“French hairstylist Pascal Bensimon turned himself in to sheriff’s deputies Monday, after a 14-month investigation implicated him in the theft of Kevin Costner’s laptop, which contained the actor’s private wedding photographs,” Troy Hooper reports for The Aspen Daily News. “The owner of the swanky hair salon on Hyman Avenue that bears his name, Bensimon, 44, was hired to provide hair services for guests attending Costner’s wedding to Christine Baumgartner on Sept. 25, 2004, at his ranch east of Aspen off of Highway 82.”
“According to an affidavit filed at the Pitkin County Courthouse, the day of the star-studded ceremony, Costner’s personal Apple Powerbook G4 disappeared, along with a digital camera that contained pictures of the wedding. The laptop is valued at $1,500,” Hooper reports. “A month later, Bensimon’s son allegedly contacted Apple Computers, proclaimed to be the owner of the laptop, and said he had forgotten the password needed to access its contents. Due to a technicality, Apple did not initially discover that the laptop serial number that Bensimon’s son referred to matched the one Costner reported stolen and a new password was assigned to the computer, the affidavit said.”
“Mark Sheppard, who works as a computer consultant for the Costner family, suspected Bensimon stole the laptop based on conversations he had with officials at Apple earlier this year. Costner’s wife, Christina, then contacted Phillips who said she believed her employer might have taken the computer. Meanwhile, investigator Ryan obtained a court order that enabled him to confirm Bensimon’s son had contacted Apple and requested a new password,” Hooper reports. “So last month, Sheppard posed as a freelance journalist for Travel & Leisure magazine under the guise that he was interested in writing a story about Pascal’s haughty hairdos, which fetch upwards of $400 for a woman’s haircut and coloring. Although Ryan could not legally participate in the sting, he asked Sheppard to notify him if Sheppard could confirm that Bensimon had Costner’s computer. Using an alias, Sheppard walked into Pascal Bensimon Hair Salon on Nov. 18 and requested to see photos of Bensimon’s work. The hairstylist brought out a laptop to show Sheppard photos of his work. Sheppard verified the serial numbers matched those of Costner’s computer.”
Full article with more here.
You just can’t make this stuff up.
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Hey Kevin!
” rel=”nofollow”>What’s on your PowerBook?
Some computer consultant. He could have at least set up File Vault on Kevin’s account and turned off automatic login.
I guess “Inquiring minds want to know.”
I feel so ashamed about responding to this piece.
Hair today. Gone tomorrow
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Strange. I’m sorry, but with as much as movie stars pay to get their hair done, you’d think this guy would be able to afford a laptop. And even if he couldn’t, you’d think they’d be smart enough to NOT call Apple for support on a piece of stolen equipment. I’m not sure which level of stupidity confounds me most.
So they spent 10k to get back a 1500 dollar laptop. Hmmmm, only the stars.
$1400 – That makes it a 15 incher, right?
quote from Jeff:
“Some computer consultant. He could have at least set up File Vault on Kevin’s account and turned off automatic login.”
You must be lame or something. Or maybe just stupid. The kid calls to get the password reassigned. Why do you think he had to?
Jackass.
Try reading the article next time.
MW: thinking… as in Jeff clearly WASN’T thinking when he ripped off his mind numbing reply.
Yes, another slooooooooow news day for Mdn….
How does one verify the serial number on the PB wothout having physical access (ie, handle the computer himself)?
To verify serial number, Apple menu>About This Mac and mouse-click the Mac OS X version number twice. You will see the MacOS X build # and PB serial number.
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nothing to say about this article……….
But i thought it was funny. this is MAC daily news and there’s an advertisement for microsoft on the side of the comment box.
“Microsoft
Looking for a financial management solution?
Start by asking the right questions.”
I said “uh………………………… no.”
Peanut butter jelly time.
just how is it that Apple Tech service can supply a password to any arbitrary laptop without having physical possession of it? I thought you had to start from the CD or erase the system if you can’t get into it.
ok sonny, let’s go take our meds and have a nappy time!
Stupid Frogs
Obviously, he didn’t steal the laptop just to get the laptop; not if he called Apple to get the password to access data. He was after the data! If he just wanted a PowerBook he could have just formatted the hard drive and installed the OS himself.
The title should read…
“Nut Busted on Hyman Avenue”
“To verify serial number, Apple menu>About This Mac and mouse-click the Mac OS X version number twice. You will see the MacOS X build # and PB serial number.”
