Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil

[Deb]

Ouch!

It's totally out of control when someone who is trying to help gets slammed :(

http://www.linuxfreak.org/post.php/08/17/2001/134.html

Deb
- Close your eyes and walk the other way.

[PaulKroll]

I'm not sure what to say about this, other than it seriously bites. If someone calls and says they've spotted a security problem on your site, that alone is ample evidence that they're a white hat: even otherwise pleasant kids will show you "The Hard Way" by changing your home page. Outright evil doers wouldn't tell you: they'd use it as an in to your system (maybe your e-commerce system...).

I mean, if he didn't threaten/ask for money, and didn't deface the site, then he didn't do anything wrong no matter what the (written by non-techs) law says.

Disheartening. And the Amazon link in the article doesn't work.

[janderk]

So the guy is sued for tellings someone about a very serious security leak on their server and instead of a thank you gets the FBI searching his place.

If this is true (this sound so unbelievable that I almost think it must be a hoax) then it is really really really sad.

I guess would counter sue them for slaunder etc. and tell the story to all news agencies around the world.

JD

[PaulKroll]

Sued nothing: we're talking criminal charges. Jail time and fines. Inability to vote when you get out. Hard to explain to an employer.

I only wish it sounded unbelievable. This isn't remotely the first such atrocity. http://www.sjgames.com/SS/

[dank]

I suppose it's entirely possible such a thing could happen, but I concur that it is either a hoax or a very incomplete and partial telling of the story. It doesn't sound like there is enough there to raise such a fuss...

Dan

[electro-nik]

I agree with Dan.

It doesn't look like they have a strong case against Mr. West. The issue of entrapment by the FBI can't help the prosecution, and the fact that they haven't charged him with anything yet doesn't bode well for the gov't goons.

[Deb]

Well just in case.... All technical support responses provided by FutureQuest will simply be: I'm not sure what you are talking about. Everything is working fine as far as we can see.

This should protect us :)

Deb
- NOT

[janderk]

Originally posted by Deb:
I'm not sure what you are talking about. Everything is working fine as far as we can see. Just wanted to let you guys know that I found a way to get root access to the FQ servers.

On the other hand, just forget about it. ;) ;) ;)

Jan Derk

[Terra]

Hmmm,

I haven't had a vacation yet and I've heard that Amsterdam is nice this time of year... 8}

--
Terra
--Why let the Feds have all the fun--
FutureQuest

[janderk]

Originally posted by Terra:
Hmmm,

I haven't had a vacation yet and I've heard that Amsterdam is nice this time of year... 8} Oh my, they are comming to get me. :wowwee:

Looks like I have to hide in Timbuktu... (I actually was in Timbuktu yesterday. Its the name of a beach bar.)

But seriously if you want to visit Amsterdam call me and I'll show you around. I would be honored. It's the least I can return for you guys keeping my site running as smoothly as it does.

You are are correct that it is quite nice here now. Although if you are unlucky you could be in for a lot of rain. For me it's the perfect place to live for 6 months each year. Now I only have to find an alternative for the winter.

Jan Derk
-- Anybody knows a tax haven with a fast internet connection ? :P --

[Her.ph]

Originally posted by janderk:

-- Anybody knows a tax haven with a fast internet connection ? :P --
I really like Venezuela. Excellent climate, pretty women. Beaches are OK too. Also, hurricanes never hit the country (that I can remember).

[Tatu]

Are the Cayman Islands tax free? Or was that a Swedish-bank-account-type haven?

[Marbledog]

I hate to bring anyone back from Venezuela but just briefly - I reviewed some of the legal documents in that case (they're posted on a site referenced in the article Deb linked) and they look completely legitimate to me, and I also suspected a hoax because I'm a skeptic and a lawyer and there are always 2 sides to a story and two often radically different perceptions of reality. But not here, I don't think.

Although the FBI agent's initial affidavit in support of request for searchwarrant makes it (well, tries to make it) sound like some big conspiracy to steal some unique perl script used by the newspaper, that conclusion is ridiculous based on the actions of the good samaritan defendant fellow. It's pretty clear to me (yes, after reading only a few of the court documents) that it's just another case of computer/internet ignorance combined with conspiracy-theory mentality and an FBI office with not a whole lot to do.

Oops. I'll probably be getting a call from the feds now. Ohh well. Just my opinion.

[zmax]

It didnt sound like a hoax to me. I've now read about too many of these things to know its possible and real. In many ways the FBI is making a lot of mistakes now and this has been in the news. It also came out later in the media how they made a lot of mistakes when they tried to prosecute that Asian guy they suspected of stealing nuclear secrets and in the end after they ruined his life, didn't find any evidence to support thier charges.

And also there are some very egotistical people who don't want to admit they or someone made a mistake so they end up spending tons of money prosecuting cases that are false or dont make any sense. And in many cases this is our money, the money of the people we paid in taxes supporting this. Your tax dollars at work. :\

David

[cybercrone]

What happend to the original message(s) in this thread? Seems to start in the middle. Yeah, I started at the top of page one. ????

[Marbledog]

The FBI confiscated it. I think they confiscated Deb too. And they've got Echo in for questioning. He's refusing to talk unless his attorney's present.

[Marbledog]

But seriously, folks - here's the story:
http://www.linuxfreak.org/post.php/08/17/2001/134.html

[cybercrone]

:y :y :y

[Deb]

Echo in for questioning. He's refusing to talk unless his attorney's present Echo in a place like that? Heck he'd only be refusing too talk because he was too busy trying to figure out how to eat all the nuts in there!

Deb
- I know I know..It was a cheap attempt at being funny :P

[DB]

A follow-up story was published in The Register today, see:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/21288.html

The speculation is that if this case goes to court, West's attorneys will subpoena MS employees who developed the software and try to make a case that "Microsoft could be indicted under the same statute." On the other side, an FBI affidavit claims "the computer West is suspected of using was logged making approximately 40 attempts to access the Daily News Web server in an hour's time" and that the passfile was downloaded (with a subsequent access of a user's account).

My guess is that everyone is guilty of something and in the end we may never know the details.

[cybercrone]

That rattlesnake on your 'entry' page is the most bodacious piece of cyber art I have yet to see. FUN!

[DB]

Thanks cybercrone... I keep expecting to get a letter from the attorney of the survivors of a deceased web surfer with a heart condition who didn't quite make it past the splash page.

[Bob]

Returning to the beginning of this thread for a moment, it appears that Mr. West was not quite as innocent as portrayed :QThuh:

http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,47146,00.html

Just an update,
Bob

[Marbledog]

Not surprised. There are two sides of every story - that's about the only thing I really learned practicing law for too many years.

[dank]

There are two sides of every story
Furthermore, I think it's important to remember that, more often than not, anything you read on the internet that produces feelings of outrage is bogus. Sadly, it just isn't a medium that lends itself well to credibility. Great for sharing information, but that in no way means factual information.

Dan