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New Jersey Mayor and Son Arrested For Nuking Recall Website 180

phaedrus5001 writes "The mayor of West New York, New Jersey was arrested by the FBI after he and his son illegally took down a website that was calling for the recall of mayor Felix Roque (the site is currently down). From the article: 'According to the account of FBI Special Agent Ignace Ertilus, Felix and Joseph Roque took a keen interest in the recall site as early as February. In an attempt to learn the identity of the person behind the site, the younger Roque set up an e-mail account under a fictitious name and contacted an address listed on the website. He offered some "very good leads" if the person would agree to meet him. When the requests were repeatedly rebuffed, Joseph Rogue allegedly tried another route. He pointed his browser to Google and typed the search strings "hacking a Go Daddy Site," "recallroque log-in," and "html hacking tutorial."'"
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New Jersey Mayor and Son Arrested For Nuking Recall Website

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  • by evilRhino ( 638506 ) on Thursday May 24, 2012 @03:39PM (#40103513)
    Using Google for criminal enterprises is bad news bears.
    • by The MAZZTer ( 911996 ) <megazzt&gmail,com> on Thursday May 24, 2012 @03:43PM (#40103585) Homepage
      They probably figured out his search history by using his local browser history when they would have confiscated his PC as evidence. So that wouldn't have helped. Also... "recallroque log-in"? Ha, I guess some people really do think Google is magic and can pull answers out of thin air. And "html hacking tutorial"? That's almost cute.
      • by stanlyb ( 1839382 ) on Thursday May 24, 2012 @03:49PM (#40103679)
        Nope, you are wrong, they figured out his search history directly at the source. With other words: GOOGLE. Oh, and btw, if you try to search for something illegal, at least have the intelligence to do it from brand new (or stolen) computer, without any ID already entered, with just created email accounts, from any "Free" wireless spot, and once you are done, you better burn this computer. Just an advice....
        • by ClioCJS ( 264898 )
          Or just use TOR. And don't say "tor can be compromised". That's only true if they are already monitoring you. if you're doing something you've told nobody about and not already being monitored, you're fine.
          • by Penguinisto ( 415985 ) on Thursday May 24, 2012 @05:58PM (#40104839) Journal

            Or just use TOR. And don't say "tor can be compromised". That's only true if they are already monitoring you.

            ...unless you happen to pass through an FBI-run exit node.

        • by HeckRuler ( 1369601 ) on Thursday May 24, 2012 @04:14PM (#40103943)
          If only the CEO of google, Eric Schmidt, had reminded us that they're bound by the law to hand over information to the authorities.

          Remind me again why he was lambasted for that?
          • Google is actually good about publishing this data (much more than any other company I know of online). Would be good if they broke it down further by requester and state, but at least you get an idea from last years data: 5950 requests, complied with 93%, disclosed info on 11057 users. http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/userdatarequests/US/?p=2011-06 [google.com]
          • Because these days the law is pretty much nothing more than someone with a lot of money and power says it is. Especially when one is Google. What do you think would happen if Schmidt said instead loudly and publicly, "No, Federal Government, we're not giving you a god damned thing without a proper warrant, etc....oh, and if you try to force us, well....we just might leave the country or seriously degrade our services here for you and your cronies, in the name of Freedom, Liberty, etc." ?

            Do you really think

            • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

              by Grygus ( 1143095 )

              Yes.

            • Because these days the law is pretty much nothing more than someone with a lot of money and power says it is.

              By "these days" you mean: for the last 6000 years?

            • we're not giving you a god damned thing without a proper warrant

              Uhhhh..... they already do that. Don't they?
              Don't requests for information need a warrant?

              Oh... shit. No they don't. At least their FAQ doesn't say it does.
              Damnit Google! If it's part of a criminal investigation they should be able to get a warrant. They should HAVE to get a warrant.

            • by geekoid ( 135745 )

              Yehs, that's why someone with money and power was just arrested.

              I know what would have happened, the feds would go get a warrant. assuming they didn't have one.

              I know in your world of black helicopters, Illuminati, and reptile overlords something bad would happen. Fortunately most of us play in the real world.

            • Tell that to Joseph Nacchio [wikipedia.org].

        • if you try to search for something illegal, at least have the intelligence to do it from brand new (or stolen) computer, without any ID already entered, with just created email accounts, from any "Free" wireless spot, and once you are done, you better burn this computer.

          It's traditional to use the PC on your dickweed boss or cow-orker's desk.

          My boss and colleagues are excellent, so I would have to use the head of HR's computer.

          Luckily there's a building master key in the computer room's DR box.

        • new computer? burn? That sounds exhausting!

          Why not just use a live CD or a bootable flash drive OS?
          • by Genda ( 560240 )

            Heck no, There's a whole host of new PC's hitting the market for ~$50 (just mentioned one right here on Slashdot yesterday by APC.) Heck, but 10 and throw a party. Hackers delight! Just make sure you, order it anonymously and have it delivered someplace that can't be traced back to you. Helps if you aren't a puter pro too.

        • by geekoid ( 135745 )

          I'm sorry, where did you find that out? its not in the article, or any other article I could find.

      • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

        All major browsers include porn mode now, but judging by this guy's uber hacking skillz he is probably still running IE6.

    • especially when you search for "how to get arrested for hacking a website"
    • Doing:

      Following the shutdown, Mayor Roque used the messages retrieved from the compromised accounts to identify the people who ran and supported it. On February 9, he used his iPhone to call the Hudson County (New Jersey) government official, identified in the criminal complaint as Victim 1, who had anonymously established the recall website. The older Roque then claimed to have proof that the official was involved with the site.

