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Laptop stolen from Pelosi's office during storming of U.S. Capitol, says aide

reuters.com

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Re: Laptop stolen from Pelosi's office during storming of U.S. Capitol, says aide

#21

Post by ProAm »

mumblemumble wrote: post #14

Beyond the information security risk around the loss of this specific device, what really worries me is the physical security implications here. I'm certainly no expert on the subject, but it seems to me like, in a building like the US Capitol, it should not be anywhere near this easy for unauthorized people to waltz into an office or conference room in the first place. Let alone walk away with items from within that…

Ha! These people are in their 70's and 80's, getting any legitimate security is near impossible. Try telling your grandparents not to play flash games on their computer. The best security should have been by the entrances of the building.

Edit: Pelosi is 80 years old.

Re: Laptop stolen from Pelosi's office during storming of U.S. Capitol, says aide

#22

Post by danans »

spzb wrote: post #12
coldcode wrote: post #6

If they followed proper security it would be encrypted. All of our Macs at my employer automatically have it on.

Given that Pelosi's desktop was logged on and unlocked, there's a fair chance the laptop was too which would render full disk encryption useless. As long as whoever stole it didn't close it and send it to sleep anyway.

IIUC that wasn't her desktop, but rather one of a staffer. The desk the insurrectionist had his boots on in that photo was also not hers.

It was in her office, though.

Re: Laptop stolen from Pelosi's office during storming of U.S. Capitol, says aide

#23

Post by Fauntleroy »

mumblemumble wrote: post #14

Beyond the information security risk around the loss of this specific device, what really worries me is the physical security implications here. I'm certainly no expert on the subject, but it seems to me like, in a building like the US Capitol, it should not be anywhere near this easy for unauthorized people to waltz into an office or conference room in the first place. Let alone walk away with items from within that…

To prevent unauthorized entry, Capitol Police would have had to put up a fight. Seems they were unwilling to do so. If America continues down this path Russia (and others) are just gonna have a field day.

Re: Laptop stolen from Pelosi's office during storming of U.S. Capitol, says aide

#24

Post by coldcode »

spzb wrote: post #12
coldcode wrote: post #6

If they followed proper security it would be encrypted. All of our Macs at my employer automatically have it on.

Given that Pelosi's desktop was logged on and unlocked, there's a fair chance the laptop was too which would render full disk encryption useless. As long as whoever stole it didn't close it and send it to sleep anyway.

Not the brightest of bulbs, I bet they closed it to carry it away.

Re: Laptop stolen from Pelosi's office during storming of U.S. Capitol, says aide

#25

Post by jbjbjbjb »

spzb wrote: post #12
coldcode wrote: post #6

If they followed proper security it would be encrypted. All of our Macs at my employer automatically have it on.

Given that Pelosi's desktop was logged on and unlocked, there's a fair chance the laptop was too which would render full disk encryption useless. As long as whoever stole it didn't close it and send it to sleep anyway.

Logged on, unlocked and unattended? That shouldn’t be allowed to happen.

Re: Laptop stolen from Pelosi's office during storming of U.S. Capitol, says aide

#26

Post by 96394032 »

slg wrote: post #7

>Nancy Pelosi told fellow House Democrats that she had received reassurances about safeguards to prevent Donald Trump from launching a nuclear attack Maybe this is too political or HN, but this is the bigger news on that page. It tells me we don't have a functioning chain of command and our government is currently responding to a hard coup attempt with a soft coup which is also pretty scary. Trump should either be re…

I would hope all entities with nuclear capabilities have de facto safeguards in place to prevent anyone from actually launching a nuclear attack. Although, I would also hope they wouldn't talk about them as it diminishes the deterrent effect that is the only potentially good thing about such weapons. Nuclear weapons should never be used but people who can use them should not say that.

Re: Laptop stolen from Pelosi's office during storming of U.S. Capitol, says aide

#27

Post by sudosysgen »

joana035 wrote: post #15
SteveNuts wrote: post #5

Truly a nightmare situation. I really hope they have a solid means to recover the stolen assets. Does anyone have insight into what types of tracking high level government laptops would have?

I know thinkpads has "computrace" in the BIOS, but alongside with intel ME, perhaps the device can be, at least, erased.

If the thieves are competent then the laptop already has the wifi antenna removed and the drive taken out.

Re: Laptop stolen from Pelosi's office during storming of U.S. Capitol, says aide

#28

Post by xpe »

slg wrote: post #7

>Nancy Pelosi told fellow House Democrats that she had received reassurances about safeguards to prevent Donald Trump from launching a nuclear attack Maybe this is too political or HN, but this is the bigger news on that page. It tells me we don't have a functioning chain of command and our government is currently responding to a hard coup attempt with a soft coup which is also pretty scary. Trump should either be re…

My personal views aside, this is off-topic.

Re: Laptop stolen from Pelosi's office during storming of U.S. Capitol, says aide

#29

Post by bilbo0s »

Fauntleroy wrote: post #23
mumblemumble wrote: post #14

Beyond the information security risk around the loss of this specific device, what really worries me is the physical security implications here. I'm certainly no expert on the subject, but it seems to me like, in a building like the US Capitol, it should not be anywhere near this easy for unauthorized people to waltz into an office or conference room in the first place. Let alone walk away with items from within that…

To prevent unauthorized entry, Capitol Police would have had to put up a fight. Seems they were unwilling to do so. If America continues down this path Russia (and others) are just gonna have a field day.

You're being naive if you believe that Russia and others didn't already have a field day at the Capitol yesterday. I wouldn't worry as much about what these guys took from offices and server rooms as I would worry about what little digital gifts these guys may have left behind in the offices and server rooms.
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