Re: Pentester convicted..

["Art Cooper" <acooper () pop innerwall com>]

Because I BELIEVE there is a "LOT" more here than meets the eye..  I wonder 
if he took the evidence to the Univ. and they ignore him.. If so, then 
perhaps he had an axe to grind.. My point is this - what ACTUAL DAMAGE was 
caused?  Most lawyers will tell you that you MUST prove there was malice and 
ACTUAL DAMAGE.

I agree he acted stupid, but I'm just afraid it may start a precedent.  I 
also agree he should have had permission, but I just can't help but have 
a "gut-feeling" there's more here than meets the eye..  I have only been in 
IT for 28 years, but I'm still learning..

Coop

On Thu, 11 May 2006 17:41:21 -0400, lee.e.rian wrote
> "Art Cooper" <acooper () pop innerwall com> wrote on 05/11/2006 
> 11:25:57 AM:
>
> > I agree Bill.  The fact they use information HE provided to then convict
> him
> > is completely ridiculous..
>
> If he actually did provide the information to USC that would be one thing.
> But he breaks in, steals personal records, doesn't notify USC about the
> security problem, and sends the personal records to a reporter!??
>
> from
> http://www.wired.com/news/columns/circuitcourt/0,70857-0.html?tw=wn_index_6
>
>   "McCarty is a professional computer security consultant who 
> noticed that   there was a problem with the way the University of 
> Southern California   had constructed its web page for online 
> applications. A database   programming error allowed outsiders to 
> obtain applicants' personal   information, including Social Security 
> numbers.
>
>    For proof, the man copied seven applicants' personal records and
>    anonymously sent them to a reporter for SecurityFocus. The journalist
>    notified the school, the school fixed the problem, and the 
> reporter   wrote an article about it."
>
> Why would anyone try to defend this behavior much less get upset 
> when he's prosecuted?
>
> Lee
>
> > On Wed, 10 May 2006 09:20:22 -0500, William Hancock wrote
> > > Hey there pen-testers, take this with a grain of salt, it just got me
> > > excited.  I am really interested in everyones opinion on the matter
> > > or corporate responsibility and ownership.
> > >
> > > <RANT>
> > > In an article posted to slashdot today
> > >
> > > (http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/10/112259&from=rss) a
> > > man has been convicted of hacking when he casually and helpfully
> > > reported a security vulnerability to the owners of a web site, in
> > > this case The University of Southern California.  It reads like it
> > > was some sort of simple SQL injection and upon gleaning the
> > > information he reported it.
>         <.. snip ..>


Best Regards,
Coop

Arthur B. Cooper Jr. "Coop"
Senior Network Engineer
Innerwall, Inc.
http://www.innerwall.com
US Mobile: 719-640-7223
acooper () innerwall com

"Most men lead lives of quiet desperation
 and go to the grave with the song still in them."
* Henry David Thoreau *


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