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Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?

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Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?

#81
post #72

Trace your family ancestry and look for any types of citizenship by descent you are eligible for. If you can get another passport leave, then change your name and start fresh. If you have the means you could even try citizenship by investment. For a few hundred grand you can get a new passport, but it might be tricky if they look into criminal past. Move to the Caribbean and work remotely.

Man it's not even that much money to get the new passport. Depending on where, but there is options well under that which will get you around (Panama for one)

It sounds like their problem at this point is probably travel restrictions.

Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?

#82
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.…

> Wow, I wonder what the goal of that exercise was.

Clearly, to learn to spell words. In much the same way that kids have to practice arithmetic and saying "I just used a calculator to get the results" is fine in real life but not when you want to learn what addition is.

Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?

#83

Your issue is not competence, nobody will doubt that you are capable. What you need is to show people that you're not going to cause trouble for them, which is more of a social skill that you demonstrate at the interview. Try to acknowledge that you did something bad, don't use words that diminish it, and try to explain that you want to move on and you now want to be a positive force. There's going to be some natural…

Yep, the main hurdle here is the need for the OP to demonstrate that they left past ethics fully and firmly behind.

Demonstrate ethics? They'd have to be hired for that, I think.

Otherwise how do you demonstrate ethics to someone who doesn't know you, yet? :) Certainly not in a interview, that's just talk and smiles and promises.

Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?

#84
post #6

Apply for everything. Let other people say no for you. If people find out about your past be 100% straight with them, but you don't need to be the one to bring it up. Work your hardest to provide value, ask for feedback and correct where necessary. You'll be fine. There's a lot of work in cybersecurity these days. Also, you should list the country you're in. Who knows, someone on HN could reach out with an opportunit…

> Let other people say no for you. Wow. Upvoting because this is such a succinct and powerful way to say this, and I’ve never heard it before. i. e. It’s not our job, domain, or in our interest to reject ourselves from a job we’re interested in before applying

I recently told my SO this exact thing. They were doubting whether to apply for a higher position because they might be rejected. I told them that not applying would definitely mean they wouldn't get the job, so at least applying means there's a chance.

Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?

#85
>I can't just walk into employment with my skillset

sure you can, give it a try

proficiency is talent on its own and being a self taught means only that you can learn (and being _very_ good at it, considering your story)

nothing's wrong with entry level job though, sounds like a solid place to start regardless of how much overqualified for that job you are - as long as you'll be doing what you love and there will be a clear promotion path for you

and even if there's none that job can still do you good if you threat it as a stepping stone - a warm up for better job to come

our past, things that happened before are important ofc but much more important things that will be, things that happens next

so chin up, looking forward to read your follow up success story in few months, best of luck!

Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?

#86
post #8

A 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"'

500k-2m depending on severity is a good ballpark figure for numbers I’ve heard of

Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?

#88
Your (unstated) goal is to rebuild trust and rebrand yourself. If I were you, I would start a small pentesting business. It's not trivial and isn't for everyone, but it would be the easiest (IMHO) path to that goal. There are thousands of books on how to begin that journey. Kevin Mitnick took this path.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Mitnick

Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?

#89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve never worked anywhere that would hire an ex con. Have you?

I have never been asked this question for employment. In my country being forbidden to work in some area is an extra sentence that the judge would impose (it's mostly around being forbidden to manage a company, being elected, or using weapons) and would be checked by the probation officer, not the employer.

It isn't a matter of being forbidden to work in an industry, but rather that some companies may be forbidden to employ you (and even then, the restrictions may only be for certain roles).

Let's ignore the computer/security aspects of this particular situation, and come up with other examples.

If you are convicted of a financial crime, for example, you are not barred from working as an accountant. You can even get a license and work as a CPA.

But some companies may not be able to employ you as an accountant due to your conviction.

And, it is worth noting, you can certainly lose your license if you commit a relevant crime after getting your license (or for failing to report some other felony to the licensing board).

All the above varies considerably in the details between countries, and in the US between states (eg. in some states a conviction for a felony requires a hearing before the certification board before being allowed to take the relevant exam, and the board may not decide in your favor).

Circling back to computers and security, the situation is much more forgiving since there is no relevant licensing barrier; nevertheless, some companies may be restricted from employing people convicted of certain categories of crimes in particular functions: think of having access to a bank's or credit company's customer information and accounts, or a health provider's patient data. But even organizations that are subject to such restrictions have plenty of roles (potentially even security roles) that aren't affected by these restrictions (except by their own internal policies, anyway).

Re: Ask HN: Recent computer hacking convictions and employability?

#90

> 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…

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