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Quote:

Originally Posted by sefrischling (Post 13097630)

My computer was removed by TSA and handled by a computer forensics person from the Secret Service, out of Boston, according to the TSA

So who do you think damaged your computer, TSA or their expert?

I would accept the offer of a new laptop getting at least if not better than what you had. See how they respond to padding the nest. If they say nothing I think they want you to just fade into the background.

Don't think I would price shop either.

If this agent threatened you in any way do you intend to pursue or at least investigate taking action of any kind?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sefrischling (Post 13097630)

My computer was removed by TSA and handled by a computer forensics person from the Secret Service, out of Boston, according to the TSA

It sounds the the TSA SA called in some favors from his former employer to do the work. I would have thought he'd need to turn it over to a TSA forensic personnel. Then again I don't know what kind of agreements the individual agencies of DHS have with each other on matters like this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olton Hall (Post 13097912)

The US Secret Service is part of DHS now. The USSS was pulled from Treasury and shoved into DHS some years back and since then the pull on assets has become a bigger mess. DHS doesn't have the Midas touch. ;)

DHS routinely uses the USSS for these kinds of things.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olton Hall (Post 13097912)

I would have thought he'd need to turn it over to a TSA forensic personnel.

You probably never would have seen the computer again :)

http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulli...enas_to_travel

The Economist has it on their site too. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AArlington (Post 13096600)

Talk to an attorney about doing a FOIA or other request to find out the disposition of any images/electronic copies they made of your HD while in their posession. Since the case is closed on their end, I'd demand their certification that any and all copies have been destroyed prior to any settlement on your end.

This is an excellent idea.

Quote:

Originally Posted by greggwiggins (Post 13098846)

This is an excellent idea.

LOL, do you really think a "verification" is believable?

Quote:

Originally Posted by AArlington (Post 13097650)

Then it's possible whoever worked on your machine knew what s/he was doing. But they'd have to drive it from your hose to the Boston location, take it apart, do their forensic image, THEN place some spyware on it (that your anti-virus/other systems would not detect) then get it back to you. I don't know the timeline, so hard to tell if they had time to do this. If they were THAT good, they'd also have returned your machine in working condition.

But then again, if they really wanted to bug your PC, they'd do it in such a way that you'd never know, and not be completely suspicious of them. So I doubt they bugged it. I just can't give them credit for being that good.

They'd not be putting and spyware or virus on a system, that is just stupid.

If the other topic is the case, they will attempt to get the email headers from the email host(bluehost it looks to be)

What they do exactly is, take the drive out and make a clone of it to analyze it later, that is it, and all they'd do in that amount of time, nothing more. And it sounds like whomever did it, did not know how to properly remove it from the laptop casing itself, and did a bit for bit clone with a tool that may have indeed corrupted the original which would also invalidate the 'authenticity' of the clone in case of being brought for evidence. Of course they aren't looking for evidence, just a vendetta against the sender.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rico567 (Post 13095686)

If it's me, don't even bother to ask to search unless in possession of a valid warrant....house, car, person, whatever.

I don't claim to have learned everything in this life, but a few I have:

1. Never eat at a restaurant named "Mom's."

2. Never play cards with a man named Doc.

3. A Smith & Wesson always beats four aces.

4. Never cosign on a note with anyone you don't sleep with.

5. Never, ever voluntarily surrender your constitutional rights.

Four of these rules are good ones, but I have to challenge #4 (unless you want me to start sleeping with my children!). :)

Bruce

Quote:

Originally Posted by halls120 (Post 13098964)

LOL, do you really think a "verification" is believable?

Probably not, but get someone on record so you can harvest his testicles later when it is discovered that he "misrepresented the facts".

Quote:

Originally Posted by AArlington (Post 13097490)

Potentially. But highly doubtful. These thugs ("special agents") are apparently retired Secret Service, drawing their full retirement from the USSS, and are double dipping as TSA inspectors making a good pay. Jerks? Probably. Stupid enough to sacrifice their pensions on a patehtetic CYA witch hunt they were ordered on by some immature mope at headquarters? Doubtful.

Someone else could have bugged it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sefrischling (Post 13097630)

My computer was removed by TSA and handled by a computer forensics person from the Secret Service, out of Boston, according to the TSA

Then it makes no sense they damaged it unless it's simple mechanical damage--dropped or the like. Maybe they put it on a car seat and made a hard stop.