Cash for Clunkers Gov. Website gives government ownership of your computer (really)

Glen Beck Show | 7/31/09

[pabianice]

Beck just showed an eyefill. The Government's Cash for Clunkers Website requires user to click on "accept" for a disclaimer. What a disclaimer! If you click "ok" it says in fine print that your computer is now considered the property of the Federal Government, including all content on your computer, and gives access to both the US and foreign governments. I am not making this up. Beck's computer froze because of heavy website use.

[Kackikat]

That disclaimer is about the computers content and putting certain spyware in your computer that logs your websites and activity. It is about discerning what you believe, where you go, and reading your email, comments and actual activity in past...it’s your giving up your rights, information to gov’t without them taking it.

[freedomconservationist]

Part of the big power grab. 1984

[mad_as_he$$]

I do not see anything like that on car.gov. Are you sure it wasn't fueleconomy.gov?

[visualops]

Well, I didn’t see anything but then again I am running NoScript on Firefox. The DOT privacy policy listed at the site has not been updated since 2006.

[TomGuy]

What website? What disclaimer?

www.cars.gov does not have a disclaimer to log onto the website that I can see.

It apparently shows up when one begins the online application process.

From the Beck live thread, post #27:

“This application provides access to the DoT CARS system. When logged on to the CARS system, your computer is considered a Federal computer system and is property of the U.S. Government.

Any or all use of this system and all files on this system may be intercepted, monitored, recorded, copied, audited, inspected, and disclosed to authorized CARS, DoT, and law enforcement personnel, as well as authorized officials of other agencies, both domestic and foreign.”

[foobarred]

I’m wondering if the site was hacked.

[Kackikat]

It is deeper into the website, where you pass the normal disclaimer and hit accept, then it gives you notice that your computer now belongs to gov’t...etc.

[Willie Green]

The official website is www.cars.gov

I just went there and didn't see any "disclaimer".

I think this is just a stupid "made you look" vanity thread.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

What online application process?

The program requires car dealers to fill out forms, not participants. There is nothing for the consumer to fill out or apply for.

Any website other than www.cars.gov is NOT the official website.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

What disclaimer? What website are you looking at?

[Sparko]

“http://www.cars.gov/";

Yes. There are other non-government sites. Maybe that is the cause of confusion?
Example
http://www.cashforclunkersfacts.com/
at least this one says
“© 2009, Sonic Automotive, Inc. Not a government site.”

IMPORTANT FROM

fightfraud.nv.gov/Documents/CashforClunkers.pdf

Page 1

“Cash for Clunkers” Scams The federal government recently signed into law the Car Allowance Rebate System(CARS), commonly known as “Cash for Clunkers”. This is a government program that helps consumers purchase new, more fuel efficient vehicles when they trade in a less fuel efficient, “gas guzzling” vehicles.Bogus so-called “Cash for Clunkers” websites have popped up all over the Internet, asking consumers to provide personal information, including names, addresses and social security numbers, so they can “register” for or “enroll” in the program. Other sites tell car shoppers they will put them in touch with authorized “Cash for Clunkers” dealers in their area.

These websites are all scams.

The only valid CARS website is http://www.cars.gov.

The program is scheduled to be rolled out in July 2009. Car dealers will have to register to participate in the program, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn’t even determined how the registration process will work. One sure fact is that there will be no need for consumers to register at all.

The NHTSA is the government agency assigned to administer the program. NHTSA created the official Cars.gov website to provide trustworthy information about the program. The agency also has a hotline: 888-327-4236. Consumers can visit the website or call the hotline number to get official, legitimate information about the program. For frequently asked questions, visit http://www.cars.gov/faq.html

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

I found the following by clicking "Register" at ===== This notice is provided pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 USC § 552a: This information is solicited under the authority of Public Law 111-32, 123 Stat. 1859. Furnishing the information is voluntary, but failure to provide all or part of the information may result in disapproval of your request for a credit on this purchase or lease transaction under the Cars Program. The principal purposes for collecting the information are to determine if purchase or lease transactions are eligible for credits under the CARS Program, to ensure proper disposal of trade-in vehicles, to prevent, identify and penalize fraud in connection with the Program, and to update an existing government database of Vehicle Identification Numbers. If you complete the optional survey, the survey information will be used to report to Congress on the Program. Other routine uses are published in the Federal Register at 65 F.R. 19476 (April 11, 2000), available at: www.dot.gov/privacy. Ensuring transaction security is a crucial requirement of NHTSA-CARS clients. Using industry-standard security techniques ensures that your personal and financial information remains confidential. NHTSA-CARS uses security technologies that include your personal customer number and password, government standard encryption, and hardened perimeter protections such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems. The combination of your customer number and password enables you to be uniquely identified to NHTSA-CARS transaction processing. It is your responsibility to keep your password secure. Compromising your password by sharing it with others can have negative consequences for the integrity of your transactions. You will also need to use a secure browser. Certain browsers have the ability to communicate securely by encrypting the information as it passes across the Internet. This method of communication is called Secure Socket Layer (SSL). NHTSA requires the use of a properly configured browser as a condition for connecting to NHTSA-CARS using SSL. Therefore, SSL must be enabled on your browser to establish a connection with NHTSA-CARS. Additionally, be aware that your transaction passes through multiple security mechanisms, any one of which can halt the transaction if suspicious activity coming from your computer is detected. To avoid this from happening, please keep your anti-virus software on your computer current. Your Internet Browser � How to Ensure That Your Session is Secure Once you've downloaded and installed your browser, here's how you can check for yourself that your Online Banking session is secure. As you browse through the resources available on the Internet, you'll notice that your browser's status bar changes with the Web page you have loaded. You should see a padlock graphic, either locked or unlocked, like this: Secure UnSecure Microsoft Internet Explorer N/A Mozilla Firefox ===== ...Clearly that's not what Beck is talking about. I'll keep looking.

[Kackikat]

If you are accessing Cash For Clunkers, at some point (application?) the NORMAL agree/accept notice is available to accept or reject..don’t do it, then a notice comes up that your computer now belongs to US government and any content...etc...phones, everything if you are at home according to Beck Show.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Sorry for the odd formatting in my last post. ?? ...no HTML in it, wonder why my paragraph breaks didn’t work.

Anyway, that was at http://www.cars.gov/index.php/dealersupport/register, which appears to be for dealer participants.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

What website?

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

I’m just not finding a place to “sign on” as a consumer to cars.gov.

http://www.google.com/search?q=register,+site:cars.gov basically shows nothing but dealer signups.

[George from New England]

It is possible that you need to allow scripts to run to find the sign up feature.

I use: “No scripts” and with what I am reading on this thread I am not about to allow govt scripts to run on my machine.

[nomoremods]

I just saw Glenn demonstrate this and was flabbergasted. Thanks for the separate thread on this. This needs to get out to everyone.

[Kackikat]

YOU give up right to your computer content by the click of one acceptance on the website...they aren’t invading your privacy, you are giving it up. Why do you think they just voted for another 2 billion for this program?

[Danae]

Well there is a good reason to clear your cookie cashe...lol