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Dilemma: Kiddie Porn Found on Computer
February 9, 2008 | self

Posted on 02/09/2008 9:46:43 PM PST by ChocChipCookie

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To: ChocChipCookie

I’m not sure I’d call the police first- a lawyer might be a better choice. Might cost some money, might save a lot of pain. I do suggest calling cops within the lawyer’s instructions.


21 posted on 02/09/2008 10:03:38 PM PST by matthew fuller (GOP- Do Not Resuscitate!)
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To: HD1200

At first my BIL and SIL thought the photos were on their computer, but they weren’t. They were on the neighbor’s computer but they were “shared”.


22 posted on 02/09/2008 10:04:14 PM PST by ChocChipCookie (Homeschool like your kids' lives depend on it.)
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To: ChocChipCookie

And chances are very good that law enforcement has already seen this thread.


23 posted on 02/09/2008 10:04:30 PM PST by El Gran Salseron
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To: Gigantor

I wish we had thought about the CD-ROM. Good idea. Probably the only way to do that at this point is to unsecure the network and wait.


24 posted on 02/09/2008 10:05:34 PM PST by ChocChipCookie (Homeschool like your kids' lives depend on it.)
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To: ChocChipCookie

deleted pictures are still in your Recycle Bin....

ONLY if you brother-in-law is innocent, call the police.

But he better be absolutely sure he is innocent because a police computer forensic expert will be able to prove that it was done on your brothers computer if that is what actually happened.


25 posted on 02/09/2008 10:06:25 PM PST by bpjam (Can you help me? I've can't remember where I parked my party.....)
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To: ChocChipCookie
Tonight my husband took steps to delete access to the folders that had been mapped to their computer and secure their network.

That was stupid - it sounds like your husband destroyed evidence.

At a minimum, if it really was someone external logging onto the computer over a wireless connection, then screwing around with that connection would alert them to the fact that they had been found out, and they'd never logon again [ergo the police would never be able to catch them red-handed].

But I agree - this is highly unusual. Much more likely that it wasn't anyone external.

So even if he can get off the hook this time, I would NEVER allow your children to be alone with your BIL.

NEVER.

That means until they're 18 and gone off to college.

26 posted on 02/09/2008 10:06:58 PM PST by KayEyeDoubleDee (const Tag &referenceToConstTag)
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To: ChocChipCookie

First, if your BIL/SIL have a computer with an unsecured wireless network, it’s totally possible their computer is totally shared with any other computer who logs on to the network. At our office, some computers have a variety of folders which can be accessed, added to and deleted from, by other computers on the network.

It’s possible too, from what you’ve said, that your BIL has found a shortcut on his computer to the other computer (though why that should occur is strange). If your BIL’s computer is/was wholly “open” to another computer in the network, then it’s possible his neighbor has placed the photos on your BIL’s computer in order to avoid having them on his own computer.

Which means ...

See a good defense attorney FIRST. The few hundred bucks you spend is chicken feed compared to what your BIL will face if he’s fingered as the original acquirer of the porn.

Only after your BIL has gotten a good defense attorney should he and that attorney make a visit to the local DA. It’s entirely possible that they’ll want to monitor the situation to validate your BIL’s account of the situation.


27 posted on 02/09/2008 10:07:36 PM PST by Brandybux
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To: ChocChipCookie
At first my BIL and SIL thought the photos were on their computer, but they weren’t. They were on the neighbor’s computer but they were “shared”.

Well Jesus Christ - why didn't they call the cops immediately?!?

28 posted on 02/09/2008 10:08:39 PM PST by KayEyeDoubleDee (const Tag &referenceToConstTag)
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To: ChocChipCookie

Well, it’s your internet connection, so if authorities find the neighbor’s shared porn via the Internet, it will appear to be at your home...so, you need to get some knowledgeable tech to your home to secure your wireless — turn off SSID so people won’t be able to “see” your network unless you explicitly tell them about it. The wireless should use WPA encryption, NOT WEP as was suggested above; WEP is not fully secure. After you’ve become responsible owners of your network, do whatever a lawyer encourages you to do.


29 posted on 02/09/2008 10:08:50 PM PST by fred4prez
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To: ChocChipCookie

I just heard on the news today of a fellow in Las Vegas who found kiddie porn, turned it over to the police, who were then able to find the fellow in the video or photos with the little kid. The person who originally turned in the porn was also prosecuted, if I understood the story correctly. I’ll look for the story.


30 posted on 02/09/2008 10:11:09 PM PST by Mjaye (Some folks close their mouth only long enough to change feet)
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To: 1066AD

What is SSID?


31 posted on 02/09/2008 10:11:34 PM PST by restornu (People do your own home work don't reley on the media!)
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To: ChocChipCookie

Obviously you can’t do anything but delete it and secure the computer.

Look at the people here. You want to report a crime but half the crowd is ready to accuse your BIL as their prime suspect. Chances are the police will be even less forgiving then the potential jury.

