When should the government engage in “remote searches” of computers—i.e., government “hacking” to seize, infiltrate and/or search digital devices—and when should it use less invasive investigative methods? Changes to Rule 41 of Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure went into effect on Dec. 1, making it easier than ever for law enforcement to obtain warrants to hack into digital devices but without answering fundamental questions about how to protect individual privacy and security in the face of these sophisticated search techniques. At a time when courts are already struggling to place appropriate limits on law enforcement’s hacking authority, this amendment was a mistake. The changes will have serious consequences for privacy across the board, not just for “bad guys.” They also open the door to “forum shopping” and have effectively allowed an unelected advisory committee—rather than Congress—to expand the government’s hacking capabilities.