5 ms·
I wonder what the average value of computer hardware is vs the average exploitable value of the data on that hardware and how it's changed over time. I've neve
by shalmanese 13y ago
I wonder what the average value of computer hardware is vs the average exploitable value of the data on that hardware and how it's changed over time.
I've never heard of a thief who's tried to use the data from a randomly stolen computer for further profit. Maybe with bitcoin and other technologies, the calculus will start shifting and thieves will become more interested in stealing data than hardware.
- diminoten 13y agoSetting aside all morality for a moment, what an interesting service to offer to criminals - bring me a stolen laptop and I'll pull out the personal data from it, and sell that data for you online. This actually probably exists. Which makes the, "thieves aren't that smart" argument kind of useless.
- ufmace 13y agoThere would probably be a bunch of trust issues blocking it. Why should any legitimate thief trust you/whatever person to take stolen property and actually do something profitable with it, instead of go straight to the police or the original owner? If you intended to offer this service as an honest criminal, how would you go about finding actual thieves and not undercover cops, and getting their trust? How could you trust them to not turn you in to the cops themselves? If anybody came up with a startup or website or something to resolve those issues, that would be evil genius on the scale of Cryptolocker.
- diminoten 13y agoI definitely agree that those would all be issues, but those are issues for every underhanded transaction, not just this kind of transaction. You could say almost the same thing about drugs, hookers, etc. Criminals do find ways to do business, and I believe they substitute money and intimidation where trust would usually go.