That is about the best way to get your feet wet with linux without too much hassle. Id give that a try and if you have any questions post here.

[gunDriller]

Please do, and THANK YOU!  I've been wanting to migrate but it just sounded too daunting for someone with limited tech knowledge.   

A few years ago (2003 ?) i took a shot at this and first tried one version of Linux (maybe Redhat) and then Mandrake Linux.

The installation for Mandrake was as easy as that for Windows.

As an example of what people are doing creatively using OS 3D programs like Blender, I can suggest
http://www.BigBuckBunny.com/

It's about a 25 minute animation.

For people that make the jump into Linux and then run into a wall of some sort, I could suggest
http://forums.anandtech.com/

I have to wonder how obsessively HR 1955 & 1959 will be interpreted by Homeland Security types.  There is language in there about being "disruptive to the economy."  Technically, a Linux User Group meeting falls in that category.  If a business rips you off and you stand out outside with a sign saying "this business is a scam", you are being disruptive.

So rights like Freedom of Assembly, and Freedom of Speech, are at conflict, logically, with some of these new laws that are being passed.

Now, people will say, "oh, that's just being silly, that wouldn't happen" - but they are, very unfortunately, wrong, at his juncture.  I would say the original post about the guy at Boston College is a good example.  Jesus.

[TheHouseMan]

Installing Linux Ubuntu is easy. You stick in the CD, boot from CD, and then click "Next", "Next" etc and it's done. No tech knowledge needed.

[shirteesdotnet]

Now, if you really like Ubuntu after trying it the wubi way, I would then delete that wubi installation in Windows and proceed to install Ubuntu as a native operating system next to Windows (not within windows). With the newest versions of Ubuntu this is quite easy. And here is a simple walk through to installing Ubuntu on your computer...

-first make sure your computer can handle Ubuntu. A 700 MHz x86 processor, 384 MB of system memory (RAM), 8GB of disk space, Graphics card capable of 1024x768 resolution. Sound card & a network or Internet connection are optional but recommended.

-download the Ubuntu ISO file to your computer from here... http://releases.ubuntu.com/releases/9.04/  Download the first option (Desktop CD for PC) unless you know you have a 64 bit processor.

-ISO files are image files. An image of whats on a disc. Once the ISO file is done downloading, you will need to burn that ISO file to a blank disc. I usually use blank DVDs burned at the slowest speed as these seem more stable than blank CDs, but you can use whatever you have.

-You need ISO burning software. Usually, newer computers come with some cd/dvd burning software. like Roxio, Nero, or whatever is branded with your computer (I think HP and Sony have their own disc burning utilities). If you dont know or cant figure it out, then download and use this free image burning software called IMGBURN right here.... http://www.imgburn.com/

-Use IMGBURN to burn your Ubuntu ISO image file to a blank disc. Make sure there were no errors during the burn process. If there was, redo it. I recommend burning at the slowest speed possible.

-When its all done, you can reboot your system with the Ubuntu disc still in your computer.

-If it doesnt find the Ubuntu disc after rebooting and goes back into Windows, then you will need to make some changes to your BIOS. Its easy to do.

-Reboot your computer again and when it first starts to reboot it usually says something about your BIOS. You'll need to press F2 to get into your BIOS. Once in, be careful making changes. You will want to find the section marked 'Boot Order' or 'Boot Sequence' or something along those lines. Make sure your CDROM drive is first on the list, ahead of your Hard Drive. That way, when you save your BIOS settings and reboot, it will find the Ubuntu disc, before looking for the hard drive. Again, once you have your boot order correct, save and exit the BIOS. This should reboot your system when you get out of the BIOS.

-You should now boot into the Ubuntu LiveCD. You can pick your language, and then play around with the Ubuntu OS as a Live CD. This is where I usually check to make sure my sound card works, my internet works, etc. Ubuntu should find all of that for you if you have them. If these dont work now, they probably wont work after installing Ubuntu. While you are in the LiveCD, you can go into the "examples" folder on the Ubuntu desktop and look at doc files, listen to sound files, video clips, etc and make sure all stuff works.

-When you are ready to install Ubuntu on your computer, click the Install link on the desktop. It will walk you through some steps like picking your language, time zone, keyboard settings, etc and you should soon arrive at a partition screen on how you want to partition you hard drive. THIS IS IMPORTANT. DONT SCREW UP!! If you click the entire hard drive, it will wipe out your Windows. You may not want to do that (although I would!) Hopefully you have backed up your computer if you have gotten this far anyways.

