The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

Prisoners cannibalise mice for mobile power

USB cables hacked to charge phones

Agentless Backup is Not a Myth

Convicts at a hi-tech Scottish prison are swiping computer mice from IT classes.

It turns out the mice's USB cable can be used to charge up lags' covert mobile phones. Rip the cord out of the mouse, plug it into a PlayStation and, with a bit of re-wiring, you have a power source for your handset.

PlayStations? It seems the jailbirds spending time at Her Majesty's pleasure in Addiewell, West Lothian have games consoles and HD TVs to play with, and, according to Scottish newspaper the Daily Record, are able to order their meals by computer.

While searching for the missing mice, warders at the prison found a large number of unconnected cables dangling from the PS3s, the paper reports.

The game was up, and now no one is allowed to leave computer, maths or English classes until every mouse has been accounted for.

Inmates are not allowed mobile phones. So naughty relatives will now have to smuggle in the cables too - presumably the same way the phones arrived. ®

Customer Success Testimonial: Recovery is Everything

PS3 !!

they are prisoners !!! if ever they were given a game console surely it should be something cheaper for prisoners, a sub standard system, something they deserve !!

an xbox360 !!!!

:D

let the flaaaaame begin !!

5
1

XBox360...?

In prisons, "red ring of death" has unpleasant overtones.

3
0

What, no technical solution?

If prisoners are forbidden mobile phones, why not just have mobile phone blockers covering all areas of the prison?

3
0

More from The Register

Samsung Galaxy Note 8: Proof the pen is mightier?
Sammy’s iPad Mini killer has a stylus to stab other rivals too
First look: iOS 7 for iPad
No, Apple hasn't released it yet, but that doesn't stop intrepid devs
 breaking news
Curtain drops on Apple Store ahead of WWDC: What lies behind?
Steve Jobs watching from on high. No pressure, lads
 breaking news
Cold, dead hands of Steve Jobs slip from iPhones: The Cult of Ive is upon us
Billionaire biz baron's death clears way for uber-shiny iOS 7
Airbus imagines suitcases that find themselves
Point your mobe at your smalls to track their every move
Microsoft lures buy-curious vixens, corduroys with a cheap fondle
Surface slab sales latest: Will no one rid Ballmer of these turbulent tabs?
Surprise! Intel smartphone trounces ARM in power trials
Tests show equal performance while sipping significantly less juice
Samsung plans LTE Advanced version of Galaxy S4
1Gbps download capability could stiffen drooping S4 sales forecasts
Apple said to be 'exploring' 5.7-inch iPhone
Who's the copycat this time, Mr. Cook?
Google Chromebooks now in over 6,600 stores
Major, worldwide retail push begins this summer