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

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....

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:Not that I question Barrett's qualifications

[Rauser]

He can speak baud, of course.