Originally Posted by
jdbnsn
Although it is possible that it's genuine, there are some things there that scream BS. For one, the Secret Service usually doesn't track threats like these themselves, that is usually forwarded to the FBI for apprehension who has much more vast resources for this kind of thing. Another thing is that the Patriot Act allows the federal investigation branches the ability to seek information without cause, permission, or notification. It seems unlikely to me for federal investigators to be asking so nicely for help getting info that most half decent hackers could get in 10 minutes. If anyone has every dealt with the CIA, FBI, (and I don't know much about the Secret Service, but they are more the shoot first and check ID's later branch) they would understand that the negotiation tactics used by these people are frighteningly aggresive. When they need info, they demand it. If refused they are usually given unpleasant ultimnatums. I doubt the federal gov took this post too seriously, but if it really was them, and they were really concerned, I find it extremely unusual to have a message from the department allowed to be posted in the forums even with the name edited out. My guess is it's an admins technique of a scare tactic to keep that crazy talk off his forums. But I don't know, it could be real.