4 ms·

SparkFun is lucky that the subpoena was for one of their products being used in a credit card skimmer and not an improvised cruise missile. Also, protip for cr

by eck 14y ago

SparkFun is lucky that the subpoena was for one of their products being used in a credit card skimmer and not an improvised cruise missile. Also, protip for criminals: make your own circuit boards without identifying marks.

stilldavid 14y ago
This is not the first time[1] we've had issues with our products showing up in the news for less than stellar reasons - luckily nothing as awful as an explosive device. As Nate said in the article, we know our parts can be used for good or for evil. If only there was less of the latter... [1] http://www.sparkfun.com/news/308 http://www.sparkfun.com/news/308
- DanBC 14y ago
  Christopher Tappin claims he didn't know the batteries were going to be used for evil. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/27/chris-tappin-denies-terror-links http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/27/chris-tappin-den...)
  - stilldavid 14y ago
    I'm not entirely sure what you're getting at here. Should we stop selling Arduinos because they can be programmed for nefarious purposes, in addition to lowering the barrier to entry for embedded electronics in the classroom? How about spools of wire because wire can be made a part of something far more sinister than we can imagine? Should Apple stop selling the iPhone because it's also bluetooth-enabled? I understand where you're coming from, but think it's entirely ungrounded in this case. We actively work with the DHS on export control. There is a very real risk involved in selling the products we do, but I don't think that should stop us from our goal of education and - right there at the bottom of every page on our site - sharing ingenuity.
pavel_lishin 14y ago
> Also, protip for criminals: make your own circuit boards without identifying marks. Why? This seems like the perfect sort of thing to buy with someone's stolen credit card - it provides a red herring for the police to chase after, and at least in this case, gives the thieves a warning that an investigation is in process.

by eck 14y ago

stilldavid 14y ago

This is not the first time[1] we've had issues with our products showing up in the news for less than stellar reasons - luckily nothing as awful as an explosive device. As Nate said in the article, we know our parts can be used for good or for evil. If only there was less of the latter... [1] http://www.sparkfun.com/news/308 http://www.sparkfun.com/news/308

DanBC 14y ago
Christopher Tappin claims he didn't know the batteries were going to be used for evil. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/27/chris-tappin-denies-terror-links http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/27/chris-tappin-den...)
- stilldavid 14y ago
  I'm not entirely sure what you're getting at here. Should we stop selling Arduinos because they can be programmed for nefarious purposes, in addition to lowering the barrier to entry for embedded electronics in the classroom? How about spools of wire because wire can be made a part of something far more sinister than we can imagine? Should Apple stop selling the iPhone because it's also bluetooth-enabled? I understand where you're coming from, but think it's entirely ungrounded in this case. We actively work with the DHS on export control. There is a very real risk involved in selling the products we do, but I don't think that should stop us from our goal of education and - right there at the bottom of every page on our site - sharing ingenuity.

pavel_lishin 14y ago

> Also, protip for criminals: make your own circuit boards without identifying marks. Why? This seems like the perfect sort of thing to buy with someone's stolen credit card - it provides a red herring for the police to chase after, and at least in this case, gives the thieves a warning that an investigation is in process.