-- more on -- Appropriate punishments for hackers

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2003 10:32:06 -0400
> From: Seth Finkelstein <sethf () sethf com>
> Subject: Re: [IP] Appropriate punishments for hackers
> To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
>
>
> Lauren Weinstein wrote:
> > In essence, we've created a computing and network environment with the
> > equivalent of big red flashing "DO NOT PUSH" buttons all over the place out
> > in public, and then we act surprised and upset when bright, under-guided,
> > bored kids push them.  That those buttons unleash such expensive
> > consequences speaks mainly to inanity of the environment we've created --
> > and the important applications we've inappropriately deployed in that
> > environment -- and much less about the kids who push the "buttons."
>
>         Can I point out that we often have exactly big red (though
> not flashing) buttons all over the place, as in fire alarms? And
> occasionally, bored kids do pull them for the fun of it. But
> despite that social vulnerability, it's also an offense.
>
>         I think the problem here comes down to mutual responsibility.
> In the sense that Microsoft makes products where security is set
> deliberately low in order to increase marketability, and inevitably,
> malicious people take advantage of this tradeoff. Microsoft creating
> attractive nuisances doesn't excuse those who take advantage of them.
> But while it would be nice if there were no hostile people in the
> world, that can't be relied upon as a workable security solution.
>
> --
> Seth Finkelstein  Consulting Programmer  sethf () sethf com  http://sethf.com
> Anticensorware Investigations - http://sethf.com/anticensorware/
> Seth Finkelstein's Infothought blog - http://sethf.com/infothought/blog/

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