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Boston College Campus Police: "Using Prompt Commands" May Be a Sign of Criminal Activity

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Re: Boston College Campus Police: "Using Prompt Commands" May Be a Sign of Criminal Activity

#21

Post by mindslight »

frisco wrote: post #17

Has anyone actually read the warrant application? The allegations were made by a close acquaintance of the accused who directly observed him changing grades for students and cracking into other systems; the emails in question were traced back to the accused's hostname. The EFF article completely mischaracterizes a 90% legitimate warrant. http://www.eff.org/files/filenode/inresearchBC/EXHIBIT-A.pdf

Changing grades is basically the only possible crime listed in that warrant, everything else listed is a civil matter at best, and mostly scaremongering due to his technical abilities.

>> he has "fixed" computers so that they cannot be scanned by any system for detection of illegal downloads and illegal internet use, "jail breaks" cell phones, possibly stolen ones, for people so that the phones can be used on networks other than they are meant for

He expects full control over his property and doesn't just do what he's told? We're obviously dealing with a loose cannon here!

Re: Boston College Campus Police: "Using Prompt Commands" May Be a Sign of Criminal Activity

#22

Post by spoondan »

ja27 wrote: post #9
something wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

let's also point out that in this example, the police did exactly their job. had they seized your car and belongings...

Well, if the bank robbers had left a note with their name and address on it, they would have been justified. D-bag kid's forged emails were traced back to his IP address, which then led to his SMB name and MAC address. It'll be hard to get out of that. Plus, unless I'm mixing up the censor squares, it's his roommate that made the accusation in the first place. So it's not really like they just picked on a random kid…

Is sending a forged e-mail accusing your roommate of being gay illegal? It sounds juvenile and malicious. But I don't see how it's a crime.

Anyway, you've misread the warrant application. The forged e-mails were tracked to a dynamic IP address. They searched for anyone else using the same computer name ("bootleg-laptop"), and found that the accused had used the same computer name but NOT the same MAC address six months earlier. They connected the accused to the e-mail by saying that he accessed the same gay social networking site referenced in the forged e-mail before the e-mail was sent, and that the accused and the person who sent the forged e-mails both use Linux.

Anyway, the accused was only targeted because he got into a fight with his roommate, and his overbearing roommate ran off and made crazy accusations about this guy hacking into the grading system. They evidently didn't find anything to support that accusation, so they went after him for this stunt.

Re: Boston College Campus Police: "Using Prompt Commands" May Be a Sign of Criminal Activity

#23

Post by CaptainMorgan »

mindslight wrote: post #21
frisco wrote: post #17

Has anyone actually read the warrant application? The allegations were made by a close acquaintance of the accused who directly observed him changing grades for students and cracking into other systems; the emails in question were traced back to the accused's hostname. The EFF article completely mischaracterizes a 90% legitimate warrant. http://www.eff.org/files/filenode/inresearchBC/EXHIBIT-A.pdf

Changing grades is basically the only possible crime listed in that warrant, everything else listed is a civil matter at best, and mostly scaremongering due to his technical abilities. >> he has "fixed" computers so that they cannot be scanned by any system for detection of illegal downloads and illegal internet use, "jail breaks" cell phones, possibly stolen ones, for people so that the phones can be used on network…

Indeed.. but if grades were actually changed, I think the IT Director of Security at BC (mentioned in the warrant) would've stated or advised that they were changed. Yet, he only advises and assists the detective with regard to the subject of mass emailing. And even this I question- it appears as if they don't understand the point of a mailing-list... like they don't understand the reasoning behind email propagation to a list- duh, this is how it happens. That's the purpose of a mailing list- so that those that are subscribed receive the content therein (content to be argued about separately) What's shady is that given this is a warrant application, a number is not even approximated at for the amount of emails supposedly sent - they only use the term "mass email" and in some cases they use the singular version, "the email" referring to originate from his machine. All they prove is that they can trace an email- big whoop, nothing a log file can't show them.

LOL - saw your edit; how dare he want to actually own his property! :) I'd argue that the governing body that wishes to achieve the goal of nothing else (where a crime was not committed) but scanning his computer, is conducting an illegal act!

Re: Boston College Campus Police: "Using Prompt Commands" May Be a Sign of Criminal Activity

#24

Post by kragen »

javanix wrote: post #19
pingswept wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Poorly worded probable cause would be, "I saw him go into a room that was his with a gun and it was hidden," instead of, "I saw him hide a gun in his room." I think including "Mr. Calixte uses two different operating systems" under the section "Basis of Probable Cause" for search goes beyond poor wording.

