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From: CLAYTON@XRT.UPENN.EDU ("Clayton, Paul D.")
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Subject: Impact Of Court Case Against DEC And Our Usage Of DEC Systems...
Message-ID: <8709281700.AA06246@linc.cis.upenn.edu>
Date: Mon, 28-Sep-87 12:52:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: linc.8709281700.AA06246
Posted: Mon Sep 28 12:52:00 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 30-Sep-87 06:38:40 EDT
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Information From TSO Financial - The Saga Continues...
Chapter 26 - September 23, 1987

This letter is appropiate in the USA in light of the judicial process currently
occuring in Washington D.C., USA.

We have just had our Security Analyst return from a DEC training class held in
Boston, Mass. that covered the topic of System Management and Security under
VMS. When asked about the class and its bearing on how we do things, she
has responded with sincerity that it was well worth the time and money.

When we got down to brass tacks, the following information has come to light.

There will be, or currently is, a letter being sent by DEC to all VMS licensed 
sites that contains that following general information.

'Due to a recent court case, which involved a person breaking into a DEC system
that the person was not originally granted access to, we URGE/REQUEST that the
wording in the message that is displayed immediately after logging in NOT 
contain the word 'WELCOME'. Please edit any such messages that you have on your
systems.'

Apparently the court case revolved around the fact that the message said 
'Welcome ...' and that this wording can be viewed as allowing ANYONE to have 
free access to a computer system. Regardless of who the person is and what
relationship the person has to the computer being violated.

What has happened to the sensibility of the judicial process and its support (?)
of the rights of the victims?? What is the impact of this ruling and its 
application towards the door mats that everyone has that say 'Welcome'??

THIS LETTER IS NOT TO STIR THE FLAMES OF THE OLD 'HACKER' DEBATE. IT IS ONLY
INTENDED TO PROVIDE A BASIS FOR PERSONAL THOUGHT ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THE
COURT SYSTEM IN LIGHT OF THE HISTORY CURRENTLY BEING MADE CONCERNING THE 
U.S. SUPREME COURT.

Paul D. Clayton - Manager Of Systems
TSO Financial - Horsham, Pa. USA
Address - CLAYTON%XRT@CIS.UPENN.EDU