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Best Buy’s Geek Squad Techs Search Customer Computers For The FBI

bhsmte

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Belk

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iluvatar5150

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The fact that Geek squad did this means I will never use their services nor will I use the services of any business that uses Geek squad.

A computer tech who can only mange to get paid $12/hr probably isn't a computer tech worth hiring anyways.
 
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Rion

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Eight of those ten years were under the Obama administration…

The FBI doesn't change that much between one President and the next, so it doesn't really matter.
 
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iluvatar5150

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Which makes one wonder, what they would do to earn another $500-$1,000.

Even at my current salary which is a couple times that, I'd sell out computer tech customers to the FBI for that kind of money.
 
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Liza B.

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From the "Use Geek Squad at your own risk", files: Best Buy’s Geek Squad Techs Search Customer Computers For The FBI, Reports Claim

Digital rights non-profit Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit last year after it was discovered that the FBI allegedly paid Geek Squad employees to go through their client’s computers while they’re being repaired.
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EFF says their FOIA request discovered that Geek Squad’s parent company, Best Buy, has been working with the FBI for at least 10 years.
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Other court records uncovered in the FOIA search found that Geek Squad techs were paid between $500 and $1,000 to actively search a client’s computer
.​

Well, I'm just sure the FBI was totally on the up and up on this, eh? Just like in Parkland and especially like in sniffing after those FISA warrants. The bureaucracy is always the best thing for people......//////
 
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NightHawkeye

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You think that's bad? The pedo doctor that they mention in the article? The case got thrown out because of this kind of thing.
Interestingly, the judge indicates a litany of incompetence here; from improperly characterizing the files as being illegal, improperly seizing the files as evidence, and even failing to establish that the deleted files found in "unallocated" space on the hard drive were even known to the defendant.

Perhaps the prosecution was inept, or maybe the prosecution thought the defendant would go for a plea bargain? :scratch:
 
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dgiharris

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The FBI needs a warrant to search a computer, the geek guys have permission, given by the owner..

Law enforcement to include the FBI do not need a warrant to search anything. They can search anything they want as long as you agree.

Law enforcement ONLY need a warrant to "compel" you to allow them to search.

So, what law enforcement will routinely do is they will use pressure tactics combined with nice guy tactics and your ignorance to try to get you to say yes. And there is nothing illegal about that.
 
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bhsmte

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Law enforcement to include the FBI do not need a warrant to search anything. They can search anything they want as long as you agree.

Law enforcement ONLY need a warrant to "compel" you to allow them to search.

So, what law enforcement will routinely do is they will use pressure tactics combined with nice guy tactics and your ignorance to try to get you to say yes. And there is nothing illegal about that.

Yes, I am aware of that.

I was just assuming, the people that dropped a computer off at best buy, were not giving consent for the FBI to have access to it.
 
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joshua 1 9

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I will never use their services nor will I use the services of any business that uses Geek squad.
I think it is funny. If they want to pay someone $25 an hour to check up on me then go at it because they are going to get bored very quick and find out that I have NOTHING to hide from anyone. You hear stories that they can get into your microphone and your camera on any device that you have. The bad guys should be scared of big brother watching them. But the vast majority of law abiding citizens have nothing to worry about.
 
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Goonie

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I think it is funny. If they want to pay someone $25 an hour to check up on me then go at it because they are going to get bored very quick and find out that I have NOTHING to hide from anyone. You hear stories that they can get into your microphone and your camera on any device that you have. The bad guys should be scared of big brother watching them. But the vast majority of law abiding citizens have nothing to worry about.
Until some underpaid tech sells your credit card, personal details that he recovered to crooks.
 
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joshua 1 9

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Until some underpaid tech sells your credit card, personal details that he recovered to crooks.
Why you think the police are going to help if that happens? If there is a problem with my debt card I call the bank tell them I did not authorize the purchase and they refund my money. Usually they pick it up sooner then me because they know my spending pattern.
 
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variant

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The FBI needs a warrant to search a computer, the geek guys have permission, given by the owner. But, does this give the geek guys permission to pass information on to law enforcement, without a warrant? And last I checked, you need a warrant in place before you search, not after you find something.

You don't need to give people explicit permission to take information of your illegal activities to proper authorities and then have them use that to get a warrant.

If you invited me into your house to do some carpentry and I saw that you had most of the chemicals for a meth setup and a weird smell coming from the basement that would not constitute and illegal search if I would take that info to the police.

The problem here is that the local police department shouldn't be explicitly telling carpenters to do searches of peoples houses or paying them to spy on people.
 
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