How Video Games Could Send You To Jail (Or Get You Out)

I call my next witness to the stand: Xbox 360.

Published 28/07/2010 at 14:05.
By eccelex.

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Security consultant Brandon Nesbit is due to give a presentation at the DEFCON security conference in which he will tout why video games could be an untapped goldmine for police investigations.

The key lies in that modern consoles now hold a wealth of information from game saves to video and photo files. Add an internet connection to the mix and the data becomes even more useful. Nesbit explains;

“For example, if someone is trying to prove that Suspect A was running an attack against a World of Warcraft server, there will be logs to indicate that fact within World of Warcraft.”

Conversely, if you find yourself in court on charges of, say, burglary, you could use the fact that you were preoccupied with Super Street Fighter 4 on the evening in question and you earned an achievement in the process. You would then be able to use Capcom’s servers and Sony/Microsoft’s trophy/achievement data as evidence to support your case.

It essentially means that consoles could soon be treated in a similar way to PCs in a criminal investigation, which in turn suggests that the days of video game consoles being regarded as ‘just toys’ could well be numbered.

Brandon Nesbit will make his presentation on 1st August 2010.

Source: SecurityWatch, via: Kotaku

Comments

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sanmartinez | 28/07/2010 14:10
Member
603 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009

It could come in handy, but what proof lies there that YOU were the one who earned the trophy/achievent and not your brother/sister/father/mother/kid-next-door.
So I don’t think this is consistent
Porcupine_I | 28/07/2010 14:11
Member
767 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009

“Yes, my friend, all you have to do is play my Games while i go out in these black clothes and Ski mask”
- Boomshanks | 28/07/2010 14:53
  Member
  1902 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
  
  Good point
Tuffcub | 28/07/2010 14:11
Team TSA: Writer
6054 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008

Er.. what if someone else was using my console and won the achievment?
- nemesisND1derboy | 28/07/2010 14:13
  Member
  450 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2010
  
  Shhhhhhhh! Don’t tell them…
- Apnomis | 28/07/2010 15:22
  Member
  1768 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2009
  
  That was my first thought too, the only way this could really be used in evidence is if the game involved some kind of video and/or audio feed that could be used to identify it being you – but I would assume that sort of thing isn’t stored on the server? Unless of course you were using a game like EyePet or EyeCreate that can record your image in-game…
  
  Still, I love the idea of your defence being based around earning a Platinum trophy on the night in question lol
tonycawley | 28/07/2010 14:12
Member
1718 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009

So all i’ve got to do is have my mrs stay indoors and play my playstation when i rob the bank and i’ve committed the perfect crime :-)
Porcupine_I | 28/07/2010 14:14
Member
767 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009

actually it could be a case if you play Buzz and show your Buzz-Face :D
Amphlett | 28/07/2010 14:14
Member
1625 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009

The prosecution could just as easily state that the evidence is not reliable as anyone within the household could have booted up the PS3 for a game.
- 3shirts | 28/07/2010 14:56
  Member
  4343 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
  
  This happens all the time with PCs. I was a computer forensics investigator for 2 years and the officers constantly ask if X went on this site or made that transaction. We always have to say the computer was used for this or that but we cannot say who was using it. At the end of the day, without a camera recording them sat at the machine, it’s almost impossible to say for sure who was using it and it comes down to providing as much evidence as possible like IM apps that were logged in but without the password remembered and banking websites etc.
  .
  Sadly, very few criminals use biometric log ins
beeje13 | 28/07/2010 14:15
Member
309 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2010

I liked the subtitle :)
DrNate86 | 28/07/2010 14:16
Member
1385 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2010

Think of the unstoppable crime ring we could set up on here with this knowledge!
- Porcupine_I | 28/07/2010 14:25
  Member
  767 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
  
  can i be the one staying at home and play games to cover you guys?
Tuffcub | 28/07/2010 14:20
Team TSA: Writer
6054 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008

You could use your PSP and remote into your PS3 and win a trophy in..er.. something that suports remote play – WHILST YOU ARE ROBBING A BANK!
- Nauraph | 28/07/2010 14:38
  Member
  656 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2010
  
  “Damn.. I shouldn’t have picked the Bionic Commando: Rearmed insane difficulty trophy for this! Hang on guys!”
- Squalje | 28/07/2010 14:41
  Member
  763 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2010
  
  Pixeljunk Monsters it is then!
- lewis815 | 28/07/2010 16:01
  Member
  873 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
  
  .DeTuned.. PERFECT ! (if it was supported by remote play.. :()
YOURMUMANDME | 28/07/2010 14:58
Member
3028 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008

WHAT !
A DEFCON meeting and a WoW example. Is it April 1st today ?!