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Feds Bust Cable Modem Hacker

Several readers noted the indictment of hardware hacker Ryan Harris, known as DerEngel. Harris wrote the 2006 book Hacking the Cable Modem, explaining how to get upgraded speed or even free Internet service by bypassing the firmware locks on Motorola Surfboard modems. He has run a profitable business at tcniso.net since 2003, selling unlocked cable modems. (The site is now offline.) Harris has been charged with conspiracy, aiding and abetting computer intrusion, and wire fraud. Wired quotes Harris's reaction: "I read the indictment — it's complete bull****. I'll tell you right now I'm not going to plead guilty."

8 of 658 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I wish I saw this earlier by DJRumpy · · Score: 5, Informative

    That might have worked, if he wasn't actually selling the hacked modems.

  2. Re:What!? by WilliamX · · Score: 5, Informative
    A shoplifter is told that the court will look positively on his cooperation after being arested, and then is asked did he intend to steal the item(s) when he entered the store, or did he decide to steal them once inside the store.

    He admits he went there to steal the item.

    Petting theft just turned into Felony Commercial Burglary (Burglary being defined in California Penal Code as entering a premises with the intent to commit larceny).

    Will it get pled down? Now he HAS to plea it down and take whatever they offer to avoid a felony record.

    Saw this exact scenario play out when a college student was busted stealing a $20 CD.

  3. Re:What!? by Moryath · · Score: 5, Informative

    And that's a great example of why you should never talk to the cops. EVER.

    It's not their job to be fair. It's their job to get you to say something incriminating. Functionally, it's the cops' job to "aid and abet" the prosecutors' office in getting innocent people convicted.

    Anyone who says different, is a clueless idealistic moron. You have the 5th amendment right to keep your mouth shut for a reason: NEVER say anything to the cops.

  4. Re:What!? by rhook · · Score: 5, Informative

    This may come as a shocker but the body armor police use wont stop most rifle rounds. "Cop Killer" bullets are a myth.

  5. Re:What's this have to do with my rights online? by Datamonstar · · Score: 5, Informative

    RTFA. He ceased criminal activities long ago and now simply sells the unlocked routers. They got him on conspiracy and aiding and abetting computer intrusion and wire fraud because someone bought a router from his group's site and used it to get unlawful access to internet. The biggest piece of evidence beside all that is a post he made on his forum asking for a valid MAC address. Supposedly, just because he (allegedly) asked for the MAC add, he committed all 6 crimes he was convicted of. That's bullshit, he's fighting it and I would too. Definitely a "your rights' issue.

    --
    The eternal struggle of good vs. evil begins within one's self.
  6. Re:What!? by Fulcrum+of+Evil · · Score: 5, Informative

    Not to my knowledge. If you know someone is planning a crime, then sure, you are obligated not to help them, but in the general case, you have no duty to report it. Here's some random internet discussion on the subject: link link. Nothing I could find mentions mere knowledge of planned felonies - all refs required concealment or aiding in commission of the crime.

    --
    "We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
  7. Re:What!? by swillden · · Score: 5, Informative

    Apparently you've never seen AP or teflon(illgeal in 90% of places) coated rounds.

    Teflon has nothing to do with bullets' armor piercing capabilities or lack thereof. The reason some AP bullets are coated in Teflon is because they have very hard jackets and the Teflon reduces wear on the gun barrel.

    Teflon coatings are not illegal under federal law; the federal anti-AP ammunition statutes focus on the jacket and core composition, not on coatings. There are a handful of states which ban the coatings.

    for awhile the talons were very popular until they were outlawed as well.

    The Winchester Black Talons are not and were not armor piercing. They were pretty normal jacketed hollowpoints, coated with Lubalox (not Teflon) which gave them the black color. Black Talons were voluntarily removed from the market by Winchester, but have never been banned in any jurisdiction. Winchester replaced them with the very similar Ranger SXT round, which doesn't include the Lubalox coating. Winchester does use the coating on some rifle rounds.

    --
    Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
  8. Re:I wish I saw this earlier by mcgrew · · Score: 5, Informative

    For a more accurate analogy however, if your alterations somehow caused you to stop paying taxes for the roads, then yes, that would too be illegal.

    There was a guy here in central Illinois last year that was making his own biodeisel out of used cooking oil he collected from local restaraunts. They didn't have to pay for disposal of the oil and he didn't have to buy fuel.

    He got in trouble for not paying the state's motor vehicle tax, which is collected at the pump.

    So your analogy is 100% correct; it's happened.