1337 Police hack Tony Blair's PC, download email

Author: Wil Harris
Published: 22nd January 2007
Comments (20) Stumble
Don't mess with the law.

Don't mess with the law.

Police looking into the 'cash for honours' scandal have told the press that they have been h4x0ring into Tony Blair's computer to look for evidence - despite the fact he is, famously, an email noob. Blair told reporters last year that he was only just starting to get the hang of email.

The fuzz went to Number 10's ISP to pull records on the email sent and received, as well as taking a more direct approach to getting in to some machines sat in the Prime Minister's residence. There are no details of how exactly the data was obtained, but the Sunday Telegraph says that 'computer experts' were used to get the data.

How insecure is the country's leader? I mean, are we pleased that the leader of our country doesn't have a decent enough security system that his emails can't be grabbed by whoever decides to have a go? I mean, passwords, firewalls, encryption? Maybe he needs to upgrade to Windows Vista Ultimate, with the firewall on by default and BitLocker enabled.

The Government is having an ongoing argument with the knacker over the treatment of its officials in the honours enquiry. They say that they are being unfairly treated by the police, whilst the police say they're just doing their job. This latest revelation won't exactly help the tension!

Is computer security really such a low priority for the Government? Let us know your thoughts over in the forums.
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Quote samkiller42 22nd January 2007, 11:34
The security for PC's is probably as low down as the other things this county needs, Health, Education, Transport etc etc, so this is not surprising that someone can get in.

Sam
Quote DougEdey 22nd January 2007, 11:44
Go police! Corruption is the order of the day by the sounds of it, now they just need to hack into companies records.
Quote specofdust 22nd January 2007, 11:56
S'not really hacking if they just went to the physical computer and retrieved the info they needed, now is it? Maturity in headlines isn't too much to ask for ;)

As for personal security on a machine, there is little that a noob could use that would deter the police. You need some fairly hefty stuff to keep them from getting info out you have to be very anal about keeping it clean. Not the sort of stuff a PM would have time for.
Quote Mother-Goose 22nd January 2007, 12:00
Its not data theft either, the police have (and need) the right to access the information. It is just digital questioning where the answers are less likely to be lies. I fully support this kind of investigation.
Quote cpemma 22nd January 2007, 12:11
Quote:
The Sunday Telegraph said that detectives used computer experts to find confidential information and are also believed to have contacted the Internet suppliers for his offices to penetrate government email records.
Not so much hacking as undelete software. Eavesdropping on the PM is done by MI5, not CID. ;)
Quote mikeuk2004 22nd January 2007, 12:14
If only the queen would sack Tony and and do away with parliment all together. :)
Quote Silence 22nd January 2007, 14:31
I'm assuming the computer experts were computer forensic experts, or any evidence they find would probably be laughed out of court. Computer forensics requires specific protocols/techniques to be met in order to ascertain continuity of evidence (to stop tampering accusations).

It seems that security isn't an issue at all, the experts were allowed access (and rightly so!). As has been pointed out, the only security speedbumps would be if partial or full disk encryption was used, although i suspect that, unless the PM wants to block the investigation (not a smart move), any passwords needed would be freely given.
Quote Lazarus Dark 22nd January 2007, 15:25
Over here, across the pond, we have people whose only job is covering stuff up, especially in the white house. Could I just walk in over there and sit down at tony's computer or what? I'm a little disappointed in the world's most big brothered nation. You'd think with a camera on every corner, you guys would lock down your leaders email a little better.
Quote yodasarmpit 22nd January 2007, 15:53
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lazarus Dark
Over here, across the pond, we have people whose only job is covering stuff up, especially in the white house. Could I just walk in over there and sit down at tony's computer or what? I'm a little disappointed in the world's most big brothered nation. You'd think with a camera on every corner, you guys would lock down your leaders email a little better.
Do you honestly think your average Joe would be able to gain access to the PM's data? I would hazzard a guess at it being the most secure system in the Country.
Quote DXR_13KE 22nd January 2007, 16:12
if he did the crime he will do the time :D
Quote randosome 22nd January 2007, 16:19
now if only they would plant some child pornography or something on it so he gets locked away forever, id even donate £10 for that :p
Its a bit worrying when the prime minister has such naff security though
Quote Silence 22nd January 2007, 17:12
I think people are misreading the article, it doesn't say that the PM has naff security, it's saying that the techniques used to access the PM's email have not been reported.

I think it's safe to assume that the PM will have good security on his computer, let alone access to the study that the computer is sat in. The 'computer experts' will undoubtedly have been given any passwords and clearance needed to do their job and recover any/all email.

Oh, and the comment about planting child pornography i'm going to assume is a joke, albeit a rather unfunny one.
Quote samkiller42 22nd January 2007, 19:10
Ok, he may be our PM, but as it says he is an email n00b, and there fore would most likley have Norton to protect his PC, and basicly, that says it all

Sam
Quote specofdust 22nd January 2007, 19:22
Some realism guys. He may be a noob, but you can be damn sure there are entire departments of government people who's job is solely to secure government computers, including the PM's. Just as managing directors don't get hacked if they're noobs, PM's won't get hacked either.
Quote Burnout21 22nd January 2007, 20:32
first off as said there was no 'hack', just some hack down at the news room made it sound better.


MY real worry is the fact that the police are investigating are government! What if there is a potentional 'water gate' again??!!!



I am very worried atm.
Quote specofdust 22nd January 2007, 20:36
Quote:
MY real worry is the fact that the police are investigating are government!

My worry would be if the police weren't investigating the government. I think it's outstanding that our police have approached this openly and properly. Labour have managed to sully themselves by putting pressure on the investigation, but the police have handled it extremely well so far I reckon - and unlike so many countries where a cash-for-honours type thing would be swept under the carpet or just accepted as part of politics, here you've got the police arresting people who might be guilty of crimes.

Makes me glad to live in this country.
Quote Tyinsar 23rd January 2007, 02:16
Somehow I can't imagine state secrets (or dealings with North Korea and such) being discussed via e-mail (not by the current generation anyway) so I suspect there hasn't been any serious attempt to make it more secure.
Quote randosome 23rd January 2007, 08:03
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyinsar
Somehow I can't imagine state secrets (or dealings with North Korea and such) being discussed via e-mail (not by the current generation anyway) so I suspect there hasn't been any serious attempt to make it more secure.
i think that sums it up pretty well, i doubt he would be discussing confidential, and important matters via email
Quote cpu121 23rd January 2007, 17:33
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpemma
Not so much hacking as undelete software. Eavesdropping on the PM is done by MI5, not CID. ;)
Technically wouldn't this come under GCHQ's remit? Wouldn't be surprised if they copied the emails while in transit.
Quote brumster 24th January 2007, 03:07
GCHQ? I wouldnt be surprised if Microsoft copied the PMs emails.
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