The best way to describe your past is “ethically challenged”. I too am an ethically challenged individual but by being somewhat upfront about this with my managers it has made me into an asset the company can trust with certain projects they’d rather not talk about with the company at large. The team of developers I work with are not formally acknowledged as a team, but our work often involves assembling the output of various disjoint teams into one solution that they’d probably object to building themselves as a whole.
Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?
41–50 of 158 posts
Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?
#42Was this the TalkTalk hacking case?
Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?
#43> I'm not particularly talented Stop telling yourself that. You wouldn't be #11 out of 25,000 if you weren't talented. As long as you're open about your past and convictions, and your legal standing permits employment doing the work you'd do, then there's nothing stopping you from applying. When you see a job posting then look at what the requirements are. If you fit more than half then you should apply. The things y…
> Stop telling yourself that. You wouldn't be #11 out of 25,000 if you weren't talented. I like this advice. I used to think I wasn't as good a programmer than a friend of mine because he had a larger breadth of skills than myself. Then I actually saw the code he was producing professionally ... and it was crap. It was functional sure, but not maintainable at all (if the business rules changed, then rewrites were awf…
> On the topic of cheating: In 6th grade spelling class, we had to write out our weekly spelling words 5 times each. We were allowed to handwrite, or type it out on a computer and hand in the printout. I wrote a computer program where I would input the spelling words as an array (only typing them once), and it would output a text file for me to print out and hand in.
Wow, I wonder what the goal of that exercise was. Copy/paste has been part of windows since at least 95, no? Regardless, I’d think the main goal of forcing repetitive writing is improving handwriting and word recognition, which require a pen(cil) and not a keyboard.
Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?
#44If you do run into trouble finding a job, you might have better luck in consulting or similar. My previous employer, employees are vetted by HR and (once your conviction would be raised) legal who would reject you for your record, but "independent security consultants" were vetted by the security team who were actually more understanding in that regard.
Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?
#45> I'm not particularly talented Stop telling yourself that. You wouldn't be #11 out of 25,000 if you weren't talented. As long as you're open about your past and convictions, and your legal standing permits employment doing the work you'd do, then there's nothing stopping you from applying. When you see a job posting then look at what the requirements are. If you fit more than half then you should apply. The things y…
“As long as you're open about your past and convictions” 100% this. We had someone who hid that he was previously gone to prison for robbing banks. He used his dad’s SSN and slipped through the cracks. He was terminated immediately when a girl who was mad at him called our company to let us know to get back at him. You can’t know for sure if people will look past your history, but I can guarantee you don’t want to hi…
Sounds like place he was at accepted him just fine until dumb bitch ratted him out for something that happened outside of work. Dude got a good run at least. Not lying about convictions sounds great from the pious ivory tower or from seasoned professionals who may have enough experience that others are able to look beyond their past.
Dude already did his time, in my book the conviction doesn't exist anymore. My honest advice for ex-crims is to find small shops that don't run BG check (yes these places do exist) and never mention their crimes. After a 3-5 years in industry your past will be far enough behind you can get into most small businesses positions you are qualified for.
Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?
#46A bunch of friends just look for and then sell vulnerabilities (the good ones to bug boundary programs the less ethical ones to governments or companies). The price of a zero day exploit is quite high (for both sides) and I have friends who make much more money than I do doing this. That said they mostly work alone or in small groups in their basement rather than at a large security company. I would hire (or at least…
Just out of curiosity what's "high"'
Very high, zerodium [1] offers from $10k to $1mil depending on the exploit.
Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?
#47My company is hiring. I'm a firm believer that folks shouldn't be punished by the US justice system, but instead reformed.
I can't speak to your circumstances, but my team is hiring for folks like you and barring any policies I'm unaware of I'd be happy to help you make a connection. Details in my profile if you're interested.
On a more general note, there's currently a high, steady-state demand for AppSec, CloudSec, NetSec, and generalist technical security specialists with software backgrounds. There is work out there and I don't believe you'd have to accept an entry-level position to get it.
Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?
#48Hacking is one thing. I understand the technical thrill. But blackmail and fraud? That's a human-to-human interaction, not human-to-machine. Once a person cross that line where you are harming another person at that level, there is no going back.
With blackmail and fraud convictions (and a 3-year prison sentence behind you), I would hope that nobody would give you a job with access to systems that enable you to get at personal information or money. That's their business, of course; but they'd presumably be exposed to an action for negligence if something went wrong as a result of them employing someone with that record. Blackmail and fraud are both offences t…
Yeah, once someone makes a mistake they should absolutely be barred from gainful employment forever! That will teach them... that they should remain criminals. Yeah!
Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?
#49Hacking is one thing. I understand the technical thrill. But blackmail and fraud? That's a human-to-human interaction, not human-to-machine. Once a person cross that line where you are harming another person at that level, there is no going back.
[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?
#50> Serious Organised Crime Unit Are you based in the UK? That's probably relevant, it seems like a lot of the cybersecurity sector over here is very friendly with NCSC & SC is required for a lot of roles.
Yeah I've noticed it as well. I suppose it's because the GCHQ can't necessarily pay enough for very talented individuals who are required for certain work, whereas defence companies are somewhat poured with funds. I've heard that a popular path is to start in the government, then to the private sector to earn bank, and then back to public.