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Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers
Richard Forno, 2002-03-28

The Good Samaritan defence, invoked by hackers like Adrian Lamo, can too easily be distorted by those with less altruistic intentions.

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Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-03-28
Anonymous (1 replies)
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-03
Anonymous (1 replies)
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-07
johnny
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-03-28
Anonymous (8 replies)
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-03-29
Rick Forno (1 replies)
It's really refreshing... 2002-04-17
Anonymous
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-03-29
Anonymous
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-01
Matthew Z.
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-02
Jordan
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-02
Somebody
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-07
Anonymous
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-07
Anonymous
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-17
Not-Anonymous
so next time i mistype an url... 2002-03-29
Anonymous (3 replies)
so next time i mistype an url... 2002-03-30
Anonymous (1 replies)
so next time i mistype an url... 2002-04-03
Anonymous
so next time i mistype an url... 2002-04-07
johnny
If you stumble across a security hole, don't report it -- you're incriminating yourself. 2002-04-17
Anonymous
Good Samaritan Guidelines 2002-03-29
Anonymous (1 replies)
Good Samaritan Guidelines 2002-04-09
ImNotAHacker@hotmail.com
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-03-29
In Response to the Anonymous Above
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-03-29
Anonymous (1 replies)
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-01
Steve (2 replies)
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-03
Anonymous
You're opening yourself up to prosecution if you fess up. 2002-04-17
Anonymous
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-03-29
Steve
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-03-29
Me (1 replies)
The law is the law. Lamo and the other "ethical" hackers broke it and must suffer the consequences. Perhaps the law will change over time. Perhaps Lamo's actions will cause legislators to look at the law. I doubt it... If Lamo wants to be the sacrificial lamb, then let him have at it. He not only sacrifices his freedom (time spent in Prison), but he sacrifices his life and livelihood. He'll never get a job with a position of trust, never get a security clearance, work in a bank, or for any government or University.

This is my qualm, however: How do we REALLY know Lamo, or any other "ethical" hacker is in fact ethical? Because they say they are? What a joke...Do we conduct a background investigation, how about a polygraph? We take "his" word that he is an ethical hacker?


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Link to this comment: http://www.securityfocus.com/comments/columns/70/11508#11508
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-01
Scott Runnels
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-01
William W. Bishop
The question is simple, but the answer may be complicated, and becoming more so. 2002-04-01
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The first four letters of analogy. . . . 2002-04-01
Ira Wing (2 replies)
The first four letters of analogy. . . .whaaaat? 2002-04-04
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The first four letters of analogy. . . .whaaaat? 2002-04-17
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The first four letters of analogy. . . . 2002-04-04
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We're both right. 2002-04-13
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Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-02
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Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-02
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Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-02
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Case Against 2002-04-02
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The Mentality and Psychology behind the White Hat 2002-04-04
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Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-03
Andy Schmitt (kphrakNO@worldofschmittSPAM.ALLOWEDcom) (1 replies)
"...Good Samaritan Hackers" Bad English. 2002-04-05
Andy Richmond (1 replies)
right.. 2002-04-09
Anonymous
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-04
Anonymous
Which law? 2002-04-04
80N
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-04
Anonymous
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-04
Anonymous
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-05
Anonymous
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-08
Anonymous (1 replies)
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-09
Anonymous
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-10
Anonymous (1 replies)
NOT Accidental 2002-04-14
Anonymous
What about the "lurkers"? 2002-04-12
Bob Radvanovsky
Digital Vigilantism? 2002-04-12
Bob Radvanovsky
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-13
Anonymous
Beware the Kindness of Strangers: The Case Against Good Samaritan Hackers 2002-04-14
gil@ateliermobile.de
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