[comp.society] Ethics and System Administration

taylor@hplabsz.UUCP (11/28/87)

[This message is from USENET, the `soc.singles' group, and is an interesting
example not only of irresponsible computer administration, but a lack of 
knowledge that it is wrong (e.g. the person having to post to the group to
confirm what is obvious - that the administrators violated the privacy of
a users account).  -- Dave Taylor]

From: David Ehlert @ Portal Communications System

OK...Here is a dilemma that my SO [`Significant Other'] and I have run into.

We live about 70 miles apart, and rely on UUCP mail as our  primary way of
communicating.  Just this evening, I received a call from her about the
following problem.

Where she goes to school, two guys that she use to date, have superuser
priviliges.  Well, this evening, they went into her mail file.  They screwed
around with her login, and also deleted all saved mail messages.  When one
of the guys was approached about the happenings, he denied it.  Later, all
of my girlfriends files and all were deleted.  Now she has to re-construct
all of her labs so that she can pass a couple of classes.

The dilemma is actually a nuisance, but I would like everyone and anyone
to comment on what has happened.  I guess that the easiest way is to answer 
the following question......

   What would you do [if someone] did that to you..??  and...

   What would your company/school do if they found out...??

Here are two guys who are about ready to graduate after at least 5 years
of school, and to me, it sounds as if they have still refused to grow up.

David...