I agree with "too busy" it seems even the poorest of us just don't care if we get ripped for $40.00 or so. I fix a lot of machines in my spare time here in phoenix and it seems no matter how i say it, my clients won't listen and always go back to trying some new thing (like "clean my pc").
Frankly, I am tired of offering advice when no one listens. just take their money, give them back a working machine and await the next call.
The problem here is this: even if its his own property, committing an act of Denial of Service across the
network against it still means that you have committed a crime (DDOS requires network resources in between
and those services might not be able to handle the load). regardless of actual "right of possession, committing
a crime to retrieve stolen goods is still a crime.
I forgot about that. yeah, if an insurance carrier can get the item back *cheaper* than buying new,
you bet they'll do what it takes.
Lastly, but certainly not leastly, post the IP address to 4chan. They have more than enough unscrupulous individuals that could find the person for you. If nothing else, they will at least DDOS the IP for you.
That is the last thing you should ever do for a number of reasons. DDOS violates the computer crimes act here in the US (and using an illegal method to regain your property is never a good idea as you will end up in court charged with a crime yourself).
Filing a claim in your local state court is not all that expensive (and with the help of the local free law association, you might actually get it done properly).
One rule to remember when going up the 'food chain" at your University: always be nice. explain your situation in a clear and logical form and request that they help you. if they can't, get referred further up the chain. you will eventually get to someone who can say yes or take action (usually at the university presidents level). also, do follow up with the local police and send a certified letter to the local FBI office asking for help (send a fax and an e-mail as well). If you need to, get the local news media involved (beauracracies don't like negative public exposure). In all these cases, BE NICE! Stick to the point and don't embellish.
The more of a paper trail you can establish, the better your chances of regaining your property expeditiously.
That isn't just a teenager who wants something.
She's willing to STEAL it to have it because she can't (or won't) pay for it.
Talk about a lack of ethics. I wonder if her parents even know about this?
The question of whether computers can think is just like the question of whether submarines can swim. -- Edsger W. Dijkstra
