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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

#111

Post by bricestacey »

sp332 wrote: post #21
rryan wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anyone on MITNet has access to JSTOR articles free of charge to the user. Similarly the ACM, IEEE, etc. all have agreements like this with major universities.

Oh, so some articles are available to buy, and the subscription includes those and more? I thought the subscription was the subset.

JSTOR offers packages and any articles not included in those packages can be purchased by individuals. Most choose instead to request it via interlibary loan and you'd have it within 24 hours usually.

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

#112

Post by redthrowaway »

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…

>This is the most technically competent charging document I've ever read.

I'm guessing MIT had a hand in penning it, or at least provided someone who could easily explain the relevant material to the DA/Grand Jury.

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

#114

Post by jackpirate »

a3camero wrote: post #82
thisuser wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He is accused of stealing bandwidth from JSTOR, not the documents. "Theft of services" not theft of property. Theft of bandwidth is almost as absurd as theft via copying. JSTOR apparently isn't interested in free transmission of knowledge

If you read the indictment you'll see that they very much are not interested in free transmission of knowledge. They charge >$50k/yr for access: " For a large research university, this annual subscription fee for JSTOR’s various collections of content can cost more than $50,000."

That price actually seems pretty reasonable for a large research university.

The real question is how much they charge individuals who want to get an article. My first google search (http://www.jstor.org/pss/27757488) results in $12/article. This is very steep when you're trying to do research and don't even know if the article is what you're looking for.

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

#115

Post by bricestacey »

I don't understand why he was so desperate to access it via MIT. There are dozens of libraries in the Boston area with access to JSTOR with guest access to their network. If he wasn't in such a rush, he could have easily bounced around campuses and likely have avoided detection.

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

#117

Post by sigil »

Consider showing your support for Aaron here:

http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/support_aaron/

Demand Progress is an organization Aaron co-founded. They've done some great watchdog work on things like PROTECT IP, the Patriot Act, the Internet Blacklist Bill etc.

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

#118

Post by joeyh »

feydr wrote: post #88

can someone please explain what the deal is here for us uninitiated? sounds like they are throwing the book at him for stealing books? seriously? why is the prosecution being so aggressive? did he profit from it or something? this sounds so petty

The cynic in me suspects that he has annoyed someone in power with his many other political activities (Demand Progress etc). When I first had contact with Aaron he was just this guy who wrote rss2email, it's been very inspiring to see him move on to hacking politics.

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

#119

Post by anigbrowl »

dman wrote: post #109
anigbrowl wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, if someone stole $100,000 of property from a storage facility, that wouldn't mean the storage facility claimed ownership of the property, just that it was the location of the theft. Maybe you're overthinking this a bit.

Well this is more akin to breaking into the storage facility and making a copy of all the Paintings stored there. The value of the goods being stored has not been reduced.

Not to torture this analogy any further, but would you feel safe storing your stuff at such a facility after something like that? No, you'd probably look elsewhere for your storage needs. Breaking in is still bad and would be the subject of criminal charges. If the US attorneys decide that use of the word 'stole' is somewhat over the top, then guess what? they can amend the indictment - just as the defense can amend their motions.

My point is not that the government is correct or morally justified in bringing this indictment, but that getting hung up on terminology like this obscures the legally problematic issue of having (allegedly) bypassed the security systems to download material he was not supposed to have access to, regardless of who actually owns said material.

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