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From: POPOVICH@ucf1vm.cc.ucf.edu (Peter Edward Popovich)
Newsgroups: alt.security,alt.folklore.computers,comp.society.futures
Subject: Re: Feedback on Computer Crime - Apology
Message-ID: <90224.202102POPOVICH@ucf1vm.cc.ucf.edu>
Date: 13 Aug 90 00:21:02 GMT
References: <14462@wpi.wpi.edu> <9008091507.AA06792@stc06.CTD.ORNL.GOV>
 <14479@wpi.wpi.edu>
Organization: University of Central Florida--Computer Services
Lines: 44

In article <14479@wpi.wpi.edu>, dmorin@wpi.wpi.edu (Duane D Morin) says:
>What about:
>
>   * People who write and distribute viruses?

  People who write viruses do so (from what I've read and think) for two
reasons: The Challenge, and The Power. The Challenge is the idea that
goes 'I wonder if I can write a virus.' The Power goes 'I wonder if I can
write a virus that will cause people grief'.

  People who write for The Challenge are okay in my opinion. I respect them and
bear them no malice. (I've even considered trying it myself, but I can't
sacrifice a computer and disks to make sure I don't contaminate other systems
right now.)

  People who write for The Power are scum. I can't see any justification for
their actions.

>   * People who crack and distribute commerical software?

  Whew. Tough call. I can't vehemently berate them, because I don't feel that
strongly. I can't support them either because I know what they do is wrong.
They're wrong, but I'd only call them scum if they did it for profit.

>   * People who break into high secuirty systems for the purpose of theft
>     and/or destruction of property?

  Scum. People who break into systems to see if they can are wrong, but not
scum. People who do it with intend to do real damage are scum.


  I guess I'm not very absolute about my ideals, but then again I don't think
there are any moral absolutes. The real deciding factor is motive. If you do
something for learning purposes, I can tolerate it, even if I don't agree
with it. If you do it for profit or for malice, you're scum.

>THESE are the computer crimes that I assumed the original post to be talking
>about.  Could we possibly get back to a subject that has some use (and maybe
>give my poor mail account a rest?)  Thank you.

  I wonder how many flames you actually got...

>Duane Morin
>DDM