Another reason not to shop at Best Buy. Snooping your drive

[alfredo]

This could apply to any computer repair shop.

http://tinyurl.com/2f6469

VIDEO: Consumerist Catches Geek Squad Stealing Porn From Customer's Computer


The Consumerist's 3-month sting operation snared a Geek Squad technician stealing porn from our hard drive, and we've got the work-safe video and logfiles to prove it.


Here's slashdot's article with comments from readers.

http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/06/1916207


the bottom line: protect your sensitive data from prying eyes.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

1. Breathtaking.

Porn is such a rare commodity these days.

[alfredo]

2. That's why File vault or similar software is important.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/filevault/

[A-Schwarzenegger]

3. What's why?

Eh, huh?

[alfredo]

7. If you don't want someone snooping, hide your important files

behind strong encryption. Of course they will steal your software, but they won't gain access to files you don't want to share.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. That's why I do all my repairs in-house.

don't want no geeks peekin at my porn file. :evilgrin:

[TheMadMonk]

5. It's not uncommon. Best Buy is just one of many.

There's usually one or two reports a year, of people being busted for kiddie porn, because their computer repairer turned them in. (And occasionally it's a conscientious thief.

No real sympathy. However, a reasonable expectation of privacy is exactly that. Putting your computer in for repair is not an authorisation for the repairer to poke around to see what you've got in the way of dirty pictures.

[wakeme2008]

6. it is not only Best Buy how about the 13 yo boy you gave your old puter to

and you left on it say those digital camera moments with your SO, dog, etc :evilgrin:

[alfredo]

8. Any computer I have given away or sold has had up to seven pass

overwrite then a fresh install of the OS. It takes a long time to do it, but it is worth it.


I am very careful with what I put on my computer. I used to work with classified info and am friends with some still inside, so I am mindful that I am monitored from time to time because of my past work and present associates. I don't speak of my work, nor do I ask about their work. Other than that we talk freely.

[johnaries]

9. I've been to Best Buy twice for "sale" items.

The funny thing is, their "sale" price was the same as everyone else's regular price!
That convinced me they are a scam, plain and simple. I've never been back.

[alfredo]

11. The last time I was there I was looking for telephoto lenses for my

camera. I waited several minutes patiently for a sales rep to show. I was standing in from of a glass display case. An employee came bay with a collapsed cardboard box. He sat it down between me and the case and walked on. I left and never returned.

I did go in one time, but left when there was some partially dry vomit in the isle that held the merchandise I was looking for.

[AlCzervik]

10. i never go to best buy anyway and i bet they aren't the only company doing that.

[The Straight Story]

12. Just about all geeks do this, it is like handing someone your diary and asking them

to fix some tears on the pages. Don't be surprised that they are reading while working :)

[ClassWarfare2008]

13. If you have to rely on others to do your computer repairs

maybe you should burn your porn onto CD's?? :shrug:

[alfredo]

14. Hey, if they need porn, they either lack a mate or imagination.