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Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download millions of JSTOR docs

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Re: Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download millions of JSTOR docs

#41

Post by Alex3917 »

_delirium wrote: post #27

The repeated use of "stole" in the indictment is interesting, even beyond the usual metaphorical usage to discuss copyright infringement. In this case, the indictment alleges that the documents were stolen from JSTOR , which does not even own them! In the vast majority of cases JSTOR scanned documents whose copyright is owned by someone else, and acquired or was donated a non-exclusive license to distribute copies vi…

They are talking about theft of services, not copyright infringement. In any event these charges are going to be very difficult to beat since they're federal, even though there are some obvious holes in the indictment. It will be almost impossible to get any of the evidence thrown out even if there was an illegal search and seizure. His best bet is probably to get the Harvard legal team to go to bat for him, although it's difficult to say how likely that is.

Re: Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download millions of JSTOR docs

#42

Post by shii »

asciilifeform wrote: post #18

The man is a heroic martyr, who risked everything to set knowledge free. (Knowledge most of which was produced at the public's expense!) He may very well die in prison. Or perhaps he will be forced to publicly recant and merely be forbidden from using computers. I hope that in the latter case he will have the good sense to emigrate. One day, his tormentors will be harshly punished. Unless, of course, "the future is a…

First time I've ever actually laughed on Hacker News.

Re: Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download millions of JSTOR docs

#43

Post by mbreese »

runningdogx wrote: post #34

This is the most technically competent charging document I've ever read. I guess there must have been some hackers on the grand jury. Paragraph 35 & 36: which "protected computer" on MIT's network did he access? Certainly they're not trying to claim his laptop was a protected computer? Are they talking about the DHCP server or whatever registration frontend MIT has for the DHCP assignments? I have trouble with the co…

> no operative security barriers in place

I don't know... Even if my front door was open, you still aren't allowed to enter my house without my permission.

Re: Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download millions of JSTOR docs

#44

Post by tptacek »

jdp23 wrote: post #40
tptacek wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

HE MAY VERY WELL DIE IN PRISON. Can we be done with this thread? I know for a fact that I am not the only one who has flagged it. No good can come of this. In a likely worst case given who we're talking about, Aaron will be prodded into commenting publicly on a criminal case. FLAGGED.

Which of the HN guidelines does this violate?

None of them. I think you'd be doing Aaron a favor to kill it, though.

Re: Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download millions of JSTOR docs

#45

Post by mbreese »

troutwine wrote: post #16

The indictment asserts that Mr. Swartz intended to distribute the files downloaded but did not substantiate this claim. I wonder what proof they have of this? (There are, of course, a great many laws dealing with probable intent that need only convince a jury of said intent without demonstrating it's validity.)

Right... the real question seems to be what was he going to do with the files. The indictment doesn't really offer any evidence to this, and I doubt Aaron will be doing much talking until his defense.

Re: Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download millions of JSTOR docs

#46

Post by asciilifeform »

andylei wrote: post #36
asciilifeform wrote: post #18

The man is a heroic martyr, who risked everything to set knowledge free. (Knowledge most of which was produced at the public's expense!) He may very well die in prison. Or perhaps he will be forced to publicly recant and merely be forbidden from using computers. I hope that in the latter case he will have the good sense to emigrate. One day, his tormentors will be harshly punished. Unless, of course, "the future is a…

i can't tell if this is a joke or not

Not at all.

Re: Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download millions of JSTOR docs

#47

Post by jgilliam »

troutwine wrote: post #16

The indictment asserts that Mr. Swartz intended to distribute the files downloaded but did not substantiate this claim. I wonder what proof they have of this? (There are, of course, a great many laws dealing with probable intent that need only convince a jury of said intent without demonstrating it's validity.)

That is what he normally does. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/us/13records.html

Re: Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download millions of JSTOR docs

#48

Post by JED3 »

jgilliam wrote: post #33

He posted on his blog yesterday that there would be a "major announcement" on blog.demandprogress.org today, but nothing has been posted. http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/updates

published http://blog.demandprogress.org/2011/07/federal-government-in...

Re: Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download millions of JSTOR docs

#49

Post by sp332 »

yid wrote: post #25
sp332 wrote: post #5

How did Aaron get access to the for-pay articles (page 9)? Also: nice going, Aaron! Drag research access into the 21st century, kicking and screaming! Does anyone think it's odd that an Acer laptop could write these files to disk faster than JSTOR could serve them?

> Does anyone think it's odd that an Acer laptop could write these files to disk faster than JSTOR could serve them? Why would that be odd? SATA = 3 Gbps throughput with minimal overhead, Ethernet = 1 Gbps with lots of overhead (IP headers, Ethernet headers, HTTP headers)

SATA = 3 Gbps throughput with minimal overhead

USB HD's top out about 200Mbit/s. JSTOR's RAID arrays should be able to drown his laptop without breaking a sweat.

Re: Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download millions of JSTOR docs

#50

Post by mukyu »

http://blog.demandprogress.org/2011/07/federal-government-in...

“It’s even more strange because the alleged victim has settled any claims against Aaron, explained they’ve suffered no loss or damage, and asked the government not to prosecute,” Segal added.

Nowhere do they say he did not do it however.

cached: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://...

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