-If you still want Windows, then pick the correct partition option (and it should show you graphically) so you have BOTH Windows and Ubuntu on the hard drive. Move the slider around so you have the desired Windows space and Ubuntu space you want. On my wifes new computer, I did 50/50 for her.

Thats pretty much it. It will then install Ubuntu on your computer and when its finished it will ask you to remove the disc and reboot. After rebooting it will ask you which OS you want to boot in... Ubuntu linux or Windows XP. If you didnt get that, you're data on your Windows side is gone.

Hope this helps! -Dave

[GakunGak]

Any resource for drivers for ubuntu?
Like, I know what devices I have, I just want to have them "just in case"....
Will try out ubuntu on virtual machine...

[jimwill]

After rebooting it will ask you which OS you want to boot in... Ubuntu linux or Windows XP. If you didnt get that, you're data on your Windows side is gone. Smiley

Which is why I suggest using an old machine to learn how it installs and works. As for speed, I had Ubuntu Hardy (8.04) running on a 450Mhz machine with 512 meg of memory - it was still faster than windows XP!
(now using a 1.7 Ghz machine!)

Any resource for drivers for ubuntu?

The biggest problem I had was with a Lexmark all-in-one scanner/printer - couldn't get the scanner to work. So I leave winXP on another partition in case I want to scan something!
I got an HP1520 printer, funny thing - I used the manufacturers CD to install the driver to windows - and all I could get was a form feed whenever I tried to print - - - had absolutely no problem with Kubuntu!

[GakunGak]

found this:
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/nvidia

[shirteesdotnet]

For printers go here:

http://www.openprinting.org/printer_list.cgi

For scanners go here:

http://www.sane-project.org/cgi-bin/driver.pl

I have a Canon 8600F photo and slide scanner that is unsupported in linux unfortunately. I dont use it often becuase of this. But if I need to scan slides and use my scanner, I use Virtual Box and installed Windows XP virtually within linux. The scanner works great this way, but it means I have to boot up XP within linux. Its not a big deal since I dont scan much. XP by the way works better within linux that it does natively

To run XP as a virtual OS you are going to need a decent amount of RAM. 2 or more GB I would suggest. Works fine on my system with 4GB of memory.

[Lucian Solaris]

For entertainment, go here.

[Eckhart Tolle]

For entertainment, go here.

HAHA!!! Thanks for that!!!

That was awesome. 

[robert5]

I've been saying for a long time that Linux users have for some time been treated like they're with al-Qaeda. First the "student getting detention for passing out Helios Linux CDs" fiasco, then Ken Starks getting physically assaulted for being a Linux advocate, and now this. It makes me wonder if they put you in a terrorism database when you either download a Linux CD image or log on to the internet with a Linux-based OS.

i seriously doubt that they can identify you by downloading a Linux distribution off of the internet.
i do agree that us Linux users are being treated poorly because the fact is that the government does want to monitor the peoples internet activity & computer usage, but cannot successfully do so if the user is using Linux.
also, Microsoft factors into this because of the amount of power that they have & the amount of influence that they have in government. their ultimate goal is for a computer in every home & office running Microsoft software..
i completely kicked Microsoft out in 2000.

[robert5]

Windows is spying on all of us. They probably know if you're not Windows then
you're Linux by the IP address? I'm not a tech person. Just my gut. My laptop
has slowed down like something is going on behind the scenes. I've done a virus scan with BitDefender.

Bill Gates is a demon.

then nows the time to rid yourself of the windows virus & install Linux.

[Clyde Barrow]

All I have to say...

[changedname]

I like PCLinux OS 2009.  http://www.pclinuxos.com/

If this one free? Is is difficult to use? It looks awesome.. It appears to have 3d!

[changedname]

I know money is getting tight, but if you can pick up an older computer cheaply, with at least a 10 gig hard drive and 512 meg memory then you can put linux on it and experiment until you decide whether you like it or not. Many versions of linux (called disto's) come as a "live cd" which means you can put the cd in your computer and boot off of it to play around with, or install. Linux will run slower from the cd than from the hard drive. You may be surprised to find that when installed it boots faster than your fast windows machine! It does not need to load up the virus scanners and other garbage that windows has!

OK what if you have 2 hard drives? Can't I put this on just one hard drive and boot into that HD when I want to use it?

[shirteesdotnet]

If this one free? Is is difficult to use? It looks awesome.. It appears to have 3d!

Pretty much any newer full linux distribution can do 3D, you just need a video card than can handle and support it. Search around on youtube for "ubuntu" and "compiz" and you will pull up thousands of videos like this one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxfSwzhSn1c

[Lucian Solaris]

*puke*

UNIX, bastardized!

All I have to say...