BBC Hijacks PCs to Prove a Point
- Thread starter The_root_of_all_evil
- Start date
*waits patiently for quantum-state encryption*
EDIT: Sweet Jebus, got the name wrong. Actually called "Quantum Key Distribution."
EDIT: Sweet Jebus, got the name wrong. Actually called "Quantum Key Distribution."
The BBC is doing it right. I generally like grey methods like this.
I love how the corporate PR agents have stepped in to have a quick banter - Prevx and Sophos are both highly respected, I use tools from both companies, but this is the first time I've seen such a public skirmish-of-sorts between them. Quite entertaining.
I love how the corporate PR agents have stepped in to have a quick banter - Prevx and Sophos are both highly respected, I use tools from both companies, but this is the first time I've seen such a public skirmish-of-sorts between them. Quite entertaining.
This would not, of course, stop it from having been your fault that your PC was owned by your poor security decisions.Samah said:
Though it might give you the money you need to source an adequate security product for the future.
If the worm is spread via email, you need to open it (albeit if there was, say, an issue with the subject line you would just need to download it). A complete worm is autonomous in so far as it doesn't require user interaction, but like hacker, the term worm has come to cover far more than it properly should.Labyrinth said:
Something like Melissa, or the I Love You virus, should have been considered a trojan and/or a network-aware virus, a worm was something like SQL Slammer, which was set and forget and required no interaction by a user.
Edit: And is the BBC going to be punished for this cracking action?
If I walked up to a network, cracked the key and breached the LAN because they were sitting their wireless in the DMZ with a stupid alcatel box, but didn't touch anything sensitive and took my logs straight to them would I be reported the the police, or would I not. Hard to say. Now imagine that I do this for 50 companies or, say, 22,000 people, and publish my findings in the local news.
The BBC is huge, so my bet is they won't be punished, but what's the difference between them and me? I've got just as many verifiable morals as a bunch of people who select which words and questions they will use for an interview, or what images they will show for a report, but it's the little guy who is going to get prosecuted.
My thoughts on that side of things anyway.
The BBC is huge, so my bet is they won't be punished, but what's the difference between them and me? I've got just as many verifiable morals as a bunch of people who select which words and questions they will use for an interview, or what images they will show for a report, but it's the little guy who is going to get prosecuted.
My thoughts on that side of things anyway.
Is this any different from the Gov't showing two dead bodies mangled in a alchol induced wreck? They did nothing malicious and nothing that will effect these peoples computers.
They may have 'bent' the rules but they did it with good will in mind and are doing it for 'uneducated' people's benefit.
This is also the UK and not the US. So an American commenting on this is about as usefull as me trying to explain why my neighbour needs shotguns and an AR15....
The BBC is one of the greatest news networks in the world with, in my mind, the greatest level of reporting. If they have done this they will have known it wont of broken any laws.
As for the company that they spammed to death. They had agreed to do it and were aware it was coming. So hats off to them for trying to further the war on Internet Spam Merchants.
They may have 'bent' the rules but they did it with good will in mind and are doing it for 'uneducated' people's benefit.
This is also the UK and not the US. So an American commenting on this is about as usefull as me trying to explain why my neighbour needs shotguns and an AR15....
The BBC is one of the greatest news networks in the world with, in my mind, the greatest level of reporting. If they have done this they will have known it wont of broken any laws.
As for the company that they spammed to death. They had agreed to do it and were aware it was coming. So hats off to them for trying to further the war on Internet Spam Merchants.
Work some time in tech-support, 1 or 2 months are easily enough, and you won't be surprised anymore. Firewalls and scanners can provide only so much security, if the user clicks on anything that pops up, security goes byebye.ChocoFace said:
I've seen programmers click on those "Your computer is infected"-popups and one would think that at least them know what they are doing when it comes to software...
dude...that sucksSkrapt said:
dude...great idea!ElArabDeMagnifico said:
dude...twitter is now a legitimate form of legal council? or are you saying they announced it on their twitter? the BBC has a twitter? wtf is wrong with the world? i hate twitter? was that even a question? oh well?Somethingfake said:
