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Ask HN: How bad is it that rioters had physical access to Congress computers?

24 points by Zaheer ↗ HN
Rioters today had physical access to congress staffers computers in some cases logged in [1]. Couldn't this have disastrous consequences for cybersecurity of the nation?

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/01/pro-trump-reporter-gloats-over-access-to-fleeing-hill-staffers-computer/

15 comments

[ 3.7 ms ] story [ 43.9 ms ] thread
apexalpha
That tweet in the article might be the most felonies anyone has ever admitted to in a single tweet.
waiseristy
This could be a great moment for the Dems to twist the knife in trumps gut after the inauguration and pardon these morons. They should be punished for what they did, but this is ripe for an olive branch narrative
mcphage
Or, how about we hold them accountable, to teach people that this is not acceptable?
waiseristy
What is funny, is the current administration has been doing exactly that to BLM protestors with zeal. And it has done nothing to help, somebody has to try and talk these extremists off the ledge
Robin_Message
I guess IT will soon be adding a system to lock all computers after the "building invasion" message is sent.

(Because, whilst users ought to lock screens whenever they leave their desk, I can understand why that wouldn't happen in this situation, so a central control would have helped.)

hackily
How much does being a part of the press protect someone when illegal activities are involved?

For example here, was this reporter already inside the Capitol reporting, or did he also enter the building together with the protestors?

throwawaybutwhy
Has any SCIF been breached? Cynically, when Chinese spies screw Congressmen, mob access to Congressional pron collections is worrying but not catastrophic.
nailer
I thought we were calling them 'protestors' now?
teknopaul
Protesters are protesting _against_ something. They want Trump to be president for ever, they are not protesting against democracy, or against elections. At best they are protesting against something that did not happen. This is just a mob, wound up by Trump. "incitement to riot" in the UK and usually results in a severe prison sentence.
nailer
These protestors believe that the Democrats stole the election.

> At best they are protesting against something that did not happen.

That's true, but the last round of protestors were protesting that:

- the police unfairly target black people, which is statistically untrue - white Americans who encounter the police are more likely to die, according to the FBI statistics.

- Donald Trump colluded with Russia to steal the election in 2016, which was investigated with the result of nobody in the being charged with colluding with Russia.

> This is just a mob, wound up

Yes. Why are some mobs OK though? Why are some conspiracy theories OK? Why is some winding up acceptable?

yesenadam
> white Americans who encounter the police are more likely to die, according to the FBI statistics.

I'm not an expert, but that sounds unlikely. Do you have a good source for that? Hopefully not that meme bar chart that came up when I tried to find a source.

[dead] Trias11
Correct.

Protestors are:

- BLM-ers regardless of their actions.

- Antifackers

- Anyone who votes for dems

Rioters:

- Anyone else

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crx07
First, I'll say that I've contracted for a state's caucus at the capitol building in addition to at the homes of minor politicians. That's my frame of reference.

The real answer? It's nowhere near as bad in my opinion as the other implications of an insurrection. These systems are already poorly secured and also physically accessible by a number of other staff, so one more potential compromise is not changing much.

[dead] mugwort13
So, let me get this straight...

You actually think that while Congress was in session, as in NOT their office, EVERYONE's computer were all in unison magically unlocked.

Not only is that alone highly improbable, but you would ALSO have to skip over the very real possibility that government regulations would require an automatic lock after x amount of minutes.

You are a special kind of stupid, my guy.