OMG… so this buffoon of a hairdresser let someone physically handle his (stolen) laptop? He deserved to get cuaght.
if this story doesnt prove that macs arent 100% imune i dont know what will. i think you all should be scared that the goverment could use the same tactics to acess your computer, ie patriot act. and you might never even know.
“To verify serial number, Apple menu>About This Mac and mouse-click the Mac OS X version number twice. You will see the MacOS X build # and PB serial number.”
PowerBook users who have had their Logic Board replaced will discover that you CANNOT see the Serial Number if you do the above, I found out by chance and apparently there is nothing you can do to reapply it. Doesn’t show up in Apple System Profiler either. Weird.
MW: court
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French(!) Hairdresser(!!!) likes Macs – why am I not surprised?
Sorry… just couldn’t resist that one
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Heh-heh-heh
“i think you all should be scared that the goverment could use the same tactics to acess your computer, ie patriot act. and you might never even know.”
I wouldn’t panic. The FBI has to send Macs to Canada to get them cracked. (Scroll down to the bottom of the linked article under the heading, “Some Surprises”).
” Due to a technicality, Apple did not initially discover that the laptop serial number that Bensimon’s son referred to matched the one Costner reported stolen and a new password was assigned to the computer, the affidavit said.”
Technicality my rear end.
Apple bears a lot of responsibility by giving out passwords willy nilly. Or should that be stevie weavy?
Apple Computer Hands Out Password to Kevin Costner’s Stolen Laptop
We are always told that the people with our information will guard that information. Governments, corporations and businesses assure us that our “privacy rights will be protected.”
Unless, of course, someone steals your Apple laptop computer. All the thief has to do is to call Apple, and claim that they have forgotten the password.
Even if you are Kevin Costner – Apple then merrily hands out a new password so the thief can access your data.
NOW THE MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION: How did Apple know Costner’s Password?
Does the Apple Mac OS-X operating system report the password to Apple every time you log onto the web?
Does Apple have a “master password” based upon the laptop’s serial number?
Does Apple provide passwords to Law Enforcement with or without warrant – perhaps under the anti-terrorist laws – that would allow someone to crawl around my computer while I’m online?
Well? Apple? What’s the story?
And this is why Lost Budgie uses PGP Disk Encryption as well as other means to protect his data.
Posted on Lost Budgie Blog
Wonder if there will be a 14-month investigation if I lose MY laptop…
All the thief has to do is prove that he watched “Waterworld”, “JFK” and “The Postman” at the movies, and any jury will let him walk.
He wouldn’t have stolen it, if would have been a DELL
The loony left strikes again on an MDN thread–yes, I’m talking about YOU, Lost Budgie & hack a mac.
The government–the big, bad BUSH ADMINISTRATION–couldn’t care less what you losers have on your laptops.
(And you obviously don’t have the slightest grasp of the Patriot Act.)
Love,
Kate
Apple did not “give out” the password – they didn’t even have it. Most likely, they told the son to boot up using an original OS X install disc and launch the Reset Password utility. Select user, type in a new password. Simple.
The only way to prevent this is to enable password on open firmware and/or File Vault
We don’t have customer’s passwords. Are you people on drugs.
For all those that say apple is giving out passwords… Apple is not giving out passwords what apple is doing is showing the user how to change the password on the laptop its self and in no way has access to ones password. There would be no reason for them to do so and it would also be a public relations nightmare if they actually did so and then got caught.
Am I missing something or is everyone (including the thieves) unaware that you can change the system password by popping in an OS X install disc and select “Change Password.”
okay, I appreciate the comments here, but, the simple fact reamins that if I lost a laptop, I am SOL. A 14th month investigation!?!?!!??!?!?!? WTF!!!??!?!
This reminds me of an old Lisa ad, seen here:
http://www.guidebookgallery.org/videos/lisatvad
i wonder if costner’s been a loyal apple user all this time.
Apple doesn’t have passwords
Cut the anti-anti-terrorist paranoia
said…
The loony left strikes again on an MDN thread–yes, I’m talking about YOU, Lost Budgie & hack a mac.
The government–the big, bad BUSH ADMINISTRATION–couldn’t care less what you losers have on your laptops.
(And you obviously don’t have the slightest grasp of the Patriot Act.)
Love,
Kate
Lost Budgie replies…
I guess you haven’t read many of my other posts.
