Spot a Software Bug, Go to Jail?

["Fergie" <fergdawg () netzero net>]

This has got to be one of the most asinine things I've ever
heard of.

Via Wired News.

[snip]

A new federal prosecution again raises the issue of whether computer security experts must fear prison time for 
investigating and reporting vulnerabilities.

On April 28, 2006, Eric McCarty was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. McCarty is a professional computer 
security consultant who noticed that there was a problem with the way the University of Southern California had 
constructed its web page for online applications. A database programming error allowed outsiders to obtain applicants' 
personal information, including Social Security numbers.

For proof, the man copied seven applicants' personal records and anonymously sent them to a reporter for SecurityFocus. 
The journalist notified the school, the school fixed the problem, and the reporter wrote an article about it.

The incident might have ended there, but didn't.

[snip]

More here:
http://www.wired.com/news/columns/circuitcourt/0,70857-0.html

- ferg


--
"Fergie", a.k.a. Paul Ferguson
 Engineering Architecture for the Internet
 fergdawg () netzero net or fergdawg () sbcglobal net
 ferg's tech blog: http://fergdawg.blogspot.com/


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