Former Hacker Irks Microsoft in EU Dispute

Carl Bialik from WSJ writes "The Wall Street Journal profiles Neil Barrett, 'a former computer hacker who once infiltrated the system controlling a telescope at a Hawaii laboratory' and is now an expert witness causing problems for Microsoft in its antitrust battle with the European Union. Barrett 'has helped put the British glam rocker Gary Glitter behind bars for pedophilia. And he also has helped prosecute a teenage hacker from Wales, who claimed to have stolen Bill Gates' credit-card number and sent the Microsoft founder a shipment of Viagra. [...] In the corporate world, Mr. Barrett once met a challenge to hack into a large multinational company's system in four days to win a security assignment. He stole the company's undisclosed new logo as a trophy, he wrote.'"

Comments

Shipment

[Anonymous Coward]

of herrings...that's what he should've sent Bill. And a first anonymous post!

Guess who's paying him?

[tpgp]

The really funny bit of the article:

by the commission, which has signed him to a five-year contract at an undisclosed salary that it requires Microsoft to pay.

*heh* I bet that drives Bill crazy....

Re:resume?

[dotgain]

It also firmly establishes that this guy is nothing more than a backstabbing little shit. He illegally hacks into systems and then proceeds to turn anyone and everyone he can over to the authorities. Makes me wonder what kind of "friends" he has.

Rich ones.

Re:The guy who discovered Gary Glitter's paedo-fes

[martinmarv]

I'm not aware of any virus scanners that would say "Hey, this JPEG looks infected, want to open it?".

That being said, I've not tried the Microsoft "One Care" solution ;o)

Re:He should have sent Bill a copy of OS X...

[Anonymous Coward]

Happy 13th Birthday from all of us here at Slashdot!

All well and good....

[The Fold]

but has he hacked the Gibson?

True Occupation of a Hacker

[Anonymous Coward]

While looking for Occupations from the pre 1900's, i came across the following in the list.

HABERDASHER - Seller Of Men's Clothing
HACKER - A Maker Of Hoes
HACKNEY MAN - Renter Of Horses & Carriages
HANDWOMAN - Midwife Or Female Attendant

So the true definition of a 'Hacker', was a Maker of Hoes.

Re:True Occupation of a Hacker

[Anonymous Coward]

Maker of Hoes... referred to more commonly these days as a 'pimp'...

Re:True Occupation of a Hacker

[db32]

Let us not associate men wearing pantyhose with hackers. The media already has enough problems not blowing "hackers" WAY out of proportion.

Re:Not that I question Barrett's qualifications

[Rauser]

He can speak baud, of course.

I've done it before, and I'll do it again

[Anonymous Coward]

You guys are a bunch of fucking fags.

Balmer?

Re:Bill should hire new lawyers.

[Darkman, Walkin Dude]

Its true I didn't say it wasn't true, but by not saying what was unsaid I was saying what would be the truth if I had said the truth, if indeed I didn't say the truth in the first place. Faith and begorrah.

Re:What does the EU want from microsoft?

[ThePilgrim]

Who are you?

The New EU Complience Director.

Who's side are you on?

That would be telling.

Wat do you want?

We want documentation.

You won't get it.

By hook or by crook we will

Who is the Comminishoner?

You are the defendent.

We am not the defendent. We are Microsoft.

Ha Ha Ha Ha!