Having personally obtained and then executed over 1000 search warrants on four continents during the past 25 years, and having personally walked into peoples homes, businesses and lives with the full power of law supporting my personal, individual on-the-spot decisions…
AND having (in my earlier days) sat for months listening to authorized interceptions of private communications…
… I’m always a little nervous about maintaining the balance between allowing law enforcement the tools they need to get the job done – and making sure that those tools are not abused through over-zealousness, corruption or a lack of civilian oversight.
Most of us have no idea how easily and frequently our confidential information is traded away for as little consideration as a beer and a sandwich. Now, whenever new communications infrastructure is put in place, deals are made and back doors are always factored into end product.
This back-door capability has been true of the phone system since the ’50s and is certainly true of many electronics and computer programs today.
Even your auto’s computers can be downloaded in ways most can’t even imagine (even you geeks don’t know the half of it.)
Yes, as I revised with my updated post, I now know that the password can be reset with an OS-X install disk. I am less than convinced that the File Vault system does not have a back door.
Please read my blog if you need reassurance that I am not some sort of “anti-anti-terrorist” paranoid. If nothing else, it will be good for a chuckle.
As always,
Cheers,
Lost Budgie
http://lostbudgie.blogspot.com/
this is considered news?
Just Breaking in the New York Times…
Kinda makes my point…
December 15, 2005
Bush Secretly Lifted Some Limits on Spying in U.S. After 9/11, Officials Say
By JAMES RISEN
and ERIC LICHTBLAU
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 - Months after the Sept. 11 attacks, President Bush secretly authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on Americans and others inside the United States to search for evidence of terrorist activity without the court-approved warrants ordinarily required for domestic spying, according to government officials.
Articlehere.
There is no password based on serial number. If there was the case, Apple would have to manually burn in each bios with a different code. Then your laptop or PC will take longer for manufacuring and cost more for that labor alone. Each hardisk is mirrored and each motherboard is massed produced and put in the casing in the assembly line. Thats it.
Why didn’t he just start it in target mode and hook it up to another Mac if he wanted the data?
gheem says: “… the simple fact reamins that if I lost a laptop, I am SOL. A 14th month investigation!?!?!!??!?!?!? WTF!!!??!?!”
Right you are. This whole story brought me back to my days of living in and around the Aspen area. Basically, you have a resort town populated by two main types – rich people, and people who want to be, or simply be around, rich people. The rich people expect heaven and earth to be moved if their coffee gets too cold (i.e. Kevin Costner in this case). The law abiding wanna-bees will move heaven and earth to warm it, just to curry their favor (that would be the cops, whose police cruisers are Saabs). Meanwhile, the shady characters will steal said coffee at the first opportunity, just to secretly feel superior to those they so desperately want to be. Often the wanna-bees and the shady characters are one and the same (as our French Hairdresser friend above).
It’s a sick, twisted little place (think social inbreeding in the Appalacian Mountains, just on a much grander geographic and socio-economic scale), but – God help me – the women are hot and I did love the sking.
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You tell ’em Kate.
Odyssey67- woah sounds good about the women and skiing, too bad about the rest….
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So, to summarise what probably *really* occurred:
Thief doesn’t know that you can simply use a system CD to reset administrator password on non-FileVaulted Mac. And so doesn’t buy or steal Tiger (zero to $129) but instead family member actually calls Apple for help with resetting password. Clueless *and* stupid.
Investigator goes to thief’s place of legit business, asks for stuff that might be on stolen merchandise. Thief trots it out and allows investigator to handle item and pull up a menu or two.
Thief is foiled not by law but by stupidity.
After a nearly two year “investigation” a stolen iBook was last reported seen in some seedy part of Witchita KS. The wife of the victim got this report this report from the WPD last March after calling in with a case no. and waiting on hold for about 20 minutes.
Local poice said that earlier that month they had apprehended a juvenile drug offender who was still carrying one of the victims credit cards around. The alleged juvenile drug offender was asked if he had seen any other of the items that had been stolen out of the victims hotel room, (which included a digital camera, cellular telephone, and wallet), during a business trip in February of 2004.
The jd gave the officers a description of a white laptop computer with an Apple logo that exactly matched the description given the attending officers immediately following the perpetration of the alleged crime. When officers asked the jd if he could recall the serial number, he replied, “…no I can’t.”
To date no laptop computer bearing an Apple logo has been returned to the victim, and no further word from the WPD has been received.
I hope the folks in Witchita KS are enjoying their new iBook – Who knows, maybe some of them will switch from Windoze to Mac.