April 21, 2005
Me Thinks He Doth Protest Too Much
Michelle Malkin linked to a Boing Boing about a biology professor who's laptop was stolen. The professor apparently ended his lecture with a very scary rundown of the fate awaiting the student who thought he could get over by getting the next exam off the computer. Apparently the professors laptop also contained some confidential material related to an NIH study, some confidential corporate information from a large biotech company, and some info related to another company's upcoming IPO. Apparently, the FBI, the Federal Marshals, and The SEC are very interested in whoever took the laptop.
I've done a little searching and I can't find a whole lot on the story. I have read a number of people cheering the professor's speech and pointing out that stealing your prof's laptop is not necessarily a good idea. I haven't found anyone questioning the professor who left his laptop full of sensitive data lying around for a student to grab.
Posted by: Stephen Macklin at 05:00 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
1
Very good point...I think the professor is just trying to strike fear into the hearts of the thief and/or other potential thieves. If that data is so sensitive, why was it on a computer that's always connected via wireless internet? Isn't that a web security issue? Not to mention having it on a laptop that's not locked to something in the room.
I also doubt that all of that info is actually on there, and even if it is I'm not convinced there are such severe penalties for simply being in possession of such info. I could be wrong, but I think that scare tactic is being taken far too seriously by too many people.
I also doubt that all of that info is actually on there, and even if it is I'm not convinced there are such severe penalties for simply being in possession of such info. I could be wrong, but I think that scare tactic is being taken far too seriously by too many people.
Posted by: JS at April 21, 2005 05:19 PM (TMd7W)
2
Plus the fact that Micro$oft would not have been able to know that he installed a second copy of WinDoze and call the professor "within 15 minutes".
It is interesting that he has LoJack on his laptop unlike all the actual sensitive laptops stolen from the FBI and the State Department. If he actually had such a thing, he would not be blabbing it to his class, he would just have the police pick up the thief.
I remember the story of the thief who stole a printer from a university computer room and then called the help desk to get it working. The person who answered the phone kept the thief talking while the police traced the call and then arrested him.
Of course, if the scare tactic works, fine.
It is interesting that he has LoJack on his laptop unlike all the actual sensitive laptops stolen from the FBI and the State Department. If he actually had such a thing, he would not be blabbing it to his class, he would just have the police pick up the thief.
I remember the story of the thief who stole a printer from a university computer room and then called the help desk to get it working. The person who answered the phone kept the thief talking while the police traced the call and then arrested him.
Of course, if the scare tactic works, fine.
Posted by: Sabba Hillel at April 21, 2005 07:32 PM (rydsz)
3
Yeah, I had the same first reaction: good job on the data security, there, doc.
Posted by: RP at April 22, 2005 06:51 AM (LlPKh)
4
Good thinking thats why I always leave my laptop where it was intended to be in the first place ...... On my top ? right?
of the car the desk? no desktop ? give me a hint does it look like a briecase ? Where do you plug it ?
of the car the desk? no desktop ? give me a hint does it look like a briecase ? Where do you plug it ?
Posted by: skinner at May 05, 2005 11:31 PM (jF1NE)
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