In 1998 I came up with the Cache-Cow family of Netscape exploits, and like you decided to publish my work. On the advice of a friend I gave my story to John Markoff at the NYT. He wrote an article which basically made me out to be the good guy (perhaps protecting me from corporate wrath), and this aspect of it was faithfully imitated by the hordes of follow-up articles in other publications.
On the other hand, this same journalist helped put Kevin Mitnick in prison. Now I don't feel so good about advancing his career.
And now you've been arrested for writing a program. Suddenly I don't even feel so good about writing exploits anymore.
My question is, what do you think about the role of the media in seperating the "good hackers" from the "bad hackers"? Has the media slant created by the MPAA been a factor in the lawsuit, your arrest, etc.? Is it possible to successfully publish software by using the media rather than being abused by it?
Slashdot Mirror
Jon,
In 1998 I came up with the Cache-Cow family of Netscape exploits, and like you decided to publish my work. On the advice of a friend I gave my story to John Markoff at the NYT. He wrote an article which basically made me out to be the good guy (perhaps protecting me from corporate wrath), and this aspect of it was faithfully imitated by the hordes of follow-up articles in other publications.
On the other hand, this same journalist helped put Kevin Mitnick in prison. Now I don't feel so good about advancing his career.
And now you've been arrested for writing a program. Suddenly I don't even feel so good about writing exploits anymore.
My question is, what do you think about the role of the media in seperating the "good hackers" from the "bad hackers"? Has the media slant created by the MPAA been a factor in the lawsuit, your arrest, etc.? Is it possible to successfully publish software by using the media rather than being abused by it?