We need help with the disappearance of Security Researcher Dancho Danchev • Hacker News Board

Re: We need help with the disappearance of Security Researcher Dancho Danchev

#21

Post by eps » Sat, Jan 15, 2011, 6:48 AM UTC

privacyguru wrote: post #9

ryanwaggoner wrote: post #7

I'm no spy, but that doesn't look anything like a bugging device. It looks like a large transformer (what kind of bug needs a 20-60W transformer??) and a crappy wiring job. It looks like maybe wiring for lights for a vanity mirror in the bathroom. I think the bottom of the image is a mirror reflecting a roll of toilet paper.

I would think that a bugging device would be much more discreet. :) That was a pretty ugly job. Must be something more to it.

A transformer is not a bad place to hide a bug. That's assuming there was a transformer originally and it was just swapped for a bugged version.

The more relevant question is why bug the bathroom?

Re: We need help with the disappearance of Security Researcher Dancho Danchev

#22

Post by InclinedPlane » Sat, Jan 15, 2011, 6:58 AM UTC

awakeasleep wrote: post #12

Udo wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. So that raises the possibility he may have a paranoid schizophrenic episode, which would certainly explain his disappearance. Hopefully he hasn't really left his apartment and is just hiding. Worst case, he is drifting aimlessly around the city as a homeless person.

Does he have a record of schizophrenia? And how far back does that record extend?

The peak age range for schizophrenia onset in men is teens through early 30s, it would not be unusual at Dancho's age to have not had a history of symptoms. If he has indeed become schizophrenic.

It might be worth pointing out that Dancho is far more intelligent and more educated than average, and so perhaps better able to moderate schizophrenia. Its symptoms may appear more subtle to observers, being filtered through a more rational intellect, which might make it more difficult to spot.

All of this is speculation of course and not terribly helpful without more information on Dancho's whereabouts and activities. I hope he's ok.

Re: We need help with the disappearance of Security Researcher Dancho Danchev

#23

Post by bl4k » Sat, Jan 15, 2011, 7:10 AM UTC

noahc wrote: post #16

bl4k wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is obviously low-voltage halogen downlights, to the extent that this kid is either a paranoid schizophrenic or is trolling everybody. I scanned through his blog (which is a good read) and couldn't find anything that somebody would kill him or make him disappear over. I would be more interested in knowing why it took ZDNet 6 months to report one of their bloggers missing?

Could it possibly be a Steganography?

The images are not originals. I think ZDNet scanned original photos