The Real Risks of Obama's BlackBerry 273
An anonymous reader writes "When the mainstream media first announced Barack Obama's 'victory' in keeping his BlackBerry, the focus was on the security of the device, and keeping the US president's e-mail communications private from spies and hackers. The news coverage and analysis by armchair security experts thus far has failed to focus on the real threat: attacks against President Obama's location privacy, and the potential physical security risks that come with someone knowing the president's real-time physical location. In this article, a CNET blogger digs into the real risks associated with the President carrying around a tracking device at all times."
Re:turn it off? (Score:5, Funny)
PrezBO's security (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Obama's crackberry doesn't have a power button (Score:5, Funny)
Even if it happens to be in the form of a really big sledgehammer with the word "OFF" emblazoned on it?
Ring ring ring (Score:5, Funny)
POTUS: Hello?
Caller: Hi. Do you have...uh...like Prince Albert in a can?
POTUS: Excuse me?
Caller: Wait! I mean...is your refrigerator running? Could you like go and check it?
POTUS: How did you get this number? Who is this?
Caller: Uh...this is Haywood. Haywood Jablo-
Click.
Re:turn it off? (Score:5, Funny)
coat it in honey and feed it to a bear.
No good, the bear will follow you around looking for more handouts. In the meantime operatives are tracking the bear.
Re:PrezBO's security (Score:4, Funny)
The #1 thing that is going to guarantee his security is this- if he dies, Biden becomes president.
If that was his approach to security he would have asked Dick Cheney to be his running mate ;)
Re:turn it off? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:turn it off? (Score:4, Funny)
Well then feed it to a rat and get your ass to Mars.
Give me a break (Score:5, Funny)
U.S. Presidents have had subcutaneous tracking implants for some time now.
Given a bit of technical savvy, those are no different when it comes to anyone being able to locate the Pres.
In addition, you could strip him of tech hardware completely and the plethora of social indicators easily associated with his daily routine would still light him up like a Shenzhen cathouse.
Re:turn it off? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Give me a break (Score:5, Funny)
U.S. Presidents have had subcutaneous tracking implants for some time now.
Please explain this statement by using <sarcasm> or <tinfoil hat> tags so we can figure out if we should laugh or mock you ;)
unless they have chinese needle snakes (Score:5, Funny)
in which case, we need gorillas to take care of the snakes. and that's the beautiful part. when wintertime rolls around, the gorillas simply freeze to death
Re:Wow, they know where the president is (Score:3, Funny)
I think it sucks more for the whisperer...
Re:turn it off? (Score:5, Funny)
But then the bad guys would be able to find the secret location of the White house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C.
I could imagine... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Give me a break (Score:3, Funny)
Are you talking to the guy with the implants or the original poster?
Re:turn it off? (Score:3, Funny)
That may not be enough for most devices out there. You'll probably also have to take out the battery, and even then there could be an internal battery that keeps the tracking going. Your best bet, whenever you don't want people to track you through your cell phone, would be to smash it to bits, or coat it in honey and feed it to a bear.
Take off and nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
Re:PrezBO's security (Score:5, Funny)
If that was his approach to security he would have asked Dick Cheney to be his running mate
nah, that kind of thinking just blows up in your face.
Re:turn it off? (Score:5, Funny)
They might know where he is when he's home, but it's all about subtlety when he's out and about. What about when he sneaks out in a secret motorcade with only 923 vehicles with flashing lights followed by dozens of members of the press with cellphones up the wazoo who track his every move 24/7? Or when he sneaks out in a flight of several helicopters with highly obvious markings? Or a Boeing 747 with an obvious paint-job and "I'm the fucking president, feel my power bitches" written on the side? Nobody can track him then.
Re:I could imagine... (Score:5, Funny)
An antire group of people devoted to tracking and reporting on the whereabouts of the president. They could hire pundits to theorize on why he is there, film him getting in the car, getting out of the car. They could even predict where he's going to be, like "The president will be in Miami next Tuesday to talk to the guy in that place". Now that would be really freaky.
And we could give them a cute name, like "media".
Re:Femto-cells (Score:4, Funny)
Re:turn it off? (Score:3, Funny)
No good, the bear will follow you around looking for more handouts.
Sounds about like the American voter. Or banking industry. Or auto industry. Or state & local governments.