# cash for clunkers and the govt controlling your computer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 2, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064 "2009-08-02T15:37:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/1 "2009-08-02T15:37:24Z")
I can’t tell if this is some right wing diatribe or something based in some sort of fact. I had heard that if you log on to some govt “cash for clunkers” website (I don’t know which one), you have to agree to give control of your computer to the government…that your computer is now considered property of the federal government; and that anything they find while poking around on your computer will be scrutinized and sent to any goverment agency “they” deem appropriate. Don’t know if this is true, or if I got misleading facts or what. But I’d be interested to know if the general gist is true, or if it is some conspiracy nut theory. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/2 "2009-08-02T15:42:15Z")
Here is the website: [http://www.cars.gov/](http://www.cars.gov/) There is no indication that you have to agree to **anything** to visit it. Clicking on the “privacy” tab says the government collects the usual “cookie” information - browser, time visited, etc. Sounds like your typical conspiracy lunacy to me. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/3 "2009-08-02T15:43:55Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Sounds like your typical conspiracy lunacy to me. Yeah, but this is one of Glen Beck’s, so it’s one being spouted during prime time. Expect it to come up a lot more often. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/4 "2009-08-02T15:56:38Z")
Here’s a [post](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/1/52938/63166) at Daily Kos debunking this idiocy. ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/5 "2009-08-02T17:09:50Z")
How could this idiocy be true? Christ, do conservatives have any critical thinking skills? ---
**Author:** ![MeDrewNotYou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@MeDrewNotYou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeDrewNotYou)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/6 "2009-08-02T17:28:02Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > Here’s a [post](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/1/52938/63166) at Daily Kos debunking this idiocy. The TL;DR version is that what Beck is talking about is the _ **dealer** _ login. Even then, it sounds like the government owns and is just holding onto the records when you send them info on the site. I assume that’s pretty standard when dealing with the gov, but I don’t really know. The hostess with Beck later talks about the site installing malware and using cookies. I have no idea what they’re going on about there, other than that, yeah, the site probably uses cookies and cookies generally aren’t evil little bits of code that lets the government track you and put you into a FEMA camp. Our jack-booted thugs are way ahead of you. Not clicking a button on a site isn’t going to foil our evil plans. Just don’t ‘go Galt’ Mr. Beck. We’d be utterly powerless then. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/7 "2009-08-02T20:50:28Z")
Nothing to do with Clash For Clunkers, but Intel has a technology which allows them to log into your computer and access its data even when it’s powered down. [http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/39455/128/](http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/39455/128/) This is useful if you’re having trouble with it, but scary if you’re writing an investigative report on government corruption. Or downloading music illegally. Or your geeky neighbor is able to use it to embezzle money from you. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/8 "2009-08-02T21:00:00Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > Nothing to do with Clash For Clunkers, but Intel has a technology which allows them to log into your computer and access its data even when it’s powered down. Oh, that’s absurd. If it’s off, it’s off. No magical technology is going to read data from a machine that’s off. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/9 "2009-08-02T21:06:17Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Oh, that’s absurd. > If it’s off, it’s off. No magical technology is going to read data from a machine that’s off. Not even if they use the tracking chip the CIA implanted in you as an infant? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/10 "2009-08-02T21:12:55Z")
If your machine is turned off, how can the Illuminati communicate with your machine? I used to help maintain a server test lab for a large software company headquartered in Redmond Washington, and nobody bothered to tell us that we could access machines that weren’t even powered up. See, in order to send a message to your computer, the computer has to be able to receive messages. Which it can’t do if it isn’t, you know, on. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/11 "2009-08-02T21:25:26Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > Or your geeky neighbor is able to use it to embezzle money from you. Nit: that wouldn’t be embezzling, it would be stealing. Embezzlement implies the money was entrusted to you in the first place, but you used it dishonestly. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/12 "2009-08-02T21:34:14Z")
Sigh…sometimes I wish for the repeal of the 1st amendment. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/13 "2009-08-02T21:54:40Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Oh, that’s absurd. > If it’s off, it’s off. No magical technology is going to read data from a machine that’s off. Look at your computer the next time you turn it off. It’s like a TV, it doesn’t go completely dark. If you’ve got an always-on internet connection they can touch your computer. Read the article before you jump to conclusions. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/14 "2009-08-02T21:59:44Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > If your machine is turned off, how can the Illuminati communicate with your machine? > > I used to help maintain a server test lab for a large software company headquartered in Redmond Washington Last I checked Intel headquarters was not in Redmond Washington. Why would they have a server tech validate their diagnostic applications? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/15 "2009-08-02T22:06:18Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > Look at your computer the next time you turn it off. It’s like a TV, it doesn’t go completely dark. If you’ve got an always-on internet connection they can touch your computer. Read the article before you jump to conclusions. Wrong. If it’s OFF, it’s off. Learn something about computers. ---
**Author:** ![Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fake_Tales_of_San_Francisco)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/16 "2009-08-02T22:12:06Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > Look at your computer the next time you turn it off. It’s like a TV, it doesn’t go completely dark. If you’ve got an always-on internet connection they can touch your computer. Read the article before you jump to conclusions. I have read the article, and the notion of a computer being accessible when the hard drive is turned off is absurd in the highest degree. Also, since I do happen to know a little bit about computers I’m finding it hard not to laugh at this whole ‘it doesn’t go completely dark, it’s like a TV’ thing. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/17 "2009-08-02T22:50:23Z")
Some folks are convinced that the whole digital conversion for TVs was a set-up for the government to spy on us. ---
**Author:** ![MeDrewNotYou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@MeDrewNotYou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeDrewNotYou)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/18 "2009-08-02T23:14:24Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > Some folks are convinced that the whole digital conversion for TVs was a set-up for the government to spy on us. Huh. Haven’t heard that one before, but it sounds like something the crazies would come up with. Are the converter boxes just supposed to monitor what you watch or do they tape you or what? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/19 "2009-08-02T23:15:03Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > Some folks are convinced that the whole digital conversion for TVs was a set-up for the government to spy on us. …because there’s actually a camera hidden in all of them? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064/20 "2009-08-02T23:23:10Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > Look at your computer the next time you turn it off. It’s like a TV, it doesn’t go completely dark. If you’ve got an always-on internet connection they can touch your computer. Read the article before you jump to conclusions. There are a lot of highly experienced and accomplished IT professionals on this board, myself included. What you or anyone else has to say on this type of impossibility has no bearing. It is crap and you shouldn’t repeat it on a message board dedicated to fighting ignorance. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-for-clunkers-and-the-govt-controlling-your-computer/505064.md?page=2)