First There’s No Theft
What about theft of service?
Arguable
Breaking and entering.
Not According to My Friend. His Father Is a Lawyer
But, you have to admit, you are doing it without permission.
No, Not Really
Aw, come on.
Listen. Let’s Say That You Live in a House
Nice place to make a home.
AND LET’S SAY THAT YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS DECIDE TO LEAVE THE KEYS TO YOUR HOUSES ON THE CURB OF YOUR STREET EVERY DAY. EVEN WHEN YOU’RE HOME. SO THAT ANYONE WHO COMES ALONG CAN PICK UP THE KEYS AND WALK INTO YOUR HOUSE ANYTIME THEY WANT TO.
That’s crazy.
OF COURSE IT IS. BUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DID THAT AND THEN YOUR HOUSE GOT BROKEN INTO AND YOU WERE ROBBED?
I guess the police would figure me for a blithering idiot, a candidate for the funny farm, and my insurance company might have reason not to pay me after they canceled me. So what?
THAT’S WHAT I DO. AND THAT’S WHAT MY FRIENDS DO. WE LOOK AROUND FOR PEOPLE WHO LEAVE THE KEYS TO THEIR COMPUTERS LYING AROUND FOR ANYONE TO PICK UP. WHEN WE FIND A SET OF KEYS, WE USE THEM.
It can’t be that simple. No one would leave keys lying around for hackers.
WRONGO MEDIA BREATH. IT’S ABSURDLY SIMPLE. I DON’T KNOW OF VERY MANY COMPUTERS THAT I CAN’T GET INTO. SOME PEOPLE CALL IT BREAK-ING AND ENTERING. I CALL IT A WELCOME MAT. IF YOU DON’T WANT ME IN YOUR COMPUTER, THEN DON’T LEAVE THE FRONT DOOR OPEN.
If what you’re saying is true...
IT IS. COMPLETELY. I HAVE THE KEYS TO HUNDREDS OF COMPUTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. AND ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THE KEYS WERE ALL LEFT LYING IN THE STREET. SO I USED THEM TO HAVE A LOOK AROUND.
I don’t know if I buy this. But, for now, I’ll put that aside. So, where do these hacker horrors come from?
AGAIN LET’S COMPARE. IF YOU LEFT YOUR KEYS IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE AND HALF OF YOUR TOWN KNEW IT AND 100 PEOPLE WENT INTO YOUR HOUSE TO LOOK AROUND, HOW MANY WOULD STAY HONEST AND JUST LOOK?
Not many I guess.
BUT WITH HACKERS, THERE’S A CODE OF ETHICS THAT MOST OF US LIVE BY. BUT AS IN ANY GROUP OR SOCIETY THERE ARE A FEW BAD APPLES AND THEY GIVE THE REST OF US A BAD NAME. THEY GET A KICK OUT OF HURTING OTHER PEOPLE, OR STEALING, OR WHATEVER. HERE’S ANOTHER SOMETHING FOR YOUR FILE. EVERY COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN ENTERED BY HACKERS. EVERY SINGLE ONE.
That’s impossible.
TRY ME. I’VE BEEN INTO OVER A THOUSAND MYSELF AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF GUYS LIKE ME. AT LEAST I’M HONEST.
Why should I believe that?