Comments on: FAQ: The HP 'pretexting' scandal

What exactly did the tech giant do and what does the law say when it comes to obtaining phone records? We offer some answers.

[marileev]

pretexting = phishing

We are bombarded by tons of phishing emails some offering junk, others posing as trusted sources like our banks. Clearly this was a privacy breach under Patrica Dunn who's no better than the NSA http://www.iwantmyess.com/?p=37

[Rita McKee]

Dunno why anyone's surprised

The White House has set the tone. And Congress (and the public) seem to agree with him that privacy goes out the window when "security" or "media leaks" are involved.

Don't agree? Then don't support such activities -- vote for change.

[vvlada]

Well, you miss the target

Since you are involved in this, your point of view is a little moved aside. The right question is why he told CNET news reporter confidential information? The guy that did it is problem and not the company trying to find out who it was.

[ChazzMatt]

no you miss the point

what one director did to feed information to the news media does not justfify multiple cases of identity theft and accessing other people's phone records not even connected to HP. HP is NOT the government, they are a private company who apparently thinks they are God. This is something I would have expected of a company like Microsoft.

[FooKBush]

No you missed the point!!!

I dont care who did what.The company does not have the right to give out a employees private info so he can be spied upon, and the private "I" doesnt have the right to steel your idenity so he can obtian your records...period. And they did that to more than the one person they feel leaked the story. Sue 'em and shoot'em...now dont get me started on bush!! lol

[byronlord00]

So what happens next?

Not a thing.
"Pretexting". So what. We as a society have established that we don't care about the reality of circumstances anymore.
The Monkees and MillieVanilli were crucified. Whitney Houston was blessed as an artistic wonder for lip-syncing the National Anthem at the Superbowl. Packaged Pop-Idols are given the out that their personal sound can't be reproduced outside the studio. PhotoShop, CGI and PSA's are all excepted practices.
The greatest sin in all this is our refusal to except the fact that "the internet" is the National Enquirer of he 21st Century. Why would you believe anything you see on a medium infamous for scams, phishing and 50ish Quasimodos using Brad Pitt's photo on E-Harmony? The cops pose as 14 year old girls to catch pedophiles. "Reality...you can't handle reality".
"Pretexting" will become another new term to review on the What's Hot/What's Not list on E! at New Years but other than that, nothing. By Halloween no one will even remember the story...or it will be revealed as an Illuminati conspiracy by the bloggers.