Punishment for Hackers/Worm Creators?

[CA1900]

Jafar is right on.

Blaming the attack on the attacked for being attackable is seriously faulty logic.

I think you're missing the point. We're not blaming the users for the security holes in Windows. We're blaming the manufacturer of a faulty product for the damage that their negligence caused.

In the 70's, when someone rear-ended a Ford Pinto and it blew up, was the rear-ender at fault? Of course. He caused the accident. But so was Ford, for producing a product far, far more vulnerable than the consumer expected. They were sued for (and paid) millions of dollars for their negligence for producing a faulty product and not recalling it when they knew there was a defect.

This is very much analogous to what Microsoft has done with Windows. They knew its fundamental design was vulnerable. They knew it was (and still is) littered with security holes, and yet it still sits on the retail shelf, vulnerable as ever, despite the myriad of patches Microsoft has released.


As I said, I'm not blaming the users/victims; I'm not sure how you came to believe that I did. Microsoft isn't the victim here, its users are. Microsoft is, however, very much an accomplice.

 

[Jafar]

As I said, I'm not blaming the users/victims; I'm not sure how you came to believe that I did. Microsoft isn't the victim here, its users are. Microsoft is, however, very much an accomplice.

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An accomplice?

So by that logic, you buy a home, you use a security system. The home is broken into. And in your little world both the thief and the manufacture of the security system are punished? Well how does that work exactly?

And yes, I am more than willing to admit the deficiencies of windows based OS's. By reading my second post carefully one would take note to the reference that attempting to make windows more secure was a "pain in the a$$." In fact, there are plenty of "features" in microsoft products that make it a b!tch to deal with. That doesn't justify some jack-off who hasn't been laid since St. Swithins day writing code to f^ck up all the works.

Accomplice, $hit.

How far back could we take the accomplice theory if we really tried? How about the power company? Those assholes provided the necessary electrons to power both the defective operating systems and the computer of the defective turd who wrote the worm. F^cking no good capitalist cocksuckers!

What we need is an energy source that won't allow operating systems to be vulnerable while at the same time converting malcious code into a pleasent program that displays cute little hammers and sickles on our monitors.

(Clearly, I have a problem with anything that is even remotely left of center.)

And just to let everyone know I'm about to wrap up my involvement in this derailed thread, keep this quote in mind I found somewhere online...

"Arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics....

Even if you win, you're still retarded."

Have a nice nap

 

[CA1900]

An accomplice?

So by that logic, you buy a home, you use a security system. The home is broken into. And in your little world both the thief and the manufacture of the security system are punished?

If the security system were defective, and the company that made it knew it and sold it to me anyway, absolutely. It's not "my little world," it's called negligence, and it's part of civil law in the US. Look it up in any legal dictionary. Here's just one example:

Excerpted from http://www.lectlaw.com/def2/n010.htm
Negligence may be a legal cause of damage even though it operates in combination with the act of another, a natural cause, or some other cause if the other cause occurs at the same time as the negligence and if the negligence contributes substantially to producing such damage.

That doesn't justify some jack-off who hasn't been laid since St. Swithins day writing code to f^ck up all the works.

Oh, I absolutely agree. He should be punished most severely.

How far back could we take the accomplice theory if we really tried? How about the power company? Those assholes provided the necessary electrons to power both the defective operating systems and the computer....

However their product worked as advertised, and their negligence didn't contribute to the damage. Let's get realistic here.

"Arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics....

Even if you win, you're still retarded."

Here, here.

I prefer the wrestling with a pig analogy, but that one fits too.

 

[flywithastick]

If the security system were defective, and the company that made it knew it and sold it to me anyway, absolutely. It's not "my little world," it's called negligence, and it's part of civil law in the US. Look it up in any legal dictionary. Here's just one example:

I just can't bite my lip any longer... CA1900 your arguments are the most lame I've heard in a long time, much like the drivel spewed by liberal politicians, racial(ist) activists, and TRIAL LAWYERS! Microsoft to blame for weaknesses in thier software?!?! That's the biggest load of blow I've heard in a long time. Your momma or daddy a lawyer?

Your logic reminds me of the argument (made above also) blaming a rape victim because she wore makeup and a skirt.

However their product worked as advertised, and their negligence didn't contribute to the damage. Let's get realistic here.

This is the same logic used by the lawyers to attack the tobacco mfgrs, fast food industry and gun mfgrs.

This missfit punk essentially broke into my house and damaged my property. As he did with hundreds of thousands of others. Perhaps the telephone company could be named as partially at fault as well? How about me? How about the guy that built my house? what about holding the offenders responsible for their crimes?! What a novel (but apparently obsolete) concept.

 

[BoxFlyr]

put the sorry SOB in prison for the rest of his life, and put a computer outside his cell, just out of reach. or cut all his fingers off

 

[U of I Tweak]

Blame the Hacker

Regardless of any problems there may be in Windows, you can't blame Microsoft. No one forced this kid to write the virus and annoy all of us.

 

[CatYaaak]

I'd say put the blame where it belongs: Microsoft's absolutely inexcusable security holes. I've never seen a product so littered with security flaws just waiting to be exploited. If anybody should be in jail, it's Microsoft's board of directors, not this kid.

You probably blame the victim in a rape case too....

"Hey Your Honor, she was just WAITING to be exploited! After all, she was wearing a short dress, and as a matter of fact the board of directors for Hanes nylons and panties should go to jail because they don't sell their products with an integral chastity belt!"

Sheesh.

 

[CatYaaak]

Buying a Mac is the best advice I can give people who are fed up with Windows' security holes. I bought an iMac last year and couldn't be happier. Believe me, it's worth the small learning curve.

Ah, the previous inanity about Microsoft being resonsible for someone else's crime becomes clear..... the source was a Mac Cultist! Why am I not suprised?

Before getting too self-righteous about Microsoft being attacked, ask yourself how much incentive there is for a hacker to take the risk, and put forth the time and effort required to write a worm or virus to infect Macs? With such a small percentage of market share, would anyone notice or care?