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Man jailed over computer password refusal

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Man jailed over computer password refusal

#2

Post by ryanwaggoner »

Just thought of a feature idea for TrueCrypt and other similar packages: encrypted files or partitions can have multiple passwords, which reveal different things. So you could have a password that reveals something embarrassing but not incriminating. If the police or border nazis threaten you with prosecution unless you reveal your password, you give them this one. Meanwhile, you hide anything really confidential behind a password that you never give out.

Or maybe they already have this?

Re: Man jailed over computer password refusal

#3

Post by tynan »

ryanwaggoner wrote: post #2

Just thought of a feature idea for TrueCrypt and other similar packages: encrypted files or partitions can have multiple passwords, which reveal different things. So you could have a password that reveals something embarrassing but not incriminating. If the police or border nazis threaten you with prosecution unless you reveal your password, you give them this one. Meanwhile, you hide anything really confidential beh…

They already have this, It's called plausible deniability.

What are the laws in the US on this?

Re: Man jailed over computer password refusal

#5

Post by digitallogic »

ryanwaggoner wrote: post #2

Just thought of a feature idea for TrueCrypt and other similar packages: encrypted files or partitions can have multiple passwords, which reveal different things. So you could have a password that reveals something embarrassing but not incriminating. If the police or border nazis threaten you with prosecution unless you reveal your password, you give them this one. Meanwhile, you hide anything really confidential beh…

TrueCrypt already has this feature: http://www.truecrypt.org/hiddenvolume

Re: Man jailed over computer password refusal

#6

Post by ryanwaggoner »

digitallogic wrote: post #5
ryanwaggoner wrote: post #2

Just thought of a feature idea for TrueCrypt and other similar packages: encrypted files or partitions can have multiple passwords, which reveal different things. So you could have a password that reveals something embarrassing but not incriminating. If the police or border nazis threaten you with prosecution unless you reveal your password, you give them this one. Meanwhile, you hide anything really confidential beh…

TrueCrypt already has this feature: http://www.truecrypt.org/hiddenvolume

Ah well...at least I thought of something worth doing :)

Re: Man jailed over computer password refusal

#7

Post by omh »

digitallogic wrote: post #5
ryanwaggoner wrote: post #2

Just thought of a feature idea for TrueCrypt and other similar packages: encrypted files or partitions can have multiple passwords, which reveal different things. So you could have a password that reveals something embarrassing but not incriminating. If the police or border nazis threaten you with prosecution unless you reveal your password, you give them this one. Meanwhile, you hide anything really confidential beh…

TrueCrypt already has this feature: http://www.truecrypt.org/hiddenvolume

Presumably the UK police are aware of this feature, which could lead to a more interesting situation when you can't prove that you've really unlocked to the deepest level.

Re: Man jailed over computer password refusal

#8

Post by ryanwaggoner »

omh wrote: post #7
digitallogic wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

TrueCrypt already has this feature: http://www.truecrypt.org/hiddenvolume

Presumably the UK police are aware of this feature, which could lead to a more interesting situation when you can't prove that you've really unlocked to the deepest level.

Seems like you're giving the police a lot of credit, but maybe not. Regardless, there's really no way to prove anything either way, is there?

Re: Man jailed over computer password refusal

#9

Post by squidbot »

It occurs to me that since this part of a child pornography investigation, 16 weeks in jail for not giving them a password might actually be a far lighter sentence than if the key was provided and illicit material was found. I don't condone the porn, but it does seem like a logical trade-off.
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