Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Let's get tough on hackers

I have many clients with web sites and it never ceases to amaze me how much bandwidth on the web is dedicated to criminal activities.



IN a security test for a client, we put out a “honey pot” (an enticing web site), and watched as hackers found the web site in less than 30 minutes, and we watched them break in and do their dirty work!



The guy even upgraded the release of Linux on the server, so that his Viagara spam script would work!

This New York Times article “Make Big Profits Illegally (and Maybe Keep Them, Too)”, shows the epidemic of hacking, and now we see that the hacker and criminals are being rewarded, due to ludicrous loopholes in the SEC laws. THIS IS NOT RIGHT:

“Dorozhko’s alleged ‘stealing and trading’ or ‘hacking and trading’ does not amount to a violation” of securities laws, Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald of United States District Court ruled last month.

Although he may have broken laws by stealing the information, the judge concluded, “Dorozhko did not breach any fiduciary or similar duty ‘in connection with’ the purchase or sale of a security.” She ordered the S.E.C. to let him have his profits.”



Let's get tough on crooks

China attacks US government systems daily, and the hackers know that there are no consequences for their acts. It’s time to change that.

“The judge appreciated the absurdity of the situation, and expressed disappointment that the Justice Department had not brought criminal charges for computer hacking.

The government has offered no explanation for that, but it is possible the department saw no likelihood of ever being able to arrest Mr. Dorozhko, and did not think the case worth the trouble.”


If we got the CIA to start killing these web criminals, maybe the word would get out. Plus, the US should start enforcing laws against those who make money with tools that aid and abet web criminals.


Some good books can be abused by bad guys

eBay had become a den of thieves, and the webopolies do not have the best interests of the American consumer in-mind.



Why do we have laws against aiding and abetting a criminal if they are not enforced?

“A criminal charge of aiding and abetting or accessory can usually be brought against anyone who helps in the commission of a crime, though legal distinctions vary by state.

A person charged with aiding and abetting or accessory is usually not present when the crime itself is committed, but he or she has knowledge of the crime before or after the fact, and may assist in its commission through advice..."

For more on the legal issues on the web, see my book "Web Stalkers":