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Use a Honeypot, Go to Prison?
scubacuda writes "Using a honeypot to detect and surveil computer intruders might put you on the working end of federal wiretapping beef, or even get you sued by the next hacker that sticks his nose in the trap, according this (old) Security Focus article. Honeypots could be federal criminal law calls "interception of communications", a felony that carries up to five years in prison. Because the Federal Wiretap Act has civil provisions, as well as criminal, there's even a chance that a hacker could file a lawsuit against a honeypot operator that doesn't have their legal ducks in a row. "It would take chutzpah," said
Richard Salgado, senior counsel for the Department of Justice's computer crime unit, "But there's a case where an accused kidnapper who was using a cloned cell phone sued for the interception of the cell phone conversations... And he won.""
I always knew that something bad would come of Pooh and his addiction...
Who knew that honeypots would lead to jail? I bet even Owl and Rabbit didn't know that!
The anti-salmon
This is like a burglar suing a homeowner because he cut himself on a knife he was stealing along with the rest of their silverware...
Ah but the burglar CAN sue you for cutting himself on your knife. Welcome to the good old US of A.
The computers you own are not actually yours. They are owned by the United States govt. Everyone go download their new distributed CPU project called "Count The Votes". Oh, wait, they installed it for me. Thank you govt. :D
On a serious note though. Its getting to be that regular Americans can't do anything without fear of getting sued or suing someone else. McDonalds coffee anyone?
I can see this might happen:
1) Find Open Windoze SMB share (or any open, insecure systems)
2) "Hack" into it
3) Try to get caught (log files, whatever)
4) Claim that was a honeypot
5) Sue for profit
It does seem this easy.
Please direct all bug reports to
Small, yellow bear wearing red shirt.
Suspect goes by the name of "Winnie the Pooh" which he received because he smears feces all over his victims after he murders them. Suspect keeps company with the likes of a bouncing self proclaimed "thug" named "Tigger" and a small yet crafty mastermind of evil "Piglet".
Suspects should be conidered armed and dangerous. If seen, please contact Detective Christopher Robinson.
We advise the public to keep all Honeypots safely out of sight and or smell.
This is my sig. Its pathetic.
Who is this "Poster" guy and why does he own all of my comments?!?
I've tried some weird combinations before, but mixing honey with pot never occured to me.
Does it get you a better buzz?
This is my sig. Its pathetic.
Wait a minute!
No anti-MS sentiment... posted by Taco... not a dupe...
This story is a honeypot! Whatever you do, don't post any comments! It's a trick! It's a tri^&T3ATZ
NO CARRIER
I moderate "-1, Fool"
next we'll see handicapped burglars suing homeowners for not providing wheelchair access to their valuables.
If you mod me down the terrorists will have won
I think it's fucked up myself too. Sure if someone is entering my house, I can shoot them. But by God if they cut themselves on a steak knife I left out I might be liable for thousands.
Better shoot them instead, no sense putting yourself at legal risk.
...as the Feds slapped the cuffs on him and threw him against the hood of the car.
Burglar enters my house through a window.
Window breaks, burglar cuts arm.
I hear it, grab my gun, and see the burglar bleeding on my oriental throw rug.
I say, "Sorry man, I don't really want to kill you, but I won't be liable for it and there's less paperwork that way."
BAM!
Qualitas edurus commercium, nullus penitus net rimor, nullus deus beneficium
Well I guess I'm going to jail, my cell phone ocassionally intercepts other communications and I hear their conversation in the background of mine...damn the luck.
Gibble: Descriptive of an emotional state in which one's mind is scrabbling for some purchase on reality
... as he reached for the soap.
Robots are everywhere, and they eat old people's medicine for fuel.
I really hate signatures, but go to my website.
Anybody notice how "Honey pots" backwards is "Stop yenoh!". A quick google of the word reveals it to have to do with food, so "honey pots" is code for "Stop food!". This madness must be ended!
An online Starcraft RPG? Free, only at
In soviet russia, all your us are belong to base!
Karma: Redundant!
Online Starcraft RPG? At
Dietary fiber is like asynchronous IO-- Non-blocking!