Man jailed over computer password refusal

[speedfreak]

Originally Posted by Gary L

It's not like it is on the tele. not even with beeping noises either

You mean "Spooks" isn't a documentary?

seriously though, I would have thought a password could be cracked though you make a good point, how can he be jailed. Like I said I found the story strange

[Sasha222]

I thought it could be cracked as well but you learn something new everyday

[danielf]

So does this mean that the right to remain silent does not extend to computer passwords?

[Sasha222]

Would look like it as he is locked up for remaining silent and very interesting question

[frogstamper]

Originally Posted by Gary L

I think the lesson here is. if you have anything on your computer that will get you locked up for a long time. refuse to give them the password. you'll get a lot less longer sentence.

I'd guess the fifty days are purely for refusing to disclose the password, he won't do fifty days and then walk away, when his time is done he'll go before the judge once more and be asked again for the password, that is if they have not cracked it by then.
If he refuses, he'll get another fifty days...and so on.

[punky]

Originally Posted by frogstamper

I'd guess the fifty days are purely for refusing to disclose the password, he won't do fifty days and then walk away, when his time is done he'll go before the judge once more and be asked again for the password, that is if they have not cracked it by then.
If he refuses, he'll get another fifty days...and so on.

I would say that's covered under double deopardy, but that's another human right our Labour dear leaders have unburdened us with.

I don't know if it's urban legend or not and wether it happened here or abroad, but didn't a priest get an indefinite prison sentence for refusing to divulge details of a murder obtained under confession. Even if it happened again iu;m sure the European Court would overturn it.

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by punky

I would say that's covered under double deopardy, but that's another human right our Labour dear leaders have unburdened us with.

I don't know if it's urban legend or not and wether it happened here or abroad, but didn't a priest get an indefinite prison sentence for refusing to divulge details of a murder obtained under confession. Even if it happened again iu;m sure the European Court would overturn it.

Double jeopardy was done away with in 2005.

I haven't heard that story about the priest.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by danielf

So does this mean that the right to remain silent does not extend to computer passwords?

There are plenty of examples where the right to remain silent doesn't exist.

Having to provide the name of the driver of a vehicle is the example that immediately springs to mind.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by speedfreak

I found it a bit odd. I thought anything could be cracked these days. If the crime would have been terrorist related you'd have thought (hoped) they would have managed to crack it

You can download encryption from the Internet free of charge and encrypt a message that is unlikely to be broken in your lifetime, even assuming there are massive advances in computing power during that time.

The only option is to try every possible combination of letters, numbers and punctuation. Think about how long that will take given the 26 letters of each case, 10 numbers, and various bits of punctuation over 50 characters

[LondonRoad]

I wonder if they've tried 'password123'

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by frogstamper

I'd guess the fifty days are purely for refusing to disclose the password, he won't do fifty days and then walk away, when his time is done he'll go before the judge once more and be asked again for the password, that is if they have not cracked it by then.
If he refuses, he'll get another fifty days...and so on.

He'll just do the fifty days. they won't keep going around in circles asking him for the password, and putting him away again if he won't or can't tell them.

---------- Post added at 09:38 ---------- Previous post was at 09:31 ----------

Originally Posted by speedfreak

You mean "Spooks" isn't a documentary?

seriously though, I would have thought a password could be cracked though you make a good point, how can he be jailed. Like I said I found the story strange

What if you genuinely can't remember it? what if you had a piece of paper with a line of 50 characters hidden in a safe deposit box on the otherside of the world, that you said is the correct password that doesn't work when they go and bring it back?

---------- Post added at 09:58 ---------- Previous post was at 09:38 ----------

Originally Posted by LondonRoad

I wonder if they've tried 'password123'

That's only got 11. this one's got 50 and might even work

SIERRA MIKE FOXTROT CHARLIE YANKEE CHARLIE SIERRA CHARLIE

[Uncle Peter]

50 alpha characters is crazy, entropy of 256 bits + (more like 270)

Even if it could be cracked I very much doubt that the black helicopter squadron would admit they had the capability.

[Derek]

Well even if he dodges being charged this time he'll be under watch until he slips up..

[Waldo Pepper]

There are many encryption programs available free on the internet that use algorithms that if properly implemented are nigh impossible to crack. 3DES & Blowfish 256 are a couple that spring to mind.
A couple of techniques:
Brute force every option that will take longer than the age of the universe...seriously
Rubber hose decryption which involves hitting him with a rubber hose until he reveals it.

Nobody can remember a random 50 character passwords unless it's a phrase or lyrics to a song he may have in his music collection. A decent personality profile should indicate what it might be.

Brute forcing a password like "johnny" has to be started from scratch if he changes it to "Johnny"