Path: utzoo!telecom-request Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1991 17:33:18 GMT From: Kurt Guntheroth Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Speaking in Defense of ThriftyTel (was Fighting Hackers) Message-ID: Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 471, Message 7 of 11 Lines: 35 Alex Barnum, Mercury Staff Writer says: > "Other critics charge that Thrifty Tel is deliberately haiting hackers > with antiquated switching technology and short access codes that are > easier to hack than the more modern, secure technology and 14-digit > access codes of the major long-distance carriers." John Higdon says: > Mr. Barnum has all the quotes from Ms. Bigley that the {LA Times} > article had, which essentially contain the circular argument that it > costs money to upgrade to FGD and why should Thrifty have to spend > that money on account of "thugs and criminals" while whining about all > the losses suffered at the hands of the hackers. Thrifty's technique > looks more like a profit center than hacker "prevention". Let's suppose ThriftyTel is deliberately baiting hackers (though using older equipment because it is cheap sounds more reasonable to me). How can this be considered more reprehensible than stealing network services in the first place? I find it quite just that a company should hang hackers with their own rope. If ThriftyTel was posting the access codes on pirate BBS's, this might be going a bit too far on the entrappment side, but there is no evidence this is happening. And whoever asked whether ThriftyTel was inducing minors to enter into an unenforceable contract, or an ex-post-facto contract, this may be true. The hackers do have the option of refusing the contract and letting ThriftyTel make good on its threat to initiate criminal proceedings if it can. Probably most hackers, caught crouched over the body with the smoking gun in their hand, and with the knowledge of their guilt in mind, are reluctant to test their luck in court. Record me as a supporter of ThriftyTel.