Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[Mark Turner <markt AT siteseers.net>]

Do any of you remember the recent news story about the N.C. State Police 
 Blotter website being updated with humorous entries by Wolf Web 
visitors? I found out today that the kids who pulled this prank are now 
facing felony charges and jail time.

I'm a law and order kind of guy, having worked with my city's 
Crimestoppers group for over a year. I have also provided computer 
security services for a decade. In essence, I've been on both sides of 
the fence.

What the kids did is technically unlawful, but certainly not worthy of 
felony charges. The police should be grateful the kids showed them how 
their password was being broadcast to the world.

The kids didn't steal passwords. They didn't steal credit cards. They 
didn't compromise any other machines. They didn't even compromise the 
blotter server, other than the blotter app itself. What these kids did 
is akin to painting outside of the Free Expression Tunnel. Its a shame 
that these young people may be punished so severely for what is 
essentially a victimless crime.

So those are my thoughts. What are your thoughts? What should be the 
appropriate response? How you think the NCSU Police should handle this case?


Here are some links for background:
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http://www.newsobserver.com/news/nc/wake/story/1362082p-7485015c.html
http://pwnt.org/paypal.html
http://www.markturner.net/?q=node/view/726

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Mark Turner
Siteseers Inc.
919.277.0123 x3100
SIP:3100 AT pbx.siteseers.com