Mouse-Trapped

Mouse-Trapped
Mark Rasch, 2007-02-12

Substitute teacher Julie Amero faces up to 40 years in prison for exposing kids to porn using a classroom computer, but the facts strongly suggest that she was wrongfully convicted. Many issues remain, from the need for an independent computer forensics investigation and the presence of spyware and adware on the machine, to bad or incomplete legal work on both sides of this criminal case.

Colapse all | Post comment

Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-12
Matthew Murphy

This article is lengthy, but a very good analysis of not only the evidence involved in the Amero case but of digital forensics as a "science". Well written, Mr. Rasch....

[ more ] [ reply ]

Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-13
Anonymous (1 replies)

I have seen this happen at home. My son was browsing the internet and misspelled the URL for cartoon netowrk as www.cartonnetwork.com and wound up in the spiral of porn site pop-ups. It took me a couple of hours of visiting these sites from a safe computer to determine what had happened (at which ...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-13
Anonymous

hmmm... www.cartonnetwork.com gets me to the cartoon network site.

www.cartonetwork.com, however, brings up a spam page with a pop-up about online gambling. I've got some pop-up blocking through FireFox, so I rarely get the death-spiral-of-porn....

[ more ] [ reply ]

Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-13
Anonymous

Excellent article. Although you don't mention it, I think this case is really about a judge that is incompetent (it was reported she was frequently sleeping during the trial), and over an zealous prosecutor, somewhat like Mr. Nifong. A lot of people are watching this case, and if the conviction is...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-13
Frank Krasicki (2 replies)

Can I ask your sources for the following information?

"Julie Amero logged in to look at her AOL mail and, about six minutes later, either she or one of the students visited various websites about hair products or hair styles. Now one can reasonably ask why Julie was checking e-mail, or for that m...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-14
Mark D. Rasch

Julie Amero logged in to look at her AOL mail and, about six minutes later, either she or one of the students visited various websites about hair products or hair styles. Now one can reasonably ask why Julie was checking e-mail, or for that matter surfing the web while she was supposed to be teachin...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-15
Elc0chin0

Just my two cents here;

Quote:
"and the log data indicates that Amero had continued to use the computer for the rest of the day ? browsing lots of other sites, unrelated to porn. Oh yeah, and unrelated to her work as a substitute teacher. In fact, it appears that Julie continued to browse the we...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-13
Anonymous (6 replies)

Why did she not just turn off the monitor??? ...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-13
Anonymous (1 replies)

If her computer was set up like most classrooms with PCs are nowadays, the display on the teacher's monitor is also displayed to the class on the wall via projector. So her monitor may have been facing the window, but everyone could see what she was doing anyway....

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Re: Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-15
Anonymous

Sorry, not in the Norwich school system it is antiquated. Did you miss the fact that it had windows 98 on it? I am from the area.......

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-13
Dr. Anonymous (2 replies)

A couple of thoughts come to mind.

First, we don't know what type of computer it was. There are some Macs, like the iMac, that have the monitor built in. A few PCs tried to clone the iMac look, resulting in a PC with a built-in monitor. (The article says Windows, so a Mac is out but a PC-clone ...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Re: Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-14
Mark D. Rasch

Apparently, she wasnt even wearing a sweater!...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Re: Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-14
Elc0chin0

I couldn't finish reading the article without wanting to lash out a vengeful torrent syndrome hysterical physical attack on a few VAOIG dim wits a few years back, but them I digress.

The PC used Win98, I personally don't remember any Macs using Win98 but then I may be completely off base here.
...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-14
Anonymous (1 replies)

Why didn't she unplug the computer. Why didn't she run an anti-spyware program. Why didn't she go into regedit and delete the bad registry entries. You can Monday morning quarterback this all you want, but that isn't valid logic. Like most teachers, she was not as computer savvy as you are, and ...

[ more ] [ reply ]

What about the Principal? (Re: Re: Mouse-Trapped) 2007-02-14
Neal Krawetz

Excellent reply.

However, I'd prefer to "Monday morning quarterback" the school management.

One of the questions I had asked Mark concerned the school's initial reaction: If this was such a serious offense, then why wasn't she removed from the classroom? Why was she told "not to worry"?

