Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!atha!aunro!alberta!ubc-cs!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!bcsaic!vince
From: vince@bcsaic.UUCP (Vince Skahan)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: Student suspended for distributing /etc/passwd
Message-ID: <49303@bcsaic.UUCP>
Date: 12 Jun 91 16:43:50 GMT
References: <31124@hydra.gatech.EDU>
Organization: Boeing Aerospace and Electronics - Seattle
Lines: 30

ccastmg@prism.gatech.EDU (Michael G. Goldsman) writes:
>I didn't know that doing things with an /etc/passwd
>would be considered unauthoprized use.

I totally agree with UGa. There is nothing I can come up with
that would justify such actions.

>the file is readable by the world after all.

The door on your car is open and the keys are visible.  This
doesn't mean that I can take those keys and open the trunk
and start looking around, photograph stuff in there, take what I
want, etc.

>The uga student was not the one who broke in.

He aided a break-in or attempted break-in.  

>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?

If I was running the system, it absolutely does just that
and I'd prosecute in addition to suspension if possible.

-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Vince Skahan    ARPA: vince@atc.boeing.com   UUCP: uw-beaver!bcsaic!vince
( As the five little pigs filled themselves up with beer, four of them ran to
the bathroom, leaving the fifth little pig to go wee-wee-wee all the way home. )