Thread: WesternDigital: "Don't ship to terrorists!"

Okay, my friend just got his WD120 from WesternDigital(RMA). On the invoice it says the following:

WesternDigital
YOU MUST APPLY FOR A U.S.EXPORT LICENSE IF YOU
KNOW THESE PRODUCTS WILL BE USED IN THE
DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION, OR USE OF
CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL OR BALLISTIC WEAPONS, OR IN A
FACILITY ENGAGED IN SUCH ACTIVITIES.

Seriously, it's a hard-drive. There is no need for such a message, in my opinion. But then again, you never know when some terrorist is going to take over the world because of a hard-drive...

Someone could find a way to trap it, from chemical to ballistic. A hard drive could be used, unfortunately .

Actually I have heared that all things can be tracked, so if Osama is stupid enough to use a laptop with wi-fi he should be dead by now. Personally I don't think that terrorists would do anything with a hard drive, not to mension that they are stupid to even use it.

Computers can all be tracked, even if they are not hooked up to Internet and that is why you never hear of terrorist use internet.

So why in the world are politicians worried about cyber terrorism? It will never happen...

Originally posted by Liger86
Actually I have heared that all things can be tracked, so if Osama is stupid enough to use a laptop with wi-fi he should be dead by now. Personally I don't think that terrorists would do anything with a hard drive, not to mension that they are stupid to even use it.

only if we're tracking it...

Computers can all be tracked, even if they are not hooked up to Internet and that is why you never hear of terrorist use internet.

that's like saying a lamp can be tracked... it's not as easy as you think... and it's almost impossible to track a computer not connected to the internet... even when it is, it takes CIA type intellegence to track...

So why in the world are politicians worried about cyber terrorism? It will never happen...

ever heare of a DOS attack?

I will not use the Programs for, and will not allow the Programs to be used for, any purposes prohibited by United States law, including, without limitation, for the development, design, manufacture or production of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction.

Damn... as an aspiring albeit law abiding terrorist I will have to download my database drivers from someone else... Oracle's drivers do not allow me to produce atomic bombs *sob*

Computers can all be tracked, even if they are not hooked up to Internet and that is why you never hear of terrorist use internet.

For someone who is willing to drive a car packed with explosives into a compound taking his death into account, being scared of being tracked down by cyber cops seems to be a rather minimal threat.

^ good point... can a door hinge be used in directing a rocket into a civilian condo complex?

Originally posted by major_small
^ good point... can a door hinge be used in directing a rocket into a civilian condo complex?

No, but the point he made is about liability...

Yes, if you could prove that a door hinge manufacturer knowingly, and willingly sold door hinges to anyone that they knew was using them for nuclear weapon doors, they could/would be liable.

But it's so trivial, most people don't want to waste time... door hinges are easy to get, computer hardware is a bit harder, and would aid their deeds to a greater extent than some hinges.

If someone tried to purchase some hinges for the doors on a nuclear missle silo and said, "we need to buy some hinges to use on our nuclear missle silo", do you think that the manufacturer would still sell them the hinges? It's all about knowing, and liability... simple. That's why on the WD form it says, "you know these products will be used in... etc".

Yes, if you could prove that a door hinge manufacturer knowingly, and willingly sold door hinges to anyone that they knew was using them for nuclear weapon doors, they could/would be liable.

What does that say about governments, selling whole weapon systems ? Do they know what they will be used for ? Or could tanks be used for heavy gardening work ?

I think that in order for warnings like that on invoices or other products that the following questions have to be addressed:

1. Will the message actually prevent them from getting the product?
2. Does ANY business in the world investigate their client before shipping such a civil product?
3. Why don't we just apply the message to all kinds of products?

Here are my answers:

1. Definately not.
2. Ofcourse not.
3. Yes, why don't we? I think that if we are going to apply such messages that we may as well apply them to everything to make complete use of such nonsense. Here are some of the following products that could use such a message:

1. Radios. Terrorists need communication to make a plan run smoothly.

2. CD/DVD - R/W media. Terrorists need to save plans to distribute them.

3. Operatings systems. They need operating systems to utilize their evil plans.

4. All raw metals. Terrorists will use RAW material to make bombs, not melt down HD's or something dumb.

5. Digital Cameras. Would not all terrorist plans start with a picture?

6. Paper. Terrorists could write plans down on paper.

7. Automobiles. They use them for transportation and vehicle-bombs.

8. Airports should make all citizens sign contracts indicating that they have no hostile intentions. Because terrorists use plane's too!

9. Batteries. They would need them to power their walkie talkies.

10. Parachutes. Terrorists could strap bombs to themselves and sky-dive right into a city core and blow up upon impact.

11. Coca Cola. Maybe terrorists will extract phosphoric acid and do something nasty with it!

12. Dishware. Terrorists need to eat, too. But prolonging their lives means that more devastation could occur because they are still breathing. Therefore, selling dishware to terrorists is potentially protecting their cause.

13. Any kind of electronic material; ranging from simple wire to project boxes to diodes and resistors... they could use them for malicous intent!

14. Logitech should put a warning in every single EULA and on the bottom of every keyboard because terrorists could use webcams for video conferencing, they could use joysticks and MS flight simulator to learn how to fly, they could use the wheels to learn how to drive, they could use keyboards for communication, they could use wireless headsets for communication, too.

15. All ISP's should make you sign a contract stating that you are not going to use them as a terrorist-data-exchange service.


By now the point should be understood. I'm sure that such messages from WD are only to satisfy the yuppies who think that SUV's support terrorism, etc.

I understand that what happened during 9/11 is quite devastating, but I also believe that other countries, America in particular, are excessively paranoid now.