US Government Admits It Doesn’t Know If Assange Cracked Password for Manning
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US Government Admits It Doesn’t Know If Assange Cracked Password for Manning
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Re: US Government Admits It Doesn’t Know If Assange Cracked Password for Manning
#2I think it is pretty well understood that they weren't successful.
At least to me as far as if he deserves protection as a journalist, I don't think it matters if he was successful. You can help someone try to commit a crime and even if they're not successful, that can be a crime.
If a journalist is given information that is one thing, offering or even helping someone commit a crime and their role has changed dramatically IMO.
I also wonder what might have happened to that other user whose account they tried to access had hey been successful. What would have come of that person's life / career had they used that as cover for Manning?
Re: US Government Admits It Doesn’t Know If Assange Cracked Password for Manning
#3"Admits?" This was clearly communicated by the very fact that he was indicted for conspiracy. By definition, conspiracy is an inchoate crime. It's a bit disingenuous for Vice to paint this as some kind of revelation or admission.
For further reading: https://criminallaw.uslegal.com/incohate-crimes/
Re: US Government Admits It Doesn’t Know If Assange Cracked Password for Manning
#4I think it is pretty well understood that they weren't successful. At least to me as far as if he deserves protection as a journalist, I don't think it matters if he was successful. You can help someone try to commit a crime and even if they're not successful, that can be a crime. If a journalist is given information that is one thing, offering or even helping someone commit a crime and their role has changed dramati…
> You can help someone try to commit a crime and even if they're not successful, that can be a crime.
Sure, but in this case it seems like he didn't even help. He decided on his own to back out of that.
If you promise to help, then don't, it should not count as "furthering" the conspiracy.
> I also wonder what might have happened to that other user whose account they tried to access had hey been successful.
Not sure, but it would presumably be their fault that the password was crackable. [edit: reworded slightly]
Re: US Government Admits It Doesn’t Know If Assange Cracked Password for Manning
#5I think it is pretty well understood that they weren't successful. At least to me as far as if he deserves protection as a journalist, I don't think it matters if he was successful. You can help someone try to commit a crime and even if they're not successful, that can be a crime. If a journalist is given information that is one thing, offering or even helping someone commit a crime and their role has changed dramati…
> You can help someone try to commit a crime and even if they're not successful, that can be a crime. Sure, but in this case it seems like he didn't even help. He decided on his own to back out of that. If you promise to help, then don't , it should not count as "furthering" the conspiracy. > I also wonder what might have happened to that other user whose account they tried to access had hey been successful. Not sure…
I'm not sure the password being crackable means it's someone else's fault because someone chose to use their identity to commit some serious crimes.
Pretty sure the fault also lies with the person who would have used their identity too.
Re: US Government Admits It Doesn’t Know If Assange Cracked Password for Manning
#6"Admits?" This was clearly communicated by the very fact that he was indicted for conspiracy. By definition, conspiracy is an inchoate crime. It's a bit disingenuous for Vice to paint this as some kind of revelation or admission. For further reading: https://criminallaw.uslegal.com/incohate-crimes/
"admits" seems to be a frequent weasel word these days.
You identify the issues with someone's story that you don't like and then you make a story about how they 'admit' those things.
God help anyone who actually 'admits' anything these days as to some people that must be instantly discrediting.
Re: US Government Admits It Doesn’t Know If Assange Cracked Password for Manning
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
> You can help someone try to commit a crime and even if they're not successful, that can be a crime. Sure, but in this case it seems like he didn't even help. He decided on his own to back out of that. If you promise to help, then don't , it should not count as "furthering" the conspiracy. > I also wonder what might have happened to that other user whose account they tried to access had hey been successful. Not sure…
I'm not sure the password being crackable means it's someone else's fault because someone chose to use their identity to commit some serious crimes. Pretty sure the fault also lies with the person who would have used their identity too.
If you're punished for what someone did with your password, that's obviously unfair.
Being punished for having a crackable password (on a reasonable hash) is fair.
I adjusted the wording a little, is that clearer?
Re: US Government Admits It Doesn’t Know If Assange Cracked Password for Manning
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm not sure the password being crackable means it's someone else's fault because someone chose to use their identity to commit some serious crimes. Pretty sure the fault also lies with the person who would have used their identity too.
If you're punished for what someone did with your password, that's obviously unfair. Being punished for having a crackable password (on a reasonable hash) is fair. I adjusted the wording a little, is that clearer?
Using an easily crackable password is unwise, yes. And it increases the risk that it may be cracked and misused - and therefore the risk of having to deal with the fallout of a crack. But I would suggest that even so, the only criminal in the picture is the person doing the cracking. The victim may have been foolish to have a weak password, but should that really be a punishable offence?
Re: US Government Admits It Doesn’t Know If Assange Cracked Password for Manning
#9I think it is pretty well understood that they weren't successful. At least to me as far as if he deserves protection as a journalist, I don't think it matters if he was successful. You can help someone try to commit a crime and even if they're not successful, that can be a crime. If a journalist is given information that is one thing, offering or even helping someone commit a crime and their role has changed dramati…
Yep. There are ethical rules for Journalism, which are enshrined in law in many places. One of the rules is that a Journalist may receive stolen information and publish it. But a Journalist may not themselves steal the information, or participate or aid in obtaining private information.
Right now, it looks to me like Assange lied that he was going to help hack anything. I don't see how this is a crime under US law. It's a very weak case, and they cannot lawfully charge him with anything not mentioned in the extradition request. This all changes if they have actual proof he did try to hack a password though.
Re: US Government Admits It Doesn’t Know If Assange Cracked Password for Manning
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm not sure the password being crackable means it's someone else's fault because someone chose to use their identity to commit some serious crimes. Pretty sure the fault also lies with the person who would have used their identity too.
If you're punished for what someone did with your password, that's obviously unfair. Being punished for having a crackable password (on a reasonable hash) is fair. I adjusted the wording a little, is that clearer?
>Being punished for having a crackable password (on a reasonable hash) is fair.
What qualifies as punished to you?
It's possible that this person's life career could have been ruined if Manning was able to hide behind this other account and the actual owner of the account was blamed...
Is that fair?