New information about Aaron Swartz’s hacking activities at MIT tell quite a different story than the one that was initially revealed by Swartz’s former attorney and expert witness over the weekend. Different enough, in fact, that I would have to say that Alex Stamos lied in Saturday’s post in which he claimed Aaron’s actions were…
Category: Technology
Thoughts About Aaron Swartz, “Hacking”, and the Law
Although I did not know Aaron Swartz, as a technologist I am deeply intrigued – and alarmed – by the circumstances surrounding the well-known programmer’s recent suicide, weeks before he was scheduled to be tried in a high-profile hacking case. Swartz’s crime? He was charged with downloading electronic reams of documents from a marginally-secured network at…
Open Letter to Rep. Bill Flores re SOPA
Dear Mr. Flores: I am writing in opposition to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) currently being debated in the U.S. House of Representatives. Although I respect the need of media providers to market their works to customers, I feel very strongly that citizens of the United States and the world need a free and…
Net Neutrality the Status Quo and a Good Thing
The root premise of Internet and all TCP/IP networks is that all packets are treated equally. The last thing we need is Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, et al, “shaping” and prioritizing our data to fit their needs. These networks were largely built with public money and to this extent, just like the airwaves and wireless frequencies,…
Why Net Neutrality Matters
(Originally posted as a comment on the Huffington Post) In contrast to the title of Dave Winer’s post, Net Neutrality is an important issue for all users of the Internet, for exactly the reasons he details. Can you imagine being charged more for when using a telephone to talk about politics and less when discussing…
To iPhone or Not, That is the Question
I’d love to have an iPhone, but buying one would be like paying to see a Michael Moore movie – more money and power flowing in the wrong direction. Steve Jobs may be brilliant, but he’s a pain in consumers’ collective rear!
The FBI’s New Big Brother Plan
Privacy? Forget it now that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is at it again. CNET reports that the FBI is working overtime to ensure that Internet service providers (ISPs) will be forced to retain records of their customers’ use of the ‘Net for years after the fact and to make those records available to government…
MySpace Stalker’s Conviction to be Dismissed
The LA Times says that U.S. District Judge George H. Wu will throw out the conviction of Lori Drew, the mother who stalked and harassed Megan Meier, a classmate of her daughter’s, until Megan committed suicide, when his written ruling is filed, probably next week.
Facebook Fumbles by Terminating Pro-Israel User
Robert Spencer reports that Facebook has cut off Todd Snider’s account after his pro-Israel Facebook page was hacked and vandalized by “Lebanese Shee’a Hackers” who left threats against Facebook’s system admins on Snider’s ruined page. Caving in to people like these is not a good idea. Unfortunately that’s exactly what Facebook has done. By cutting…
IBM to Relocate Laid-off Workers to India, Elsewhere
IBM has been shedding employees at a rapid rate in the last few years as its mainframe computer and consulting businesses struggle to compete. In a novel twist, it’s new Project Match program will move some adventurous Americans overseas to be closer to new, lower-paid information technology workers. “IBM has established Project Match to help…