Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!emory!athena.cs.uga.edu!mcovingt
From: mcovingt@athena.cs.uga.edu (Michael A. Covington)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: Student suspended for distributing /etc/passwd
Message-ID: <1991Jun11.221521.14402@athena.cs.uga.edu>
Date: 11 Jun 91 22:15:21 GMT
References: <31124@hydra.gatech.EDU>
Organization: University of Georgia, Athens
Lines: 43

In article <31124@hydra.gatech.EDU> ccastmg@prism.gatech.EDU (Michael G. Goldsman) writes:
>
>I didn't know that doing things with an /etc/passwd
>would be considered unauthoprized use.
>
>the file is readable by the world after all.
>The uga student was not the one who broke in.
>
>I have some serious problems with UGA supending him.
>I am a little too "exam-week-weary" to articulate my feelings well,
>but I thought that you guys should know about this.
>

I can tell you that this student knew full well that the /etc/passwd
would be used to attempt a break-in. He belonged to an "elite group
of hackers" whose hobby was breaking into computers and attempting to
wreak havoc.

It's like giving the plans of a building to a burglar. The plans may not
be secret, but if you directly supply something essential for the burglary,
knowing that's what it's going to be used for, you're a participant in
the burglary yourself. 

>What if a student runs cops on /etc/passwd... would this
>be considered intent to break into a system and could he thus
>be suspended?
>

Yes. Obtaining other users' passwords without proper authorization
is forbidden. Even if you do it by using a standard software tool
rather than by breaking into their desks.

>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Mike Goldsman                    
>36004 Georgia Tech Station                  
>Atlanta Georgia, 30332,  404-872-5146


-- 
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Michael A. Covington | Artificial Intelligence Programs
The University of Georgia  |  Athens, GA 30602   U.S.A.
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