Sch...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Mouse-Trapped and Monitor 2007-02-14
Lando

THANK YOU! You just answered one of my questions for an (obviously) newbie teacher in re computers!

GAWD this is 'case' is soo stoopid!
Why wasn't she given a 'Guest' account?? Forgive me if I misread, but I thought I read where the regular instructor told her not to turn it off since she wou...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-14
Anonymous

You sound like someone on the jury, an excellent example of the reason the unemployed and the unemployable always seem to end up deciding such cases. The lack of understanding people have about how pop-up ads work, how material can be displayed on your screen without you clicking on anything, and t...

[ more ] [ reply ]

That arguement makes no sense 2007-02-14
Anonymous (1 replies)

Why didn't she throw her coat over it (the prosecutor said this to the gullible jury)? In fact, she had no coat that day. And the full-time teacher told her NOT to turn off the computer. And, do you really think any of the children in the class are truly going to confess that they were the ones c...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: That arguement makes no sense 2007-02-14
ElC0chin0

How true how true.

I think what Mark identifies here is something I've had some heart burn with for several years regarding "computer forensics".

First of all some of the software used is solely for "law enforcement" use. This means that a defendant probably won't be able to analyze the media...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-14
Anonymous

After having read the articles on the case and having worked in the security field for several years, I currently work in a school environment. I find it incredible to me and my co-workers that the school system did nothing to support the teacher.
1. Windows 98 is totaly unsecure.
2. Where was t...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-15
Anonymous

A simple research on Google for HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TypedURLs gives some name of trojans modifying thoses TypedURLS keys :

http://www.hacksoft.com.pe/virus/trojan_meheerwar.htm...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-15
Negrodamus

Once again society, has taken another step back into the stone age, what?s next with all these silly trials.. Are we going to start stoning people in the streets, because we believe they are full of sin?

I hope that judge, prosecutor, jury and all the members of law enforcement evolved in that ca...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Proxy missing? 2007-02-15
Anonymous

How come the school wasn't behind a proxy that screens these things out? Seems to me that was mandated years ago. If no proxy, how come the school board isn't being charged? At my kids HS, they must go through a proxy to get out. Such sites are blocked....

[ more ] [ reply ]

Sue the maker of ComputerCOP Professional !!! 2007-02-16
Anonymous

This software wrongly caused the jury to believe that the teacher clicked on the links. Read from an actual juror who believes this:

http://blogs.pcworld.com/tipsandtweaks/archives/003741.html

This same juror believes that the teacher should have turned off the computer. I know from first ha...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-17
Anonymous

Win 98 with no firewall? running IE5? NO FIREWALL?
OMG were the system admin that backwards they couldn't update the network to the current version of IE and install googles toolbar with automatic pop up blocker?
Seriously the parents should be having the Technicians in court not the sub teacher. ...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Daniel Axelrod 2007-02-18
Anonymous

I just read a very disturbing blog by Daniel Axelrod at:

http://bulletineducationblog.blogspot.com/

This guy has no knowledge of computers but plenty of self-righteous ignorant judgment. Why he is allowed to do a blog on education speaks to the state of things in Norwich. By the way, how clo...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Please help get David Smith debarred for misconduct 2007-02-18
Anonymous (1 replies)

Sample letter:

Connecticut State Bar
30 Bank Street
PO Box 350
New Britain CT 06050-0350
Phone: (860) 223-4400
Fax: (860) 223-4488

Dear sir/madam,

I request you launch an immediate investigation into the actions if State?s Attorney David Smith as per the case of Julie Amero. He has ma...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Please help get David Smith debarred for misconduct 2007-02-21
Anonymous

Finally someone is one the right track here. Just as ignorance of the law is not considered to be a valid defense, ignorance of technology, by those who should know better, is no valid justification for the conviction of this individual.
This guy is as wrong, and possibly corrupt, as the prosecutor...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-21
FreewheelinFrank (2 replies)

The position of the computer monitor in this case seems to be critical: was it visible by students in the class or not? Either way the case makes no sense.
If this was a class monitor visible by students and teacher, it makes no sense that the teacher would surf for porn in full view of the class. ...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-21
FreewheelinFrank

