[KLUG Members] Legal Liabilty?

[Jamie McCarthy]

rkvincent@hotmail.com (Richard Vincent) writes:

> I felt sorry for the owner of the PC so I left a text file in
> the c:\windows\desktop\ folder named [SECURE YOUR SYSTEM.txt]
> with information on how to secure their broadband connection
> and remove some of the worms I noticed on their system.

I would never have done this.  The internet is not a friendly
neighborhood where you can step inside someone's front door
to tack up a helpful note.  In 1985, sure, maybe even in 1990
but not now.  The law does not allow that.  You're guilty of
computer trespass, a criminal offense.

The most you can do is secure your own system and leave others to
fend for themselves.


awilliam@whitemice.org (Adam Tauno Williams) writes:

> Issueing a few commands and it was obvious that this device
> had several interfaces and belonged to a large medical
> institution located in the area. [...] I'm certain what I did
> was illegal,  but the thought of someone bieng able to exploit
> or crunch the network in question (IMHO) justified the action.

I probably would have ignored it (but that's just me).  If I'd
wanted to do something, I would have called their front desk, asked
for their networking department, and tried to explain the problem to
whoever answered the phone.  Or if I could find their tech staffers'
emails in a few minutes of searching, sent off email to all of them.

I would never do anything with anyone else's system beyond
initiating a connection, seeing whether I can get a reply, and then
(if so) terminating the connection.

When I was a teenager, it was the 80s, nobody really pursued
prosecuting that kind of thing, and I probably would have gotten
probation anyway!  But now ... I can easily see a "large medical
institution," like lots of other places, filing charges against me
to try to make a statement, and that's just not a hassle I need.
--
 Jamie McCarthy
 jamie@mccarthy.vg