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So what should you expect when you take a PC into your local service center to be repaired?

Do those fixing your beloved computer have the right to open files on your computer's hard drive if doing so isn't a necessary part of the repair process?

The reason I ask is because of this case which, I might add, is not the first of its kind.

Without wishing to defend anyone who has kiddy porn on their PC, I have to ask what the service company was doing opening what must have been graphic image files on that computer.

Unless the owner of the PC had been stupid enough to create folders with names such as "sex_with_kids" or "child_pornography", why would the service company be suspicious enough to open any of the files unless they were just idly snooping around on that disk?

And surely someone who had placed illegal images using such blatantly obvious file or folder names on their computer would not be stupid enough to then take it into a third party to be repaired.

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Okay, this time it was child porn -- but what if those files contained personal communications between yourself and a loved one?

Or perhaps some commercially sensitive information relating to a business deal?

Or maybe the plans for some yet to be patented invention?

Surely those who take their computers in for repair should expect that no files on that machine would be opened or copied unless such access was absolutely essential to the repairs required.

It is worrying therefore that the report says that " It [The DIA] will not name the computer repair company".

Well excuse me but I would not be happy sending any of my PCs in to a company which perhaps feels free to browse the contents of its hard drive out of may well be simple curiosity. I (and I"m sure many others) would like to know exactly which PC service organisation was actually doing this.

And what's the difference between hacking into someone's PC and inspecting the files on its hard drive without permission over the internet -- and viewing the same files without permission while the PC is on the bench being repaired?

Surely unauthorised access is unauthorised access - regardless of whether it's done over the net or while in physical possession of the computer involved?

Maybe it's time for some kind of code of practice associated with the PC service trade.

Certainly if a technician comes across a directory with the name "illegal_stuff", "kiddyporn" or whatever, then nobody would have any problems with them then calling in the DIA -- but other than that rather unlikely situation, nobody should have an implied right to browse someone else's files.

What do you think -- is this a bit like the war against terror where the ends justifies the means and we must forsake our right to privacy in the name of detecting those with kiddy-porn on their PCs?

If so, surely the next step is to allow DIA officials special rights to hack into anyone's PC over the internet and inspect the files on that machine -- just in case they've got an illegal image or two.

Thin end of the wedge anyone?

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