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Originally posted by saltfish
I'm confused...
Let us suppose that I find an open access point with default settings and happen to drop a text file alerting the owner of their "open" system.
They will then take care of the problem, set up encryption an make sure that their AP is secure. Thus preventing someone else from doing damage.
If by doing so, I may have helped them prevent a destructive attack...
So, that means that I'm just as bad as the guy who would have attacked them?
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ji don't think there's anything morally wrong with letting them know. Of course, if they're really clueless, how likely is it that they will notice that txt file?
Legally is another issue. Lemme give you an example. Several years ago a robber stole from a jewelry store. He was chased by the owner. A cab driver saw the whole thing and pinned the robber against a wall with his cab until cops could arrest him. The robber then sued the cab driver for injuring him, and won.
Another example (anyone who recognizes this guy gets 3 points.) A scientist at Los Alamos who was working on developing the nuclear bomb was walking into the base one day when he noticed a big hole in the security fence that the groundscrew were using to get in and out without having to deal with the gate guard. He began walking in the gate, then out through the hole, then back in the gate again. After a few times, the guard noticed that he kept going in, but never went out. The guard tried to arrest him - for pointing out a flaw in security, the guy almost got jailed.
In other words, our society is set up to punish those who warn us of problems with our stuff, even if they didn't themselves do any harm.