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From: worley@dana.UUCP (John Worley)
Newsgroups: misc.headlines,comp.misc
Subject: Re: Re: Hacker Scholarship
Message-ID: <183@dana.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 20-Jun-87 18:16:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: dana.183
Posted: Sat Jun 20 18:16:25 1987
Date-Received: Mon, 22-Jun-87 06:22:06 EDT
References: <532@houxa.UUCP>
Organization: Dana Computer, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA
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Xref: mnetor misc.headlines:700 comp.misc:708


Mel Haas (odessy!mel) writes:

> The holes were well know then
> and still allowed to exist.  They exist now and are still allowed
> to exist.  Why?  Who makes these decisions?  Why?

    Can you say $$$,$$$,$$$?  I thought you could.

> The DES algorithm is now quite old, but still not used in computer
> hardware.  Why?  Call back and random password techniques are readily
> available, but aren't used.  Why?  Data communication protocols are
> well into the standards making procedure, but don't include
> encryption capabilities.  Why?  Our computer systems can be designed
> to be reliable and fault tolerant, but still require "superuser"
> gurus to administer them.  Why?
> 
> I think the damage is being done by the people who bury their heads
> in the sand and foist these security horrors onto the public, not
> the college kid hackers.

FLAME ON!

    ARGH!!  This is equivalent to suggesting personal armor is the solution
to violent crime!!  Are victims of muggings, rape, murder, etc., at fault
because they "bury their heads in the sand" and expect reasonable behavior
from their fellow humans?!

FLAME OFF (heat still on)

    When I was at UCLA, there was an freshman who managed to get access to
our 4.1 UNIX system, and proceeded to go traipsing all over the ARPA net
using well-known security holes.  This twit was far from "the best and the
brightest" - he was a fool was got off on stealing other peoples accounts.
To the best of my knowledge, he ended up doing community service, and I say
AMEN! HE PAID FOR HIS CRIME!

    "Kid hackers" are not doing anything constructive, adventurous, or even
cute, any more than the kid trying to break into your car to take it for a
joy ride  (In fact, the California penal code makes no distinction between
the taking of another's car temporarily or permanently).  A computer system,
whether private, corporate or academic, is as much private property as your
house, car or stereo.  If you leave your front door unlocked, is it OK for
anyone off the street to just walk right in?  If you leave your bicycle for
a few minutes, is it OK for anyone to just walk up and borrow it? Breaking
system security is a malicious activity and a direct, deliberate violation
of private property!

    As Andy Sherman (andys@shlepper.ATT.COM) said: Screw Wozniak and send the
bastards to jail!

					John Worley
					hplabs!dana!worley

Disclaimer:	The opinions expressed herein are mine soley and do not
		reflect those of Dana Computer, its other employees, or
		its customers.