My point was more that there was plenty of other valid probable cause claims in the warrant. If a judge had rejected this warrant on the basis of that paragraph, the police could have just removed it and we and the judge wouldn't have anything to complain about. The grounds for the seizure were plenty strong - the email traces and network authentication would be enough to get any laptop involved in a crime seized. An…

The free-speech argument kind of loses its luster when you send something without your name attached.

Maybe you're not from the US, but the US has a legal tradition of strong protections for anonymous and pseudonymous speech. The Federalist Papers, which were a key part of the political discourse leading to the existence of the US, were published anonymously. So maybe what you say is true in Ukraine or China or Myanmar or wherever you're from, but it's certainly not true in the US.

Re: Boston College Campus Police: "Using Prompt Commands" May Be a Sign of Criminal Activity

#25

Post by kragen »

spoondan wrote: post #22
ja27 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, if the bank robbers had left a note with their name and address on it, they would have been justified. D-bag kid's forged emails were traced back to his IP address, which then led to his SMB name and MAC address. It'll be hard to get out of that. Plus, unless I'm mixing up the censor squares, it's his roommate that made the accusation in the first place. So it's not really like they just picked on a random kid…

Is sending a forged e-mail accusing your roommate of being gay illegal? It sounds juvenile and malicious. But I don't see how it's a crime. Anyway, you've misread the warrant application. The forged e-mails were tracked to a dynamic IP address. They searched for anyone else using the same computer name ("bootleg-laptop"), and found that the accused had used the same computer name but NOT the same MAC address six mont…

Is sending a forged e-mail accusing your roommate of being gay illegal? It sounds juvenile and malicious. But I don't see how it's a crime.

Yes, given that we live in a society where many people think homosexual behavior is grossly immoral, that's prima facie defamation.

Re: Boston College Campus Police: "Using Prompt Commands" May Be a Sign of Criminal Activity

#27

Post by javanix »

kragen wrote: post #24
javanix wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My point was more that there was plenty of other valid probable cause claims in the warrant. If a judge had rejected this warrant on the basis of that paragraph, the police could have just removed it and we and the judge wouldn't have anything to complain about. The grounds for the seizure were plenty strong - the email traces and network authentication would be enough to get any laptop involved in a crime seized. An…

The free-speech argument kind of loses its luster when you send something without your name attached. Maybe you're not from the US, but the US has a legal tradition of strong protections for anonymous and pseudonymous speech. The Federalist Papers, which were a key part of the political discourse leading to the existence of the US, were published anonymously. So maybe what you say is true in Ukraine or China or Myanm…

I am from the United States - anonymous and pseudonymous protections wouldn't apply to this case of slander/libel and/or criminal harassment. Anonymously outing someone against their will does not fall under the same protections that critiquing an unfair government does.

I didn't mean to imply that all anonymous talk is without protection, just that in this specific case, the defendant in question would probably have a very difficult time making a successful free speech argument.

Re: Boston College Campus Police: "Using Prompt Commands" May Be a Sign of Criminal Activity

#28

Post by blahblahblah »

"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"

Wow! In addition to his computers, the police also seized the student's emotional states (presumably to search for evidence of thoughtcrime).

Re: Boston College Campus Police: "Using Prompt Commands" May Be a Sign of Criminal Activity

#29

Post by tokenadult »

CaptainMorgan wrote: post #18
frisco wrote: post #17

Has anyone actually read the warrant application? The allegations were made by a close acquaintance of the accused who directly observed him changing grades for students and cracking into other systems; the emails in question were traced back to the accused's hostname. The EFF article completely mischaracterizes a 90% legitimate warrant. http://www.eff.org/files/filenode/inresearchBC/EXHIBIT-A.pdf

Yes. Though, allegations are allegations and what weight do they hold, especially in this case? I argue they don't hold much- it looks more like a civil dispute between two former friends. Plus, keep in mind, 10% is more than enough reasonable doubt- especially in a case where the law and the police are still considered noobs to the game. But this part kills me: "Mr. Calixte has access into ""'s computer as he set it…

10% is more than enough reasonable doubt

That's not the correct standard of evidence for the allegations supporting a search warrant.

Yes, I am a lawyer.

Re: Boston College Campus Police: "Using Prompt Commands" May Be a Sign of Criminal Activity

#30

Post by jdale27 »

dagobart wrote: post #10

We should have an incompetency-of-the-day world map. Just to point out the more numb places. Or where not to go to.

Yeah, like Boston, "the intellectual capital of the US and probably the world."

-- http://www.paulgraham.com/revolution.html

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