Possible illegal discussion

Forum|Forum|16 years ago
November 3, 2009
5 replies
3796 views

http://forums.adobe.com/message/2364020#2364020

Maybe it is an innocent topic; maybe not. Perhaps a moderator may want to review or keep a closer eye on it.

With identity theft such a serious matter, I wonder why this topic exists and why some of our more helpful posters turned off their 'suspicious activity filter' to offer help in discovering information that was not supposed to be discovered.

(I tried to click the 'report abuse' link for the entire thread but after submitting the comment describing the abuse, the following error is returned: "An unexpected error has occurred")

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer

i think i recall seeing there's a 254 char limit in the report abuse box. i didn't see that mentioned anywhere in the error when it happened to me...

the_wine_snob

Inspiring

With the snippet provided, it would be almost impossible to tell what the document was, who obscurred some aspects of that document and then additional legal research would be needed to determine if any aciton on it was illegal in the domain, where it existed. Without a full disclosure of the document, the location of the document and possibly the history of the document, it would be very difficult.

Though the thread had veered off to the legality of any attempt to get beyond the obscuring of the info, I still offered some hints for the OP. Did I aid and abet a crime? Who knows, full disclosure would be necessary to determine that, just as the intent of the OP would need to be determined.

Just some thoughts,

Hunt

Community_Admin

Inspiring

Thanks for bringing this thread to our attention. I will review with Adobe legal and see if they have any input. In the meanwhile, we will monitor the thread and keep a close eye on it.

the_wine_snob

Inspiring

I will review with Adobe legal and see if they have any input. In the meanwhile, we will monitor the thread and keep a close eye on it.

Please update this thread with any response from legal. I'll be interested in hearing their take on this.

To me, it's a pretty simple request by that thread's OP, but then there could be nefarious elements at work. Who knows? Either way, the reclaiming of that info, without access to the original is unlikely, at best. Unless, of course, one uses the Photoshop - CSI edition, as Chris Cox alludes to.

Thank you,

Hunt

PS - some years ago, someone did a Photoshop-CSI package mockup, but I was unable to locate that. Too bad, as there is a major element of US pop-humor in it.

Chris Cox

Legend

Also, some people are under the impression that the stuff they see on CSI is real... and then they ask how to do it.

Phillip M Jones

Inspiring

IF they want to see the real reality of what can be done, tune into Forensic Files on TruTV (CourtTV).

MichaelKazlow

Legend

Marion,

I really don't view the discussion as illegal anymore than I view threads that ask for password removal software illegal. Generally, I will not give a helpful answer to such requests----but asking how to do it is not illegal. There are legal reasons to want to be able to remove passwords. It may be legal, but I won't help. There are legitimate reasons for wanting to see past a redaction. HOWEVER, good software will make it nearly impossible to see past a redaction. I think your response in the original thread is appropriate for most people trying to read redacted material. I'd let the person who persists try to make their case for wanting to get past the redaction, before I'd consider helping. However, I would not want to remove the thread. The responses both helpful and not are educational for those who might be interested in the topic. Thanks for bringing the thread to our attention. I'd rather have people ask if a thread should be allowed to continue, than having threads on the forum that should not be allowed to continue.

Claudio González

Legend

I don't know the legal sitution in the USA, but in my opinion, it is at least not ethical to post in a public forum tips for removing password protection from files. The poster has no way of knowing if the asker's reasons are legal/ethical/reasonable or not, regardless of what s/he may have said.