20 August
2006 Chatmag Editorial.
For the past few
years, Chatmag has warned about the online renegade vigilante groups operating
primarily in Yahoo! Chat. Perverted Justice is the leading group, with
other smaller groups and individuals acting as undercover “police”. These
groups set up stings to capture alleged predators.
Over the past
few months, legitimate law enforcement agencies have moved into Yahoo!
Chat, doing much the same sting type operations as the vigilante groups.
In addition to law enforcement, several media outlets, most notably Dateline
NBC, have conducted televised “busts”.
Chatters enter
the Yahoo! chat rooms, primarily the Regional Adult rooms, and either seek
out or are solicited by what appears to be underage girls. In the case
of law enforcement, they cannot initiate a conversation, but must allow
the alleged predator to make the first contact. In the case of the vigilante
groups, they are not bound by legalities, and in many cases make first
contact. The vigilante groups are also known to post false photographs
on their Yahoo! profiles, using pictures of underage girls to further entrap
the alleged predators.
In all cases,
a real life, offline meeting is set up between what appears to be a young
girl and the alleged predator. This meeting takes the conversation from
online fantasy to a real life nightmare for the alleged predator.
What I see as
the real danger of Yahoo! Chat is not law enforcement or vigilante groups,
but the idiocy of the alleged predators. First off, thinking that one is
anonymous on the Internet is completely wrong. No matter where one is on
the Internet, logs are kept. The Internet Service Provider has the log
when a client first signs in. Yahoo! Chat logs each I.P number. Both of
these logs can be subpoenaed by a court to be used as evidence.
There is some
legal debate as to the admissibility of chat logs in a court proceeding,
however, other logs as mentioned can be used against a person. Anonymity
on the Internet does not exist. Even using an anonymiser, a good investigator
can eventually track a user back to their source.
Setting up a meeting
in person, or giving someone a telephone number removes all hope of remaining
anonymous. The courts look at intent as a component of a crime, and meeting
in person satisfies most courts as to intent, without a lot of “wiggle
room” for a defense.
I was asked last
year to consult in one such case, where an alleged predator was apprehended
after a sting by Federal law enforcement officials. The now convicted predator
had chatted with an undercover officer online, and his father requested
my assistance.
I had advised
the father to have the son’s computer diagnosed by a forensics expert,
in order to determine if any unknown trojans, key loggers or worms were
installed that may of changed chat logs without the sons knowledge.
The father seemed
reluctant to discuss the computer issue, and at the time offered no explanation.
I later learned that the father had taken the son’s computer out in the
woods, bashing it with a sledge hammer. In essence, the father destroyed
the son’s only possible defense. In taking that action, the father inadvertently
demonstrated to the court that the son had “something to hide”, which contributed
to the son’s conviction.
A computer holds
more information than the average user realizes. Sites visited, chat logs,
downloaded programs and images are all there and can be accessed by competent
forensics experts. The best defense is not putting yourself into a position
where your computer activities can be used against you in a court of law.
Plain and simple, don't be stupid. There are plenty of adults online, find
one and keep yourself out of trouble.
To sum up:
1. You are not
anonymous on the Internet.
2. Law enforcement
agencies are operating in Yahoo! Chat.
3. Renegade vigilante
groups are operating in Yahoo! Chat.
4. Media is operating
in Yahoo! Chat, seeking to boost ratings at your expense.
5. Yahoo! Chat,
Adult section, is for adults, not underage persons. Never assume everyone
is an adult, and avoid any private conversations with anyone claiming to
be underage.
6. NEVER set up
a meeting, or give a telephone number to anyone underage.
7. Do not transmit
any photographs or web cam shots to anyone alleging to be underage.
8. DO NOT BE AN
IDIOT. Your freedom is not worth it. If you believe chatting with an underage
person is a thrill, chances are you will have years in prison to remember
the experience.
--Chatmag Editorial--
External Links:
Post
your comments on Chatmag's 'Blog.
