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Underground > Laboratory >

Anti-Hacking == Anti-Terrorism?

21:26 / 24.09.01

Ashcroft's newly proposed bill to congress seems to come down pretty hard on hackers, removing the statute of limitations on many computer crimes. It also does this retroactively and may force convicted "hackers" to give the government DNA samples. Harboring or giving advice to "hackers" will be the same as harboring or giving advice to terrorists. This is on top of extended surveillance measures.

Slashdot story here

Is it my imagination or is the government using the terrorist attacks to curtail the rights of US citizens, and also to remove some of the privacy freedoms we should have?

Or is it also becoming a witchhunt, P. Robertson and J. Falwell have pointed the blame at gays, Dr. Laura evidently is pointing the blame at women in the military (she obviously forgets she's a woman) and the list goes on and on. Makes me wonder whether any of us are really safe, or are we all enemies of the state just by sheer virtue of being.

-Trish

The Damned Yankee

10:00 / 25.09.01

The reactionary Right is eating the whole situation up with a fork and knife. This is their time to shine. They have the media beating the war drum, so anything that they feel they can do to get over on the rest of us, they will get away with for now.

As for John Ashcroft, let's not forget that this guy lost an election to a dead man. If Bush hadn't picked him up for his cabinet, Ashcroft would be selling cars or something right now. And why did he lose? Because he's a fucking loon! Individual rights mean little to him, and definitely take a back seat to his zeal for "morality". Given an opportunity to oppress what he sees as "abnormal" elements of American society, he will take it and pursue it as far as he's allowed.

I hate it here anymore.

BTW, I happen to own a copy of the Knightmare's "Secrets of a Super Hacker" I wonder if loaning it out would constitute "offering advice or assistance"?

[ 25-09-2001: Message edited by: The Damned Yankee ]

The Sinister Haiku Bureau

11:12 / 25.09.01

quote:Originally posted by AilleCat:
...Dr. Laura evidently is pointing the blame at women in the military (she obviously forgets she's a woman)...

Slightly off topic, but for the benefit of those of us on entirely the wrong side of the atlantic, who's Dr. Laura, and what've women soldiers got to do with this?

11:33 / 25.09.01

Dr. Laura is a radio/tv personality who is an advocate of a religiously influenced, no shades of grey, 'tough love' approach. Socially somewhat like Limbaugh in a skirt. I'd imagine the women in the military bit comes from the belief that standards for military service are reduced to accomadate women, therefore we have a weak military, therefore no one fears us.

11:54 / 25.09.01

Yes, even lending it out, even publishing it could be "aiding and abetting", I think the law is broad enough to allow something like that (unless of course prior laws help with something like that, like free speech laws that prevent the gov't from banning printing of "The Anarchist Cookbook")

My big concern is that sites and operators like "Security Focus" and some features on "Antioffline" could come under the witchhunt for disseminating imformation. I already know of a very good friend who got busted for "hacking" after he wrote a paper on how to defeat Carnivore, and people wonder why I no longer do computer security work.

-Trish

The Return Of Rothkoid

14:05 / 25.09.01

You might want to start at the daunting list of Dr Laura Links and, more weirdly, some nude pictures that were doing the rounds a while ago.

Thank fuck the Limbaugh comparison ends at the nude pictures.

15:25 / 25.09.01

I've seen the pictures touted as a cure for lesbianism

18:34 / 25.09.01

Im so ashamed, I actually clicked on the link to those pics -

- the existence of such a glorious illustration of her duplicity is almost too much glee for one little kittie to bear

*merry jig*

and I agree, people will use just about any event to gain some leverage for their purpose whether there is a valid connection or not, the bastards

Frances Farmer

18:36 / 25.09.01

Weather or not you get slammed for computer security work is generally a very political thing. Freelancing can get you into trouble (not only with Uncle Sam, but also with lawsuits if you're not very careful with your contracts). Working with an established firm (and there aren't that many, comparatively speaking) can give you some 'cover' (protect you from certain sorts of fall-out for knowing what you know), but it's still risky.

I think we can safely say, however, that no matter how frightening these moves are, one thing remains : If they attempt to illegalize the knowledge, they'll get fucked. People have a way of knowing things. The more forbidden the fruit, the sweeter the nectar, and so on.

As far as the Carnivore dealy goes .. Whoomp, there it is. You screw with the FBI's technophile squad, and they'll screw you. It's not right, but it can be assumed. We'll see a real resurgance of underground communications networks if this gets worse.

[ 25-09-2001: Message edited by: Frances ]

The Damned Yankee

23:06 / 25.09.01

quote:Originally posted by Rothkoid:
You might want to start at the daunting list of Dr Laura Links and, more weirdly, some nude pictures that were doing the rounds a while ago.

I'd like to, I really would, but then I'd have to take a Brillo pad to my eyes to scour the sight from them and bring blessed relief. And I'm driving tomorrow.

Another thing about dear, dear, Dr. Laura: When those nude pictures were first unleashed onto an unsuspecting internet, she unsurprisingly filed a lawsuit to get them pulled. But the odd part came when she presented a twofold argument, saying that the woman in the pictures was categorically not her, but she still claimed ownership of the pictures.

That woman is not a couple sandwiches short of a picnic, if you ask me. And get this: Her doctorate is in Physiology. What in the name of fuck is she doing handing out psychiatric advice?

Info source: The Howard Stern Show. He hates Dr. Laura too.

Molly Shortcake

19:08 / 26.09.01

quote:Is it my imagination or is the government using the terrorist attacks to curtail the rights of US citizens, and also to remove some of the privacy freedoms we should have?

Lets just get it over with - make it illegial to think and watch all crime disapear!

02:38 / 27.09.01

Lets just get it over with - make it illegial to think and watch all crime disapear!

No more crime by preventing thought? Hmm.

We'll begin by eliminating all potiental "thought makers," excluding ourselves because we need to get the job done. When our work is done, we'll down some Jim Jones Kool-Aid and gurgle with delight at what we've accomplished.

Molly Shortcake

02:45 / 27.09.01

I can't tell if you could tell that was meant to be sarcastic. That seems to be the logic behind it anyhow. Whatever you do don't color outside the lines. Paint by number mentality.

One of the posters at slashdot noted that you could be sentenced for 10 - 20 years for murder but put away for life for electronic graffiti.

Ashcroft is a damn FOOL. He must not have the slightest idea what'll happen to U.S computer systems if that law is implimented. The only reason things run is becase they *let* them. Unlike the corporate government, hackers aren't control freaks.

[ 27-09-2001: Message edited by: Ice Honkey U.B.C.S ]

02:49 / 27.09.01

Oh, well then... *cough* ...Well, I was being sarcastic too, in that case. Heh.

Molly Shortcake

03:09 / 27.09.01

Check out the bottom of this thread. It's on the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, which more or less makes it illegial to impliment knowledge on how certain things work in any form or fashion. Imagine buying a soda, using the empty bottle as a lamp base and then being arrested for it. Utter shit.