Quick as a link, you're in the clink!

[The Annoyed Man]

I dunno, Chris, maybe you didn't read the OP.  It said

The FBI has recently adopted a novel investigative technique: posting hyperlinks that purport to be illegal videos of minors having sex, and then raiding the homes of anyone willing to click on them.

That's what I was referring to, not the other hypothetical made up scenario some of you are talking about.

[mtnbkr]

I read it.  I also know how easy it is to disguise those urls and post them elsewhere for unsuspecting rubes.  How about this one: Blowhards and gasbags.  Fake title, legitmate url.  If they're not checking the link that brings a user to a site, how do they know if they clicked the "illegal videos of minors having sex" link or the one that says "get your stock tips here"? 

This

There's no evidence the referring site was recorded as well, meaning the FBI couldn't tell if the visitor found the links through Ranchi or another source such as an e-mail message.

tells me they're not checking the referring link.  So, I could send you an email puported to offer a way to get Medicare to pay for your Blueblockers, but the link actually goes to the fed's kiddie porn trap.  I guess you deserved it though, right?

Chris

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

Or:
www.DHS.gov/preparedness2/emergencykits/fistful.html
The address you are sent to is not the address you see. Beware: the true link is to one of the cinema's most brain-searing images. Here, the title is a (fake) web address.

[The Annoyed Man]

I also know how easy it is to disguise those urls and post them elsewhere for unsuspecting rubes.

Now you're off on another tangent.  The article specifically refers to the FBI posting hyperlinks that indicate they go to illegals videos of minors having sex.  That's it.  Not disguising, hiding, redirecting, or anything else. If you click on that link, you're expecting to see illegal videos of minors having sex, and you deserve what you get IMO.

BTW, I'm not old enough for Medicare, and I wouldn't click a link you sent me in an email, either,  unless I knew the sender.  Most probably, the spam filter would have trashed it and I'd never see it anyway.

[mtnbkr]

Paddy, this isn't about the FBI posting bogus links, it's about someone outside of the govt posting disguised links for the express purpose of sending unsuspecting rubes to the FBI sting site.  All it takes is for one person to discover the link without getting busted and sharing the info with others.

As a trick, it is common as dirt.  It was pretty common on Slashdot.org back in the late 90s to post an innocent looking link that actually took you to www.goatse.cx.  Google that if you feel brave.

The article plainly said the FBI isn't checking the referring sites.  That means they don't care how you got there.  It could be a link to Kiddy Porn or a link to Blueblocker sunglasses.  All they know is you got there somehow and they're going to raid your home.

Here's another way for an internet bad guy to use this as a weapon against rubes: register a common typo version of a legit site, say www.amredpolitesociety.com and set it up with a redirect to the kiddie porn site the FBI is running.  You tried to get to APS, but fat fingered the url, now you have the FBI visiting your house.  As the article said, they don't check the referring site to ensure you actually wanted kiddie porn, they only care that you ended up on their site.

Chris

[Manedwolf]

Paddy, this isn't about the FBI posting bogus links, it's about someone outside of the govt posting disguised links for the express purpose of sending unsuspecting rubes to the FBI sting site.  All it takes is for one person to discover the link without getting busted and sharing the info with others.

As a trick, it is common as dirt.  It was pretty common on Slashdot.org back in the late 90s to post an innocent looking link that actually took you to www.goatse.cx.  Google that if you feel brave.

The article plainly said the FBI isn't checking the referring sites.  That means they don't care how you got there.  It could be a link to Kiddy Porn or a link to Blueblocker sunglasses.  All they know is you got there somehow and they're going to raid your home.

Here's another way for an internet bad guy to use this as a weapon against rubes: register a common typo version of a legit site, say www.amredpolitesociety.com and set it up with a redirect to the kiddie porn site the FBI is running.  You tried to get to APS, but fat fingered the url, now you have the FBI visiting your house.  As the article said, they don't check the referring site to ensure you actually wanted kiddie porn, they only care that you ended up on their site.

Chris

And think what would happen to a lot of people here if that happened. Innocent? Doesn't matter.

The news that night for a lot of people here would be "FBI RAIDS SUSPECTED CHILD PORN DOWNLOADER, FINDS CACHE OF MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS".

And the "oops, innocent" would be page 26 weeks later. Life ruined.

[The Annoyed Man]

The joke being, I'm with Chris here (this is WAY to open to abuse), and Paddy can't see it.

 Dude... did they paint your blublockers, or something?

