Unix Security & Randoms

[SHAWN%mit-ml at sri-unix.UUCP]

From:  Shawn F. McKay <SHAWN at mit-ml>


I think the idea of another list is a good one, but,
how do you say "You can't be on it....", I for that reason,
think that it is not the best or maybe even the "right" thing in this
case. (for example, how can you say that foobar is not a "random loser",
and that "barfoo" is?????? Who are you to decide?? (or me for that matter?)).

I think some of the problem here might be the "High-School Hackers",
my personal view is this is the new form of vandalism. I mean, why should
these kids waste there time hacking some buildings wall, when they
can just as fast destroy someone's $100,000,00 Computer System?? if they
are below 18, they have a fairly low risk (even if they are caught).
(not that I know law, I might be wrong about the age).

I think computers in schools are a good thing, however, I think
they are a double edge knife, and they (as has been shown), can be
very painful. I think that a good thing to do might be to go
down to the level of the "random", down to there "rbbs" system's,
where they give out the info that so badly pains most of us, and
give them some "Incorrect." (pardon the pun) information, maybe
even in some cases locate some of them in person, and talk with them,
make an effort to helping these kids understand what it is that they
are doing. (personally: I don't think half of them know what
the string "rm *" means to a unix, just that its a neat thing to do,
and not how it can hurt people). By making the effort to explain
these things, and to disabling kids who continue at it, we might
not have to worry as much. (by disable, I am thinking in terms
of taking them, and there family to court for a while, removing
there terminal, and modem, or some other means that will make the risk
of hacking other systems, too high for them). I also think that showing
them some of the brighter sides of computer science might also help.
Showing them how to write a "game" (all by them selfs), rather
then the games they have been playing, (usually at someone else's
cost).

I myself think this is some of the things that Might help.
Granted, better security will help, but this reminds me of the
arms race, "we get better", and "they get better", "we get better yet",
and "they get better yet". How far can it go???

		Yours In Hacking,
		   -Shawn

					Uucp: mitccc!shawn
					Arpa: Shawn at Mit-Ml