[TelstraClear] TelstraClear employs teenager Kiwi super hacker

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › [TelstraClear] TelstraClear employs teenager Kiwi super hacker

Jarno

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#31627 24-Mar-2009 19:51

And once again being immoral and a criminal gets you praised and employed, as long as it involves these magical computers and amazing interwebs: TelstraClear employs teenage Kiwi super hacker

---JvdL---

kingjj

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#203097 24-Mar-2009 19:54

Pah! The guy is no super hacker, its all over blown crap from the NZ Media.

heavenlywild

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#203099 24-Mar-2009 20:00

What does this kind of action tell others?

Simple.

Crime pays. It pays good.

Telstra Clear... DUMB.

sbiddle

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#203101 24-Mar-2009 20:05

It's been common knowledge for months that he was working for TCL, ever since he started appearing in their advertising campaign. It really is surprising the media have just picked up on it.

I just can't believe The Herald

TelstraClear employs teenage Kiwi super hacker
1:19PM Tuesday Mar 24, 2009

TelstraClear have hired a Whitianga teenager who is also one of the world's best known hackers.

Super hacker? One of the world's best known hackers? Yeah right.. Where do they get this trash?

vexxxboy

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#203158 24-Mar-2009 23:26

if he was that good he wouldnt be working for telstra clear as a seminar spokesman on security, sounds like any publicity is good publicity

Common sense is not as common as you think.

hellonearthisman

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#203199 25-Mar-2009 09:56

vexxxboy: if he was that good he wouldnt be working for telstra clear as a seminar spokesman on security, sounds like any publicity is good publicity

If he was as good as they claim he would not have been caught... But it is old news like sbiddle said.

juha

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#203202 25-Mar-2009 10:29

Whether or not the Herald was slow with the news - and it wasn't really, because they talked about Akill being offered work when he was on trial, so learn to use Google :) - TelstraClear hiring the "superhacker" raises some interesting points on ethics.

Years ago, similar issues were raised in anti-virus circles, about whether or not it was ethical to hire "VXers". Unless I'm mistaken, the response was a resounding "no" from the industry: you don't hire criminals because it encourages them and also undermines your customers' confidence in what you provide as an anti-virus vendor.

Most VXers write crap code and aren't anywhere near as clever as they or tech-ignoramuses think but that's not the point: they've shown that they're capable of unethical and criminal actions, that have in many cases caused considerable damage. You don't let someone like that anywhere near your business and its customers.

I fail to see how Akill is any different.

Juha

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#203212 25-Mar-2009 12:08

It's on Digg now too having been featured in the Sydney Morning Herald: http://digg.com/security/NZ_Telco_Hires_Teen_Hacker_Akill

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sbiddle

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#203217 25-Mar-2009 12:43

You summed it up nicely Juha.

Bruce over at aardvark has also written a brilliant piece today.

juha

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#203226 25-Mar-2009 12:58

Yes, agree with Bruce... TCL should've stopped and thought about what they're actually doing.

Juha

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#203233 25-Mar-2009 13:19

I find it mind boggling to think that Telstra would be so naive as to hire someone with akills track record. Did they talk to ANY security experts?

Not to mention did they for a moment stop to think what their customers might think of hiring a convicted hacker?

Like Bruce Telstra had just risen in my regard by walking away from 92a but they have just more then undone that by taking akill on board.

Well done Telstra :-(

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#203251 25-Mar-2009 14:33

I was told today he was hired to speak and to appear in advertising, not to work for TelstraClear.

Dawg

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#203262 25-Mar-2009 14:57

Exactly - There are still limits on what he can do - Plus apprently he was only giving presentations.

Plus anyone watched Catch me if you can - Tom hanks & Leonardo di Cap? Can't hurt.

Belsamber

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#203285 25-Mar-2009 16:08

So is the problem people have:

- That a technology company hired a hacker/virus author to speak in some seminars/do some advertising? It's not like he was employed to write extensions to billing software...

- That a company hired someone who admitted to a crime? (point to note, the courts didn't convict him...)

Should he just never be able to work? Bearing in mind that removing someone's ability to earn money via legal means is a surefire way to get them to resort to illegal ones...

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#203356 25-Mar-2009 22:18

Dawg:

Plus anyone watched Catch me if you can - Tom hanks & Leonardo di Cap? Can't hurt.

I love that movie :-)

Ray Taylor

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