This weeks edition of computing magazine says laws that came into effect last week mean anyone launching denial-of-service attacks now faces UP TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON - New rules also prohibit the supply of tools that can be used for hacking (distribution of hacking tools will result in up to two years prison). I dont think they can make that law about distribution of hacking tools workable - it seems insane - hows anyone supposed to learn about security if they cant get the tools to learn with ? However, there are defenses in law to this - such as the defence that one mans hacking tools are another mans remote administration software, for example. Also I believe a jury would have to be convinced that a DOS attack was maliciously conceived. Personally I think they would find it difficult to convict someone whos computer was used as a spambot without their knowledge The UK is getting tough on cybercrime right now and its about time really ! The next thing they should do is to go after spammers and spyware muggers oh but then advertisers make a lot of money so theyre not so tough on thatI forgot thats BIG business
in the USA we can recieve 20 years, thanks to our unpartriotic 'Patriot Act'. but yeah, who gets to decide what a hacking tool is. any computer is a hacking tool
Jeez - no way, I thought it would be relaxed on that issue because the USA is really lax on spammers - and I know britain is trying to get the USA to be as tough on them as we are ! Wow I am most surprised by that news - Its nowonder theyre saying they might send the hacker Gary McKinnon to prison in the states for 70 years http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,,1523143,00.html The only problem is that most murderers walk out of prison in britain after 3 or 4 years - I dont get it - 10 or 12 years is more than a sentence for mansaughter I used to live just down the street from this guy - literally just around the corner ! in Wood Green London http://www.freegary.org.uk gary mckinnon going into court in london
now thats shocking news. 70 years? and you make a good point with the manslaughter/murder thing. i guess it is getting outta hand... down the street? is that where you learned all those computer tricks
I feel sorry for the guy - he really is just a dreamer - he gave up a perfectly good IT admin job for a chance to surf the net looking for evidence of UFO coverups by the USA and other governments. No way does he deserve any time in jail. I think hes one of those people who just got hooked into the felling it was like a video game rather than real life - I think he needs a couple of days a month with a psychiatrist rather than a decade or more in prison. I just wish his case was more high profile ! Actually I might start a thread about it !
