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If You Hack NBC, You Don't Get to Meet Tom Brokaw

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the thats-pretty-funny dept.

subgeek writes "Security Focus Online is carrying this story about the spot that Adrian Lamo almost had on the NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. NBC changed their mind after they realized the possible legal implications of filming someone hack corporate systems. NBC also seemed a bit touchy that Lamo had gotten into their system so handily. According to the article, it took him about five minutes and one guessed password to get inside NBC's intranet from a computer at a Kinko's. Lamo's comment: "It was a very full service system.""

5 of 319 comments (clear)

  1. Proof by chill · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Demonstrating OTHER corporations are security dumb-asses is one thing, but demonstrating THEY are security dumb-asses on nationwide television must've triggered someone's clue meter.

    --
    Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
  2. Legal Implications? by LinuxWoman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sounds to me like they're more embarassed that he did it so easily and from such a public location. After all, he was invited by an NBC employee to attempt to hack their system.

    1. Re:Legal Implications? by GigsVT · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I would have gotten a signed waiver that said that the employee signing it was representing that he had authority to allow such a thing. This guy will be lucky if he isn't sued.

      --
      I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
  3. Yeah, it is funny. by FallLine · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's ok to publicize the flaws of airport security, how easy it is to build a bomb, and numerous other cases where some psycho can be encouraged to kill hundreds of people. They do so nominally under the justification that exposing the flaws helps society (as if government can and will simply just put a stopper in the hole). However, when it comes to exposing the flaws in their own computer network they get philosophical all of the sudden. Funny how that works.

  4. Re:So... what was the password? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    It is also funny to hear what some of my friends think are secure passwords. Among them being obscure Anime characters.

    Among your friends or their passwords? ;o)