"Now, enter your password, or we'll tase you again."

I don't think that's too far fetched.

And, if they really wanted to look into your computer, no software in existence could prevent them from uncovering things--their ability is beyond yours.

And the simple truth of the technology sector is that anyone who has physical access _will_ be able to break all security measures. Sure, this requires know-how that most won't have, but it becomes a question of what lengths someone is willing to go to rather than possibility. Fortunately, busting someone for the hobby probably isn't worth their time, as mentioned above.

Your best bet is full disk encryption from PGP or TrueCrypt.

If you have a SSD hard drive and full disk encryption nobody can crack it even if they have physical access. Not even the feds.

Or he was a great hacker, and you were using unpatched Windows XP, or a 2003 version of redhat.

Fujiwara tofu rocks!

Even if a cop had probable cause and he got an instant search warrant (not likely) he has to track down YOUR internet provider and have them look up who is using a particular IP address (at a given time if it's a DSL line). Tracking you down through your Craigslist name would take longer because they have to track back through the free email accounts to an original account somewhere. That is assuming your didn't register on Craigslist with something like your SBC provided email account.

So it was either a friend who wants to watch you screw his wife and decides to screw with you or complete BS.

Locksmiths can't pick locks in 5 seconds; hackers can't get past corporate or military computer security within a minute; law enforcement and corporations have bureaucrat processes that take time.

BTW that good video ought to be shown to all high school students.

Hmmmm...I don't completely agree. I am reasonably sure that if you are willing to expend the time, effort, and money, you can be just about as anonymous as you want to be. I'm not sure any private individual (or country, for that matter) could go up directly against the NSA. But short of that, with the help of a couple of cipherpunk type friends, I think I could feel pretty secure against just about anyone short of the NSA, if I wanted or needed to. Which I don't.

_____________

FriscoJack

just4funtonight and Jay4232: I am here to say YES THIS DOES HAPPEN as I had a similarly eerie experience as drinkitdown:

Several months ago, as one of many means of helping a friend track a family member down, I signed up for an account on a (very lame) social networking site called 'mylife.com'.

- At the time, I was at my friends house, using their computer using their internet connection/provider
- Per usual, I provided all fake info for my profile (fake name, age, gender, geographic location, etc.)
- I did not provide a phone number
- Although i might've provided one of my disposable email addresses, I did not provide an alternate email address

1. I was stunned into shock when, without warning and within minutes of signing up to 'mylife', I received a text message on my cell phone
from mylife.com indicating that my fake profile name was inviting me to join mylife.com.

( A. ATT is my cell service )
( B. ATT account is not in my name )

2. And, I received the same invitation in several of my different disposable aol email accounts.

Freaked me out BIGTIME. How the heck did mylife get my cell phone # and several of my other disposable email addresses that are set up with different and unique fake profile info?!!!

I'm slightly relieved that someone else (drinkitdown for one) has experienced this, but it still begs the question....

anyone? a lil help here...