      "Mayor Roque stated that he, the Mayor, had a friend in high levels of governme

  • The kid should have searched "Tor" while he was at it. That would have kept the FBI occupied for a few more weeks.
  • He's going to hack into our div tags!

    • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward

      shit! that's where I keep all my spans!

  • If they were "nuking" Al Qaeda websites, maybe they would not get in trouble.
  • Genius! (Score:5, Funny)

    by Dan East ( 318230 ) on Thursday May 24, 2012 @03:43PM (#40103575) Journal

    Googling for "recallroque log-in" is just pure genius. Why hack if google will just point you straight to the credentials you need!

  • That's all? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by meerling ( 1487879 ) on Thursday May 24, 2012 @03:49PM (#40103687)
    " three counts of intentionally accessing computers without authorization or intentionally causing damage to a protected computer"

    You'd think the threats and other stuff would kick on a few other charges than those. ianal but I bet even I could find at least a half dozen additional things to nail them with.

    I wonder if they'll let him keep his job. (Politics are bizarre.)
    • by ffflala ( 793437 )
      Indeed. I'm surprised to see no elections-related charge; maybe those crimes are written so specifically that they don't apply to pre-election activities (such as recall petitions.)

      OTOH, this will probably give the recall idea some new legs.
  • by Chemisor ( 97276 ) on Thursday May 24, 2012 @03:57PM (#40103781)

    Great. Now every website hacking attempt would be called "going rogue". All "roguelike" discussions will be censored and prosecuted. And God help you if you are found in possession of a certain amulet...

    • except it's Roque, not Rogue
      • Dibs on the first Roque-like where you have to dive into the dungeon of google to find the amulet of LOIC and evade the fuzz on your way out.
        • by Oloryn ( 3236 )

          Is this anything like the game of Rouge, where you've been miniaturized and have to descend the layers of a woman's handbag? Watch out for things wrapped in tissue, they're deadly.

    • by Calydor ( 739835 )

      Just call it rouge-like instead.

  • by sdnoob ( 917382 ) on Thursday May 24, 2012 @04:08PM (#40103883)

    the web site won't be needed anymore.... that town will get their new mayor one way or another (recall or resignation)

    the best part about this story though is that this idiot got into office on a recall election that ousted the town's previous mayor.

    • by rrohbeck ( 944847 ) on Thursday May 24, 2012 @04:54PM (#40104349)

      1. Set up a honeypot with a web front that calls for the recall of a politician you don't like
      2. Wait for it to be attacked by that politician
      3. Tell the FBI
      4. Lulz!

      • by qubezz ( 520511 )
        The FBI works for the POTUS. The guy that had to be told by SCOTUS that he doesn't have the right to disappear US citizens indefinitely without trial. I would recommend against telling the FBI you exist, let alone informing them of your political inclinations or computer expertise.
  • by Lashat ( 1041424 ) on Thursday May 24, 2012 @04:14PM (#40103941)

    This article indicates that Roque the Younger called "Victim 1" to 'say that the page had been taken down by “high government officials and that everyone would pay for getting involved against Mayor Roque.” '

    Now that is poor hacking skills!

    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76723.html [politico.com]

  • by medv4380 ( 1604309 ) on Thursday May 24, 2012 @04:33PM (#40104137)
    I bet the how to hack go daddy left out the important steps. Don't use a computer you normally use. Don't use your Home IP or any IP that can be traced to you. Go out the the middle of nowhere suburbia find an Open WiFi, and never go back there after you're done. And use as many proxies between you and them as you can. That's what makes hacking an art. Any script kiddy can run a Wipe Out a Go Daddy web site script, but can they do that and not get caught.
  • Wow, that must be in the top three most awesome real person names ever.
    I'd buy the comics based on the name alone!
    I bet he fights arcane AIs with nothing but his trusty cyberspace deck and deep knowledge of neurolinguistics.

  • A negative story about politician doesn't provide political affiliation of said politician?
    It's time to play the classic game of: Name that Party [google.com].
    • I don't understand why you think it is necessary for the news to mention the party affiliation of a corrupt politician when that affiliation is the Democratic Party. Are there Democratic politicians who aren't corrupt? The news media obviously does not think so, since they do not believe there is any reason to tell people what party a corrupt politician is affiliated with if that party is the Democratic Party. While on the other hand, it is important to point out those rare examples of corrupt Republican po
    • by artor3 ( 1344997 )

      1) The guy is mayor of a town of 1 square mile. There are more people in most universities than in this guy's town. You really think any party big-wigs even know he exists?
      2) He got his seat by running as an independent against a Democrat, so if you're obsessed with labels, he'd be a left-leaning independent.
      3) Based on Wikipedia, he's buddy-buddy with Chris Christie, so he's not even that left-leaning (note: Christie probably doesn't give two shits about this bush league yokel)

      Stop obsessing over party a

  • Security? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by increment1 ( 1722312 ) on Thursday May 24, 2012 @06:10PM (#40104915)

    Checked GoDaddy whois, and the domain was registered using their Domains by Proxy service to hide the registrant. This seems to imply that Domains By Proxy was hacked / socially engineered in order to compromise the account. Worse, it appears that this was accomplished by someone with little to no computer or hacking experience.

    The article does not go into detail about how the hack was actually accomplished, other than mentioning it was via a reset email. I am curious what this actually means for the security of domain names registered on GoDaddy using Domains By Proxy. Are they truly that easy to hack?

    I tend to register all of my domains using the proxy service simply to avoid spam in my inbox.

  • Comment removed based on user account deletion

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