On 04/30/2016 05:20 PM, Moritz Bartl wrote:
On 04/30/2016 08:15 PM, dan wrote:
Sorry to hear that. We're already in contact, but just for the record: I think there's the fast option here, you unlock it and let them search it, or,Kind of surprised that you are suggesting to give a way the encryption passphrase.
<SNIP>
Maybe it is simply too crazy for many jurisdictions to believe, but police in Germany in most cases actually treats you well and is not your enemy. There's no point in turning every occasion into a combat just for the sake of it.
Maybe it seems that way. But how can one be sure of that?
I've spoken to spriver, and it looks like they will be satisfied if spriver unlocks the laptop and shows them that the files cannot be found in a filename search conducted by himself. If spriver is comfortable doing that, and the objective here is to get the laptop back quickly, it is not for me to decide and condemn that choice. Actually, I think it is fairly reasonable.
If there are backups, or no important data on the laptop, I don't see much point in getting the laptop back. It can't be trusted.
But, yes, as with any person that has a computer, I recommend up-to-date offsite backups. Then, you might lean towards the other reasonable option, which is to simply state the facts and demand the hardware back. There's so many things that can happen with your machines, especially when it's a laptop, there is no reason not to have good backups.
That's always good advice. But again, hardware returned by police is good at best for selling on Ebay, CL, etc. Or target practice ;)