Using electronic/computer posts as evidence?

I'm not sure what the Cops can/do use.

Just remember, don't post anything on the internet that you don't want the entire world seeing.

I don't think that the cops are patrolling RIU to find weed growers. There are people here on RIU from all over the world. I wouldn't tell anyone to much on here because you really have no idea who that person really is. I wouldn't meet anyone in person that you meet on here or give any info out that could help someone identify you. I do this to remain somewhat anonymous. Noone that I know in person knows that I am posting here on RIU. This is just a way for me to show off my shit w/o having to worry about someone I know having loose lips. Plus, if I was to get busted I would get a misdemeanor conviction at worst, and I could care less about that. I've been in enough trouble that my background checks for jobs won't make a difference with one more misdemeanor conviction on it. But thats just me. If you are doing big things and doing it illegally then I wouldn't recommend posting pics of it here or anywhere else on the net. This is just my opinion.

I can't imagine the police taking the time to read through your computer thread, unless, its a major operation and additional evidence is needed to secure a conviction.
That said I don't post pictures. If one posts regularly it could be used to establish a timeline for your grow (generally). Pictures include to much embedded information on them.

They especially like to go after people that start threads asking if posts can be used against them.

The cops definately could look at your posts on RIU anything in the public domain is fair game.They couldn't use it as evidence because you could be lying about everything you post.Just because I say I have a 12" dick on the internet doesn't really mean I have one(or do I).

I see that a few times folks post then as a sign-off signature say something like all this information here is all fictitious. What is up with that?

They can use any information they get against you. Yes including forum posts and pictures. I bet most people do like me and. Pick the remember me button. So when they seize your pc and launch browsers it will auto sign you in and they will have every statement you made. Always clear your cache, manual log in, hell use private browsing. First thing to do though is don't tell anyone our business. You won't have a reason to be under investigation unless you give them one , and the biggest reason is a big mouth. Lol.

If they can link your name on RIU to your real name it's all fair game.

However linking your alias to you will probably happen after you've been busted and they have examined your computer.

If you are careful to maintain plausible deniability, and are willing to read all the documentation more then once then TrueCrypt should thwart local LEO. Going scorched earth with something like the amnesic incognito live system that leaves little if any trace on the host is an option. Nothing will help you if catch you while your data is unencrypted (ie being accessed by you) or you are running the CD. The FBI and DEA don't fuck around so just don't piss them off.

https://tails.boum.org/
http://www.truecrypt.org/

Truecrypt/TAILS can be defeated but it involves breaking into your house, tampering with your computer, and then waiting to bust you until you've booted into your hidden OS at least once after (ala evil maid attack.) The DEA broke into a house and planted a keylogger as well as "tapped" a DSL line to bust a supposed MDMA lab.

https://www.schneier.com/blog/archiv...aid_attac.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9741357-7.html

Not much more is known about the DEA's keylogger in the Forrester-Alba case. An affidavit prepared by DEA agent Coffey in July 2001 asks for permission to enter the Escondido office "by breaking and entering, if necessary, for the purpose of installing, maintaining, and removing software tools" that "will enable agents to capture and record all keyboard keystrokes."
...
The wiretap was done at PacBell's connection facility at 650 Robinson Rd. in San Diego. The DEA obtained what's known as a "mirror port," a feature that many network switches made by companies including Cisco Systems include for troubleshooting purposes.

A mirror port duplicates all the Internet traffic of one user to a second port on the same switch, without the suspect being alerted that electronic surveillance is under way. The scheme is probably easier to accomplish with a static Internet Protocol (IP) address, which is what the Escondido case involved.

According to the DEA, only IP addresses of Web sites (such as 216.239.122.200 instead of cnet.com) and e-mail headers are captured, and not the rest of the communication stream. That, they argue, makes it akin to existing precedent dealing with pen registers, which capture telephone numbers dialed and are permitted without any proof of probable cause of wrongdoing.