FBI Uses PS3s to Catch Pedophiles

[MGlBlaze]

Reminds me of how a 360 GPU was used for supercomputing on the cheap, too.

Proof that gaming benefits the human race; often in ways you don't expect. xD

 

[GamingAwesome1]

Can't the FBI get something better than a PS3, like supercomputers or a computer spefically desgined for that sort of thing as opposed to using a fucking games console?

Are they really that under funded that they have to resort to using a video games console?

 

[theultimateend]

YES - the price is lower now, it wasn't on release in this country which is when the cost mattered to me.

I saw you use a dollar sign so I assumed you were American. Want to help the confusion? Tell people the currency you use in your country (which I assume isn't dollars). Course I'm not a currency guru so maybe you have dollars where you live too.

 

[theultimateend]

YES - the price is lower now, it wasn't on release in this country which is when the cost mattered to me.

I saw you use a dollar sign so I assumed you were American. Want to help the confusion? Tell people the currency you use in your country (which I assume isn't dollars). Course I'm not a currency guru so maybe you have dollars where you live too.

There are sixteen nations who use a currency called the Dollar, complete with "$" symbol, plus nine "pound sterling" based dollar nations including NZ, Aussie, and Jamaica (also $). None of these twenty-five nations have exclusive hold over the term.

Well there you go . Now I know something new.

The wonders of the internet.

 

[GamingAwesome1]

Can't the FBI get something better than a PS3, like supercomputers or a computer spefically desgined for that sort of thing as opposed to using a fucking games console?

Are they really that under funded that they have to resort to using a video games console?

It's a cost-effectiveness issue. A $300-$400 PS3 does the same job as the custom-built $8000 password cracking computer. So for the say $25K budget, they can use three computers or 80 Playstation 3's. That's 2667% less time to crack a file, for the same dime.
(Edit, missed a decimal place)

Oh wow..... that's pretty odd. PS3's can do the same job as a custom built computer? That makes me laugh so hard....

But that is pretty cool...thanks for telling me!

 

[Comma-Kazie]

Let's not forget: helps cure cancer - http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/24/help-cure-cancer-with-your-ps3/

I mean seriously, this thing does it all XD

Jeez, they weren't kidding in the ads!

 

[Otterpoet]

Let's not forget: helps cure cancer - http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/24/help-cure-cancer-with-your-ps3/

I mean seriously, this thing does it all XD

Jeez, they weren't kidding in the ads!

Heh heh. My best friend is a cancer researcher. We keep joking how we should write a grant together to get him a new PS3 for his lab... you know, so he can study cell-folding. Honest! ^^;

 

[jthm]

Least they're getting some use out of it. Mine just collects dust.

 

[ItsAPaul]

Now if it only had the library of games that the PS2 had, it'd be around forever.

 

[Vorinia]

I'd love to see this on an episode of Scooby-Doo...

"I would'a gotten away with it, if it weren't for that pesky, meddling PS3!"

 

[Therumancer]

Personally I think they should re-market the original units with backwards compadibility. Maybe it will happen against their current desires due to the influance of the FBI (sighs).

Otherwise I will say I'm a bit surprised the FBI of all groups has to go to such lengths to decrypt passwords.

What other method can they use bar brute force?

The article itself mentions that right now perps are protected from being forced to give their passwords by Law Enforcement. This of course leads to them taking the computers they have already seized, hooking them into networks to decrypt them, and getting the password that way.

IMO if they can seize the bloody computer they have the right to force the suspects to give up the passwords to retrieve said information from the computer they seized. To me it's common sense.

As far as the method used, it could simply be considered a crime akin to obsctucting an investigation to not provide a requested password for a seized device. So thus if the person is innocent they might still face jail time for refusing to reveal the password and obstructing the investigation (which could simply be making the police waste time on them when they are a dead end lead).

Of course this brings up the entire issue of them seizing computers to "break them" to begin with, but honestly when they get to that point I figure saying the cops are entitled to the password is a foregone conclusion to be honest.

 

[nathan-dts]

You know I hear they'll even let you play games on it soon.

Nobody likes a troll.