[The Annoyed Man]

OK, I got it.  The concern is fedgov overreacting to a false positive.  Which wouldn't happen if the courts were mindful of the 4th amendment and 'probable cause'.  Ah, well, it's all just part of an evergrowing powergrabbing bureaucracy drawing yet more strength from post 911 hysteria. 

[The Annoyed Man]

Of course, a real hardcore perv would use an anonymous proxy anyway, rendering the whole scheme worthless.

[The Annoyed Man]

Actually, many of the "real, hardcore pervs" are careful enough not to use the 'net except for direct email with known persons.

 There's a LOT of child porn that gets passed face to face. And much of it gets made in that way: perv A has access to a child, perv B wants to molest the child, perv C (or, often, A) records the act to pass on. Actual "website access" of child porn is "bonus" for these folks...

[tincat2]

this is just more of the 'it's for the kids' rationale to grant more pervasive and invasive privileges to the govt. and power elite. the justification for this will justify broader reaching sanctions against individual rights and privacy. children are abused everyday around the world in numerous ways. why shouldn't you be jacked up for clicking on the 'designer sweatshirt' ad for apparel produced by the labor of children held if not in actual slavery, then its economic equivalent? another approach might be to charge(a significant amount) the isp people for every click on any link that is found to be a child-porn site. i think we'd see some quick action against such links without the current generalized intimidation tactics which are steadily eroding the humanity and individual rights of us all. before you know it, evidence will only be available for examination by those 'anointed' to that role by your keepers, and only a label will need to be pasted to you to wrap it up for you.
no, child porn, murder, stealing, lying, etc., are all sad and sorry elements of the human condition, but to reduce everyone to mindless choiceless zombies in the service of their 'betters' is not what the founding fathers had in mind.

[taurusowner]

Paddy, I'm not sure you understand how links on the internet work.  If the FBI's tracking software registers your IP as visiting that link, it doesn't matter how it got there.  It would not be at all difficult to write a basic virus to load those link in the background on someone's machine.  And no, the FBI would not be able to tell the differance if the virus author knew at all what he was doing.  And many do.

[Firethorn]

So, erictank, you see no problem with anyone 'clicking a link' that

purport(s) to be illegal videos of minors having sex,

there's the problem right there.   Anybody who would 'click' such a link needs intervention and prosecution if necessary.  Anybody who would click such a link most likely has child 'pornography' on their hard drive.

Bust 'em. Prosecute 'em.  Jail 'em. 

Paddy, the problem is, I can put the link into my spam email, or onto a message group and get innocent people.

For example...

Check out this movie of a bunny fighting off a snake!

[Phyphor]

Hell, there's also http://masl.to/ - I could just generate a link there, then post the new link with a attractive message line... for instance -> This is the page for those who revel in goodness and light and kindness to all, no matter what their deeds!


(NSFW due to language!)

[LadySmith]

Just so you all know...
I'm not clicking on any links posted here! 

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

I'm not clicking on any links posted here!

Welcome to this thread, oh stranger.
Click the link, and bide the danger.
Or wonder, till it drives you mad
What would've happened if you had.

Shamelessly plagiarized and paraphrased from C.S. Lewis.

[Phyphor]

I'm not clicking on any links posted here!

Welcome to this thread, oh stranger.
Click the link, and bide the danger.
Or wonder, till it drives you mad
What would've happened if you had.

Shamelessly plagiarized and paraphrased from C.S. Lewis.

You should use the link shorterner I posted above, the use of the filename Zardoz6 is telling.   

[Manedwolf]

I'm not clicking on any links posted here!

Welcome to this thread, oh stranger.
Click the link, and bide the danger.
Or wonder, till it drives you mad
What would've happened if you had.

Shamelessly plagiarized and paraphrased from C.S. Lewis.

Usually, a rickroll.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Is it illegal to search out child pornography?  Is it fair to say that anyone who clicks on the real/official link (not some spoof) is probably searching for child porn?

[Manedwolf]

Is it illegal to search out child pornography?  Is it fair to say that anyone who clicks on the real/official link (not some spoof) is probably searching for child porn?

There is no way to prove that someone clicked on spoof vs. real. A link is a link.

[Firethorn]

There is no way to prove that someone clicked on spoof vs. real. A link is a link.

Especially if you're not looking at referral strings.  Those, assuming the browser isn't modified, tell you where the browser is coming from - like whether or not you're coming from google or yahoo.

In either case it doesn't transmit the text(if any) of the link you clicked.  Whether that be 'child porn' or 'cute bunnies'.