Google Searches Used to Prosecute Hacker
December 23rd, 2006Please don’t think a Google proxy will make you safe. The only way to know you’re in the clear is to use an open wifi connection (preferably at great distance from the base station) with a live CD OS and a spoofed MAC address every time. And wrap your skull with double layers of tinfoil. You can’t be too sure!
Via: News.com:
What makes this case relevant to “Police blotter” is that Schuster’s own Google searches were used against him.
Court documents say that Schuster ran a Google search over CWWIS’ network using the following search terms: “how to broadcast interference over wifi 2.4 GHZ,” “interference over wifi 2.4 Ghz,” “wireless networks 2.4 interference,” and “make device interfere wireless network.”
Court documents are ambiguous and don’t reveal how the FBI discovered his search terms. That could have happened in one of three ways: an analysis of his browser’s history and cache; an Alpha employee monitoring the company’s wireless connection; or a subpoena to Google from the police for search terms tied to his Internet address or cookie.
Google has confirmed that it can provide search terms if given an Internet address or Web cookie, but has steadfastly refused to say how often such requests arrive.
I’d sure like to know more about this story. It doesn’t surprise me that Google ‘Do no harm’ Corporation would roll over at the slightest government request.
One really has to wonder why they would store the address of every request in the first place. Maybe it wasn’t only technical skill and marketting savey that got them into this position.
Maybe it is just paranoia but here is yet another area that has a stench associated with it.
Changing your dynamically-assigned IP address (easy to do) frequently also doesn’t hurt.