Does Linux use make you a criminal?

[wv67]

Conspiracy theory time. Here's a link to an interesting read about a Boston College student who had his computers taken away. One aspect against him was that he used a non-windows os.

Cops Think Linux Use May be Sign of Criminal Behavior


Also, it's flown under the radar, but two Senators have introduced a bill to give the the govt legal recourse to unplug the net if deemed in the interest of national security.

Giving Government Power To Unplug The Internet -- Internet Security -- InformationWeek

Just something to read over your cup of joe

David

[cousinlucky]

If the police do not find any " evidence " the taxpayers of Massachusetts are going to have to pay millions of dollars for the mistake of the police.

[elija]

Does Linux use make you a criminal?

Only if you are a criminal.

[D-cat]

Wait a second. He uses an operating system that has "a black screen with a white font which he uses prompt commands on." He also had an Ubuntu CD, but this description could be Windows' DOS interface, and since when did Boston College have it own "Regular Operating System?"

Second, he's employed by their IT department. He has the means without hacking or using Linux on a laptop or such. If you have root access, you can telnet interface directly with the local SMTP server and send out e-mails with no source markers.

Also, from anywhere on the web, someone can send anonymous e-mail through "Anonymous Remailers" which strip headers. This takes absolutely zero hacking knowledge, and is the more likely route someone with a juvenile malicious intent would use.

He's known for helping other students with their computer problems. This action does not fit the profile of a good natured IT professional in training. I think this guy's just being persecuted for knowing too much (and the victim pointed him out as a possible culprit).

While this guy clearly has the means and opportunity, so does everybody else in the world (or at least every student there) with an Internet connection. What's the motive? It appears they did get a warrant, so his 4th amendment is in tact. I just have issue that not more evidence was required; the "ability to navigate a non-Microsoft OS" is not evidence, or all you Mac users has also better be on guard.

Like someone else commented, if the authorities fail to find iron clad evidence that he did it, they are going to be liable for a lot from false seizure; this is going to trash this semester's courses, job wages, room and board, etc... all he'll be entitled to restitution for.

[XTremo]

They might be on to something you know....cos some of these distro obsessed fanboys do exhibit signs of fanatical behaviour!

You know the type...."I have to defend the honour of my distro against any outsiders!"

[Farmer Mike]

Boston University has their own Linux Distro, (DistroWatch.com: Boston University Linux), maybe Boston College uses it too.

And as far as Linux control by the police goes, They can have my mouse when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

[jayd512]

And as far as Linux control by the police goes, They can have my mouse when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

I hear ya, bro!

[D-cat]

Oh, and to add, I believe Linux use is a sign of wanting to be able to use your computer without resorting to criminal behavior (as defined in the DMCA).

I've read that untold copies of Windows are Pirate, Linux is free for the masses. Some estimated 80% of Photoshop users run pirated copies, nobody runs Gimp illegally. How many illegal copies of MS Office are floating around? How many cracks to people need for OpenOffice.Org? Linux is inherantly more secure than Windows without 3rd party add-ons, the lions share of hacks and hackers are on Windows.

If any OS use is a sign of criminal behavior, it's Windows. Linux is a sign of Anti-criminal intent, IMO.

[Compintuit]

Oh well; I'm already a criminal; I jaywalked just this afternoon

[D-cat]

Re: Unplug the Internet...

...this is a band-aide to fix something that should never have happened in the first place. Certain infrastructures like the power grid should never have been plugged into the Internet, but some naive decision makers had decided that the computers that ran the power grid were so unique and obsolete that they were not hackable. When will they learn that any wall built by a human can be breeched by a human?

While the events that have lead to the situation in question are idiotic, the proposed solution is a little less. Little. Giving one person the power to drop the grid from the net in case of attack is dangerous and short sighted. How about working to remove the grid integration from the Internet, keeping it on its own isolated network that can't be hacked from overseas because there is no physical access? If we can run power lines, we can run signal cables; may cost more, but it's also more sane.