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Germany Declares Hacking Tools Illegal

dubbelj writes "Germany has updated their computer crime law to declare 'hacking tools' illegal. This will place most of the professionals in the network admin and computer security fields in a sort of legal grey area. 'The new rules tighten up the existing sanctions and prohibit any unauthorized user from disabling or circumventing computer security measures to access secure data (see the law, sections 200 and following [in German]). Manufacturing, programming, installing, or spreading software that can circumvent security measures is verboten, which means that some security scanning tools might become illegal.' We discussed a similar measure in January when Australia considered the same kind of legislation. How will this affect Linux distribution in Germany, as most standard Linux distributions come with these kind of 'hacking tools' installed by default?"

17 of 299 comments (clear)

  1. Problem Solved by Blahbooboo3 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Great! Well, problem solved. We can all stop patching our servers and running firewalls now! Yippee!! :D

    1. Re:Problem Solved by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Well, we all know Linux IS a hacker tool

  2. Outlaws by dbzero · · Score: 5, Funny

    If "hacking tools" are outlawed, only outlaws will have "hacking tools."

  3. Re:Computers by dextromulous · · Score: 2, Funny

    Axes can be used as a tool to hack as well. Actually, that is their intended purpose.

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    There are two types of people in the world: those who divide people into two types and those who don't.
  4. Re:Who is ... by u-bend · · Score: 2, Funny

    >Who is Default?
    If you don't know, default is your own.

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    u-bend
  5. Re:Hard to read. by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 3, Funny

    If they close down all the "space bars", they don't have to worry about aliens, weird languages and hacking tools.

  6. Re:Who is ... by iluvcapra · · Score: 3, Funny

    Can't RTFA since the laws are in German

    If they were in English would it really make a difference ;).

    --
    Don't blame me, I voted for Baltar.
  7. Re:Computers by kalirion · · Score: 5, Funny

    The rulebook of my high school explicitly forbid bringing to school "anything that can be used as a weapon." I brought up the point that this would effectively expel all small freshmen who could be picked up and thrown at other people.

  8. Re:Computers by Broken+scope · · Score: 2, Funny

    I prefer chopping.

    --
    You mad
  9. Evil Bit by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just make sure the evil bit is unset on your "hacking tools", and they'll be hunky-dory.

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    --
    make install -not war

  10. Re:man ping by maxwell+demon · · Score: 4, Funny

    I've got eyes which I could use to look at someone typing a password. I hope I'll not be forced to disable them! :-)

    --
    The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
  11. Re:Reply: Well, no phreaking problem folks...HAVEF by Mattintosh · · Score: 5, Funny

    All heidi-holes, small/large dark crevices, and generally anything that can be screwed will be looked into.


    Yeah, Heidi is such a slut.
  12. Re:Computers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Live by the pen, die by the pen.

  13. Re:Hard to read. by An+ominous+Cow+art · · Score: 4, Funny

    Good riddance to 'em. They always make me leave my 'droids outside.

  14. About time... by hurfy · · Score: 4, Funny

    that they outlawed Sony CDs there........

  15. Re:man ping by ACE209 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Don't think so.
    But his parents are in serious troubles now.

    --
    "we are all atheists about most of the gods that societies have ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further."
  16. Re:man ping by Master+of+Transhuman · · Score: 2, Funny


    Browsers facilitate "Google hacking"!

    In fact, so does TCP/IP!

    So do Cisco routers!

    No more Internet!

    --
    Richard Steven Hack - This sig is TOO GODDAMN SHORT TO DO ANYTHING USEFUL WITH! MORONS!