It seems the monitor was at the front of the class, facing towards the teacher but at a 90 degree angle to the students. Although the accusation that the teacher was surfing for porn is feasible (if you ignore the forensic evidence), the accusation that she exposed students to porn by not turning of...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-22
Anonymous (1 replies)

The blog article I linked to in my comment has now been deleted, perhaps because of the scathing comments posted, or perhaps under legal threat, as it went further even than Julie's conviction, and alleged that she "showed" porn to her students, rather than "allowed" them to see it. Who knows? No ex...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Dan Axelrod should be sued for defamation of character 2007-02-23
Anonymous

The false things Mr. Axelrod has said about Ms. Amero, things that are not backed by any facts, only his personal hate, are subject to lawsuit. Having an education blog is a tremendous responsibility, and to defame someone as he does is wrong. And to think that you can simply delete the post, as h...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Mouse-Trapped - A lesson to be learned 2007-02-22
MikeP (1 replies)

A sad case, the question isn't about her ability as a substitue teacher (although there are questions there if she has been 'reprimanded' for failure to teach previously) the question(s) is(are):
why was she not given adequate instruction on the use of the computer and have to resort to running to ...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Mouse-Trapped - A lesson to be learned 2007-02-22
Anonymous (1 replies)

I am a computer professional whose job includes cleaning adware and spyware off users' computers. I work at a community college where we are using Windows XP SP2 and McAfee Antivirus and Antispyware. We manage our workstations with Novell Zenworks. Even with all this, last week I still had to clean ...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Re: Mouse-Trapped - A lesson to be learned 2007-02-23
Anonymous (1 replies)

"I would think the attorneys involved in this would be aware that porn sites are very aggressive and sneaky!!! It is hard to fathom in this day and age that anyone can believe that the history of an unpatched old version of IE running on an obsolete operating system constitutes "evidence" on a PC ac...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: Re: Re: Mouse-Trapped - A lesson to be learned 2009-02-12
Anonymous

All the more reason for jury nulification......

[ more ] [ reply ]

The Witch Trials are now in Norwich 2007-02-23
Anonymous

I thought the witch trials were over, but they simply moved to Norwich. I guess the Federal Government, in the form of a Civil Rights Investigation will need to intervene. Someone out there who knows how to make this happen needs to make it happed!...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Mouse-Trapped 2007-02-24
Mihaela Lica

Instead of convicting the teacher, we should try to convince the porn webmasters to act responsibly and require a password-protected login prior to allowing access to free contents. This way such accidents will not happen. A campaign related to this idea was started here: http://bloggerpower.wordpre...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Typed URL's 2007-02-26
DL_Zero

There is definitely a difference between browsed and typed urls, urls that are typed into the address bar will show up in a list just in the drop down menu on both internet explorer and firefox. surfed urls wont...

[ more ] [ reply ]

The ignorant Daniel Axelrod post, which he's trying to bury 2007-02-28
Anonymous (1 replies)

Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Enough. Enough e-mails, phone calls and letters to the editor defending Julie Amero. I?m sick of them. The worst part of all is that people jump to these conclusions without viewing any of the evidence or police documents. Here are the facts: Amero showed graphic pornogra...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Re: The ignorant Daniel Axelrod post, which he's trying to bury 2007-05-26
Anonymous

"There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has
is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals,
one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime
that it becomes impossible to live without breaking laws." AYN RAND~~~It is an ab...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Mouse-Trapped 2007-08-07
Anonymous

"lyk omg the kids did not do it!!!!1111oneoneone"

XDDD These kind of people amuse me. Kids = not innocent, wholly. I know this as one 12 year old. And I hear things. :/ From either people expressing it first hand or handed from the rumor mill.

Not to mention kids:

-alcohol
-drugs
-more? ...

[ more ] [ reply ]

Mouse-Trapped 2008-07-29
Cate Groves

Please add your name to our petition asking that Julie be freed from her legal limbo nightmare. THANK YOU!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/57/Justice-for-Julie-Amero...

[ more ] [ reply ]