McKinnon's last appeal has failed • Hacker News Board

Re: McKinnon's last appeal has failed

#21

Post by sfphotoarts » Fri, Jul 31, 2009, 5:04 PM UTC

FiveFiftyOne wrote: post #16

I am the only one who thinks that if you think you're smart enough to do something you know is illegal, then you should be big enough to handle what comes your way when you get caught? Bollocks to his mental state and his frailty and the other excuses being trotted out on his behalf. He knew he was doing wrong when he committed the hack, and he should grow the necessaries to deal with the consequences now. Too late t…

yeah, you're right, but a lot of people have that sympathize-with-the-little-guy mentality despite what they have done.

Bollocks indeed.

Re: McKinnon's last appeal has failed

#22

Post by 83457 » Fri, Jul 31, 2009, 5:37 PM UTC

cesare wrote: post #3

swombat wrote: post #2

Very disappointing indeed. I shudder to think that this guy (who is quite obviously pretty harmless, even though he also clearly did something stupid) will have to face the full barbaric apparatus of the US anti-terrorist justice system. For all we know, maybe he'll end up in Guantanamo Bay.

Indeed. This is really sad. By the way, I would like to know how could he have made $800.000 in damages. Is this the money spent to make the system more secure?

It probably comes down to time spent trying to track whether or not he did something malicious and other investigative processes necessary. Put a few security experts or a consulting firm on the case for a year and it gets quite expensive. Also if they found out he compromised sensitive information and had to change plans or reschedule something then expenses start racking up.

Re: McKinnon's last appeal has failed

#23

Post by swombat » Fri, Jul 31, 2009, 5:59 PM UTC

designtofly wrote: post #19

swombat wrote: post #2

Very disappointing indeed. I shudder to think that this guy (who is quite obviously pretty harmless, even though he also clearly did something stupid) will have to face the full barbaric apparatus of the US anti-terrorist justice system. For all we know, maybe he'll end up in Guantanamo Bay.

Pretty harmless? I'll admit that I don't know much about this case, but this bit seems to indicate otherwise: "Mr McKinnon admits that he hacked into 97 US computers from his bedroom in north London between 2001 and 2002 and left a message on one machine saying: "I will continue to disrupt at the highest levels."" Two years, almost 100 computer systems, taunting and threats.. that doesn't sound so harmless to me. [1]…

The full message that he left was:

“US foreign policy is akin to government-sponsored terrorism these days . . . It was not a mistake that there was a huge security stand down on September 11 last year . . . I am SOLO. I will continue to disrupt at the highest levels . . .”

In context, it seems less sinister, more stupid / self-important.