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Australian Police Database Lacked Root Password

Posted by kdawson on from the kick-me dept.

Concerned Citizen writes "The Australian Federal Police database has been hacked, although 'hacked' might be too strong a word for what happens when someone gains access to a MySQL database with no root password. Can you be charged with breaking and entering a house that has the door left wide open? Maybe digital trespassing is a better term for this situation. 'These dipshits are using an automatic digital forensics and incident response tool,' the hacker wrote. 'All of this [hacking] had been done within 30-40 minutes. Could of [sic] been faster if I didn't stop to laugh so much.'"

9 of 214 comments (clear)

  1. mmmm........ by gcnaddict · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's the smell of someone being fired.

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    1. Re:mmmm........ by actionbastard · · Score: 4, Funny

      That's some really fine police work there Lou.

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    2. Re:mmmm........ by RiotingPacifist · · Score: 5, Funny

      Here in the UK, they kick them out! ...wait a few years until everybody forgets about them, then but them back at the same level. But if somebody is incompetent enough to get caught repeatedly, we promote them to lord!

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    3. Re:mmmm........ by Mat'nik · · Score: 5, Funny

      0. A government employee may not harm the government, or, through inaction, allow the government to come to harm.
      1. A government employee may not harm a politician or, through inaction, allow a politician to come to harm, except where such orders would conflict with the Zeroth Law.
      2. A government employee must obey any orders given to it by politicians, except where such orders would conflict with the Zeroth or First Law.
      3. A government employee must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the Zeroth, First or Second Law.

  2. Re:It's still breaking and entering by Metasquares · · Score: 5, Funny

    No, but this sounds like an idea for the next Sims expansion pack.

  3. Typical bureaucratic concept of network security by DarthBart · · Score: 3, Funny

    We don't need to secure anything...we've got a...

    (Tympanic BOOM-BOOM-BOOM)

    A FIREWALL!

  4. Didn't have a password? by billstewart · · Score: 5, Funny

    I hope the crackers were polite enough to give it one....

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  5. Re:Even if unlocked still breaking and entering by jasonwc · · Score: 3, Funny

    Obviously I was referring to the United States, but you are correct in your implication that I should have been more clear especially on a site as pedantic as Slashdot.

  6. Re:Even if unlocked still breaking and entering by OrangeCatholic · · Score: 3, Funny

    Good to know. I had a feeling it was a crime for local cops to download my email. I didn't know it was a felony.

    After they started monitoring my internet connection (or rather, the internet connection I happen to use), my reaction was to stop checking my email. Obviously, email is pretty important, so not checking your email can have serious personal consequences. You might miss friends trying to get in touch or business opportunities.

    Well, the cops didn't want that, so their reaction was to start checking my email for me. You know, so I wouldn't miss anything important.

    The stupidity speaks for itself. I bet the cops that beat Rodney King took him to the hospital afterward and bought him flowers. They're so desperate to be liked by anyone who will take them.