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EU: "Making hacking tools should be illegal"

theregister.co.uk

31–40 of 65 posts

Re: EU: "Making hacking tools should be illegal"

#33
post #16

If hacking tools are outlawed, then only outlaws will have hacking tools. Meaning if you're a software developer or system admin in the EU, you better be on standby 24/7 to combat 0-day exploits.

I find myself quite torn by this statement, because while I dont think hacking tools should be illegal, this is the exact same argument pro-gun people make, and i'm quite anti-gun (I'm from UK). Then again, in America drug paraphernalia is illegal but in the UK its not and i personally dont think you should be locked up for having a bong because theoretically you might only use it for tobacco.

Anyway, personally i'm quite adamant in the blanket statement that no software should be illegal.

Re: EU: "Making hacking tools should be illegal"

#34
post #16

If hacking tools are outlawed, then only outlaws will have hacking tools. Meaning if you're a software developer or system admin in the EU, you better be on standby 24/7 to combat 0-day exploits.

I find myself quite torn by this statement, because while I dont think hacking tools should be illegal, this is the exact same argument pro-gun people make, and i'm quite anti-gun (I'm from UK). Then again, in America drug paraphernalia is illegal but in the UK its not and i personally dont think you should be locked up for having a bong because theoretically you might only use it for tobacco. Anyway, personally i'm…

There is a pretty easy philosophical workaround for your unease. Support banning doing things, not having things.

Re: EU: "Making hacking tools should be illegal"

#36
post #28
post #16

If hacking tools are outlawed, then only outlaws will have hacking tools. Meaning if you're a software developer or system admin in the EU, you better be on standby 24/7 to combat 0-day exploits.

"A fondness for power is implanted, in most men, and it is natural to abuse it, when acquired." - Alexander Hamilton

Funny that that quote should come from Alexander Hamilton, who was a leader in the federalist movement to consolidate and centralize power in the US government.

Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely - lord baron acton

Re: EU: "Making hacking tools should be illegal"

#37
post #30
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There seems to be a big difference between that law and this one in that this would outlaw all posessions of "Hacking tools".

Lockpicks in my state in the US are permitted, except for having them with burglorious intent. Same thing IMO.

Burglarious is an awesome word. Thanks

Re: EU: "Making hacking tools should be illegal"

#38
post #16

If hacking tools are outlawed, then only outlaws will have hacking tools. Meaning if you're a software developer or system admin in the EU, you better be on standby 24/7 to combat 0-day exploits.

I find myself quite torn by this statement, because while I dont think hacking tools should be illegal, this is the exact same argument pro-gun people make, and i'm quite anti-gun (I'm from UK). Then again, in America drug paraphernalia is illegal but in the UK its not and i personally dont think you should be locked up for having a bong because theoretically you might only use it for tobacco. Anyway, personally i'm…

Let's not compare gun control with software. They're not really the same thing at all.

More importantly, if security professional has never created any kind of malware he or she is probably pretty bad at infosec. The fields are just two sides of the same coin.

Re: EU: "Making hacking tools should be illegal"

#40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find myself quite torn by this statement, because while I dont think hacking tools should be illegal, this is the exact same argument pro-gun people make, and i'm quite anti-gun (I'm from UK). Then again, in America drug paraphernalia is illegal but in the UK its not and i personally dont think you should be locked up for having a bong because theoretically you might only use it for tobacco. Anyway, personally i'm…

There is a pretty easy philosophical workaround for your unease. Support banning doing things, not having things.

Pretty easy, and superficially appealing, but I find that there must surely be exceptions to a rule such as this. Nuclear weapons (and similarly, some chemical weapons) are the obvious special case.

Edit: reminded reading a comment below that child pr0n is another one that the general moral consensus has problems with (I refer to the 'consensus' not because I think it is always correct but simply as it provides cases worth thinking about), and also handling stolen goods (although this can be justified through property rights).

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