Its a shame.


32 posted on 02/09/2008 10:11:58 PM PST by underground
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To: ChocChipCookie

It is for exactly this reason that whenever my friends ask about why they should bother encrypting their wireless network, I recommend securing their wireless network at least enough to keep the casual interloper out.

The scenario I always paint is that described in this situation. Someone wants to access questionable material but not be traceable to them, so they tap into your unsecured network and access the material using your internet connection.

Now if the police trace the connection as part an investigation of the provider of the questionable material, guess whose door they’ll be knocking on.... Yours!

I tell my friends to at least do the following:

o Change the default SSID
o Don’t broadcast your SSID
o Use some form of encryption
o Change the default password for your router’s admin user
o If you don’t have guests that regularly want to use your wireless, then use MAC address filtering to allow only your computers on the wireless network.

These steps will not keep a committed hacker out, but they will keep the casual interloper from finding and accessing your network.

TM


33 posted on 02/09/2008 10:12:46 PM PST by poindexters brother
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To: ChocChipCookie

Talk to a good lawyer ASAP. He/she hopefully will have connections with the detectives and will navigate you through this potential nightmare. Good luck.


34 posted on 02/09/2008 10:13:30 PM PST by Maynerd (McCain = amnesty, higher taxes, and trendy global warming hysteria)
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To: ChocChipCookie
I would be cautious about contacting the police directly about this matter - think very carefully about the potential for this to backfire to the point where your family ends up being under suspicion, or worse.

IMHO it could turn out to be a real minefield. The garbage is on your computer, after all, and someone could make a case that it's in your possession and therefore that you are violating the law, regardless of the source. How do you prove the negative - that you or someone in your family didn't put it there? If you cut off the neighbors' access via the wireless, then not only do you risk tipping them off that they've been discovered, but the garbage is still on your computer (if indeed that's really where it is physically located).

Then again, IANAL, but if you erase it, maybe you have just caused obstruction of justice, or maybe you've even acted as an accomplice of the real perp (and you'd better be sure that you really erase it - copies of stuff can hide in places where you don't expect it to hide but where experienced forensic detectives can find it - and any erasing had better be a secure erase with multiple overwrites of random data, otherwise the garbage can be recovered by an expert or even by a not-so-expert user - there are companies that make secure erasing software that you can download and try out for free).

Do you happen to know a good lawyer who is friendly with the local police or the Feds?

35 posted on 02/09/2008 10:13:59 PM PST by Zeppo (We live in the Age of Stupidity. [Dennis Prager])
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To: ChocChipCookie

Delete it all, secure your network, and privately find who is doing it if possible. I have to concure with other posters that it is possible you will be blamed.


36 posted on 02/09/2008 10:14:27 PM PST by Nachum
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To: ChocChipCookie
"Now that access to the photos has been deleted, can the police still pursue this?"

You bet they can. If the pictures have been uploaded any where and distributed, that can create even more legal problems. These images leave "footprints" on the IP servers from the IP providers. If the images were downloaded from or uploaded to anyone that is under surveillance, then it will lead to your family. If the images are downloaded from or uploaded to someone that gets arrested, it will point to your family.

You said this was a "dilemma", it really isnt. You know what the right thing to do is. You need to get with your family and let them know it is for their own legal protection.

37 posted on 02/09/2008 10:15:42 PM PST by GregoTX (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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To: KayEyeDoubleDee

It’s fairly easy to view someone’s shared files if they are poaching your unsecured connection.

Don’t you think you are overreacting just a tad?


38 posted on 02/09/2008 10:16:05 PM PST by Carling (It's Danny, Sir)
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To: underground
Look at the people here. You want to report a crime but half the crowd is ready to accuse your BIL as their prime suspect. Chances are the police will be even less forgiving then the potential jury.

You are right. If it were my computer I would be tempted to destroy the hard drive, bury it, get a new comp and make sure I had a secure connection with it.

Cheaper than hiring a lawyer to defend yourself against something you didn't do.

39 posted on 02/09/2008 10:16:17 PM PST by Graybeard58 ( Remember and pray for SSgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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To: A_Former_Democrat
How about talking with legal counsel before doing anything? I sure as hell would. Certainly before calling the police.

Follow this ADVICE!

Often, police don't care who they take down as long as they can make a conviction = and they may decide you're the easiest target = after all, it's on your computer.

And the police can lie like hell to you, pretend to be on your side, ANYthing, until they have actually charged a person - they can and do lie.

If you have legal counsel going in, they're going to handle it much different.

But, as someone else said, do it before they discover it = or things could get messy real fast - for you.

Get legal counsel - and a computer expert ? that could tract down how it's being done - that would go a long way to keep the police from first looking at you.

GET COUNSEL NOW

40 posted on 02/09/2008 10:16:35 PM PST by maine-iac7 (",,,but you can't fool all of the people all the time" LINCOLN)
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