Terry Childs Case Puts All Admins In Danger

snydeq writes "Paul Venezia analyzes the four counts San Francisco has levied against Terry Childs, a case that curiously omits the charge of computer tampering, the very allegation that has kept Childs in jail for seven months and now appears too weak to present in court. Count 1 — 'disrupting or denying computer services' — is moot, according to Venezia, as the city's FiberWAN did not go down due to Childs' actions. Venezia writes, 'Childs' refusal to give up the passwords for several days in no way caused a disruption of the normal operation of the FiberWAN. In fact, it could be argued that his refusal actually prevented the disruption of normal network operation.' Counts 2 through 4 pertain to modems Childs had under his control, 'providing a means of accessing a computer, computer system, or computer network in violation of section 502,' according to case documents. As Venezia sees it, these counts too are spurious, as such devices are essential to the fulfillment of admin job requirements. 'If Childs is convicted on the modem charges, then just about every network administrator in the world could be charged with the same "crime,"' Venezia writes. All the authorities would have to do is 'point out that you have a modem or two, and suddenly you're wearing pinstripes of the jailhouse variety.'"

Comments

What a crock of shit.

[DaveV1.0]

This article is a total crock of shit. This case does not put all admins in danger unless the author believes all admins are arrogant assholes. But, that might be the case as the author certainly appears to be one himself.

The fact is that by withholding the password, he denied access to the systems. ANY admin with integrity would have turned the passwords over to his boss when he left the company.

Re:Slacker!!(insert severe sarcasm here-It's a jok

[SL Baur]

Then you will never truly achieve 'BOFH' status, Grasshopper.

I do believe that whatever else happens with this case, Mr. Childs(, Sir!) has achieved Hall Of Fame BOFH status and I so nominate him.

I think he's right and SF is stupid, but I think all people in NC are stupid, including me for working here.

Split Northern California and Southern California in half, cede Northern California to Zimbabwe or anyone convenient and the budget problems in what's left of the real California will be mostly solved.

why do you lawyers like people in jail

[cheekyboy]

Seriously... why?

Oh but when a REAL crim of the century Madof steals billions, 1000s of lawyers say NOTHING and let him live life of luxury, yet steal a coke from a 711 and bang to jail , which yields the lawyers MORE FEES thru representation.

Why not throw every senator and politician in jail then for withholding contractual secrets and state secrets from the public which PAYS their salary.

Jails arent for knee jerk 'im here to piss you off' punishment because I have more power.

Its to protect the public mainly from more harm.

Re:Obligatory KITH link.

[EddyPearson]

I had never seen this show before. Now that I have, I consider the last 20 years of ignorance a blessing. The script reads like a 13 year old wrote it.

Awful.