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Date:      Thu, 5 Apr 2001 02:16:21 +1000 (EST)
From:      Enno Davids <enno.davids@metva.com.au>
To:        freebsd-isp@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: Chasing the kiddies (was: Named Keep crashing)
Message-ID:  <200104041616.CAA11493@metva.com.au>

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----- Kal Torak (amongst others) replied -----
| Chuck Rock wrote:
| > 
| > How about getting a license to put a machine on the public network so you
| > have to abide by "rules" for security, and if you are shown to screw up, and
....
| > If you misconfigure BGP, you can effective screw up a large part of the
| > Internet, this kind of power should not be given lightly.
| 
| Insecurity is part of the Internet... Procecuting people for network scanning
| dose NOT help security! It just helps ruin some poor kids life... It provides
| about as much security as putting up a web page saying "PLEASE DONT HACK ANY
| OF MY SYSTEMS, my password is 123456"... I dont know about a license to get a
| public IP, but going after kids is not the answer...
| 

The rest of society tends to reserve licensing for those realms where you
can cause injury or death. So driving, firearms, explosives and the like. I
think the metaphor that was raised earlier about people trying doors is
closer. But the author claimed because trying the door was non-invasive
(as opposed to actually entering through one you find is open) it should
be OK. I have to differ. If I were to wake up at 3am and find some guy
checking my doors and windows I would have him arrested. The only person
who should be allowed to rattle my windows is me or someone I invite.

The key point here though is _we're all brought up to understand that_. Our
parents teach us early that skulking round the shrubbery when we haven't
sought permission is likely to end badly. While some law to allow the system
owners some redress would be nice, I think the basic task of socializing
people about how to live is also missing. Hence the likely correct statement
about ruining some poor kids life. The odds are the 'poor kid' was aware that
this is a proscribed activity, at some level. But there needs to be education
at some point in a our computer upbringing to reinforce that its wrong. Once
we've been socialized we understand that burglary and fraud aren't the way
build a worthwhile society. (Well most of us do. The rest are out trying to
"make money fast" I guess.)



Enno.



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