US Wants UK Hacker To Pay To Fix Holes He Exposed 403
bossanovalithium writes "Gary McKinnon, whose tribulations we have followed for several years now, is the UK hacker trying to escape extradition to the US. It appears he is expected to foot the bill for the US Government patching holes his breaching uncovered — to the tune of $700,000. It's not really the norm for someone to pay for exploits to be patched — damages fixed, yes, but this is a very different thing." The article paraphrases Eugene Spafford as saying that the victim of a cybercrime should not take the blame. "If someone broke a door to rob a store, he said, it was usual to charge them the cost of the door." Isn't the McKinnon case more like charging him to buy the lock that had been missing when he walked in?
Re:If he's a hacker... (Score:3, Funny)
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda
Fixed! At least the holes aren't there anymore.
Re:Well, I've learned MY lesson! (Score:5, Funny)
Gary did scan another country (other than his own).
I'll take car analogies for $200 Alex. (Score:3, Funny)
I'm sorry, you must state your question in the form of an Automotive analogy...
Re:China and Iran will tell Washington about it? (Score:2, Funny)
South Korea (the one with Seoul)
Americans really dont know the difference between North and South Korea without explaining it further?
Re:China and Iran will tell Washington about it? (Score:2, Funny)
Sadly, the modern American brain contains a short circuit that associates any mention of "Korea" with images of "puppet sex" [imdb.com]. Adding "South" to "Korea" doesn't overcome this effect. It's all Kim Jong Il territory to US. Amuhrrikuh, fuck yeah.
the punishment is not heavy enough (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Potholes (Score:2, Funny)
I wouldn't report any kind of crime or safety hazard if this becomes a regular tactic.
Good. Perhaps this will teach people that just because you found some security holes, all is not forgiven for breaking into government computer systems without the authority to do so. The government already pays people to find security holes. They don't pay you. Perhaps this will teach some people that if you don't want to pay the fines for breaking the law, then don't break the law!
Also, you can say, "But this guy is obviously crazy. He's trying to find stuff about aliens." So, basically, as long as the guy's defense is aliens, it's okay. Well, I'm sure that China will love to hear that. Now they can attack government computer systems as much as they want, as long as they say that it is to find evidence of aliens. People don't lie about their motives, right?
Re:I'll take car analogies for $200 Alex. (Score:1, Funny)
Getting charged for GTA by pointing out that your neighbor leaves his keys in the car everynight, resulting in said car getting stolen by someone else.
Maybe they should consider whistleblowers accessories in a crime, but thats like holding H&K accountable for people being murdered with their guns.
Suit time! (Score:5, Funny)
You'll be hearing from our lawyers soon. The crashes involving our automobiles were entirely due to operator error. There is nothing wrong with our braking system!!
Danny Ubanti
President and CEO
Ubanti Motor Company Inc Ltd
Re:China and Iran will tell Washington about it? (Score:1, Funny)
The OP is by someone called "NoYob" ("yob" being British slang) and he also capitalized "government." Those are both Anglicisms, so the OP is likely British or at least from a Commonwealth country.
As an American who is educated enough to know this shit, I kindly invite you and your bigotry to fuck off.
Re:Well, I've learned MY lesson! (Score:2, Funny)
If I find a hole in my Government's IT security, I'll keep my mouth shut and let the government hear about it from the Chinese or the Iranians or the S. Koreans or ...anyone but me because they'll send me to jail and make me pay.
He wasn't reporting holes he was poking around NASA files trying to find proof about UFOs and Aliens. He's become a poster child to the UFO loonies. He claims to have seen proof on NASA computers but of coarse wasn't able to save any of it. I tried to point out to some of them that if he was a hacker didn't he know about the "PrtScn". key? Look at it this way if you sneak into a government facility into areas with information marked "Secret" haven't you broken some laws? This was a foreign national doing it. Since England won't extradite him they are basically going after him anyway they can. The excuse may be silly but there is a reason behind it.
Re:Well, I've learned MY lesson! (Score:3, Funny)
2 countries 1 cup.
Re:If he's a hacker... (Score:4, Funny)
If the Ubanti Motor Company* sells a car with defective brakes
*Fake name to keep fanboys from mismodding
That's dangerously close to Ubuntu, friend. Maybe you should leave.