CLAYTON@XRT.UPENN.EDU ("Clayton, Paul D.") (09/28/87)
Information From TSO Financial - The Saga Continues... Chapter 26 - September 23, 1987 This letter is appropiate in the USA in light of the judicial process currently occuring in Washington D.C., USA. We have just had our Security Analyst return from a DEC training class held in Boston, Mass. that covered the topic of System Management and Security under VMS. When asked about the class and its bearing on how we do things, she has responded with sincerity that it was well worth the time and money. When we got down to brass tacks, the following information has come to light. There will be, or currently is, a letter being sent by DEC to all VMS licensed sites that contains that following general information. 'Due to a recent court case, which involved a person breaking into a DEC system that the person was not originally granted access to, we URGE/REQUEST that the wording in the message that is displayed immediately after logging in NOT contain the word 'WELCOME'. Please edit any such messages that you have on your systems.' Apparently the court case revolved around the fact that the message said 'Welcome ...' and that this wording can be viewed as allowing ANYONE to have free access to a computer system. Regardless of who the person is and what relationship the person has to the computer being violated. What has happened to the sensibility of the judicial process and its support (?) of the rights of the victims?? What is the impact of this ruling and its application towards the door mats that everyone has that say 'Welcome'?? THIS LETTER IS NOT TO STIR THE FLAMES OF THE OLD 'HACKER' DEBATE. IT IS ONLY INTENDED TO PROVIDE A BASIS FOR PERSONAL THOUGHT ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THE COURT SYSTEM IN LIGHT OF THE HISTORY CURRENTLY BEING MADE CONCERNING THE U.S. SUPREME COURT. Paul D. Clayton - Manager Of Systems TSO Financial - Horsham, Pa. USA Address - CLAYTON%XRT@CIS.UPENN.EDU
cetron%ced@CS.UTAH.EDU (Ed Cetron) (09/29/87)
there have also been several other cases of a similar nature already. for the past few months, all of our machines have had banners (both from sys$announce and sys$welcome) indicating "authorized use only" and that the system is monitored and violaters will be prosecuted according to the appropriate federal statutes.... As an 'old-time hacker' it really bums me to have to do this, but unfortunately, while some of us grew-up, there are a lot of scum out there who haven't and I can't afford to keep my head in the sand.....sigh... -ed cetron@cs.utah.edu