Boy hacker - BotBoy

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portege

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Topic # 28486 1-Dec-2008 19:54

Anyone saw that doco just on tele about Owen Walker?

What did you all think of it ?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10481058

xpd

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Reply # 181444 1-Dec-2008 20:04

Didnt watch it but was over it after the 1st day they announced who he was etc.
As usual, the crims get made into superstars in NZ while the victims suffer.....

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portege

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Master Geek

Reply # 181445 1-Dec-2008 20:07

His parents, and the boy himself appears to be very proud of what they did, comparing it to be like on E! entertainment and even able to let out the odd smirk....

sbiddle

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Reply # 181480 1-Dec-2008 22:35

Most of the others involved in Bot Roast II all received significant jail time. That's exactly where he should be.

Not make into some innocent nerd like the media and other (such as Maarten Kleintjes from the Police e-crime unit who seems to be this guy's number one fan).

Sometimes crime does pay. This guy is proof.

portege

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Master Geek

Reply # 181484 1-Dec-2008 22:43

Although I do agree that jail term for him is not ideal; the doco protrayed him as somewhat a hero and even said that the event gave him a "Movie star" status in his own town

andysh

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Reply # 181485 1-Dec-2008 22:43

Didn't watch it but, do a crime, do the time.
What sort of message is this sending to the rest of the people out there? That if you do the crime good enough, you will end up with a job?

ZollyMonsta

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Reply # 181487 1-Dec-2008 22:46

Was ridiculous.. he should have been given a sentence of some sort. I'm sure the fine that was handed down was minimal, compared to the 40k he made by breaking the law.

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Ragnor

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Reply # 181600 2-Dec-2008 16:03

You can't expect too much from a tabloid journalism aimed soley at attracting viewers like a soap opera.

As far as I can tell all the guy really did was program some enchancments to existing bot code which is why he didn't get the jail time others got, that hardly makes him a genius hacker.

DrGr33n

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Master Geek

Reply # 181743 3-Dec-2008 11:37

Perhaps the NZ government could use him to harden their internet security and stop the Chinese and Americans infiltrating NZ goverment systems.. Did I hear conspiracy theorist. Seriously though. I never watched it, but from what I read I think the Americans really need his help to find Osama Bin Laden and the weapons of mass destruction.. Otherwise I totally agree with Ragnor.

Cheers;-)

sbiddle

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Reply # 181749 3-Dec-2008 11:54

DrGr33n: Perhaps the NZ government could use him to harden their internet security and stop the Chinese and Americans infiltrating NZ goverment systems.. Did I hear conspiracy theorist. Seriously though. I never watched it, but from what I read I think the Americans really need his help to find Osama Bin Laden and the weapons of mass destruction.. Otherwise I totally agree with Ragnor.

Cheers;-)

Somebody who's skills were so poor he was being tracked for months and got caught?

No thanks, I'd prefer them to employ people who actually have skills.

gehenna

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Reply # 181767 3-Dec-2008 13:04

andysh: do a crime, do the time.

He's been punished: He was ordered to pay $9526 towards his share of damage to Pennsylvania University’s computer system, give his computer and related assets to the police and pay costs of $5000.

He may not have been sentenced to jail but he still got his day in court and was punished to the judges discretion. That's the justice system and we have to accept what may be considered a good or bad result.

rphenix

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Reply # 181777 3-Dec-2008 13:43

i thought to myself *yawn* when I first heard about it. I would put him firmly in the category of "script kiddie" no real talent at all.

DrGr33n

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Master Geek

Reply # 181792 3-Dec-2008 14:34

sbiddle:
DrGr33n: Perhaps the NZ government could use him to harden their internet security and stop the Chinese and Americans infiltrating NZ goverment systems.. Did I hear conspiracy theorist. Seriously though. I never watched it, but from what I read I think the Americans really need his help to find Osama Bin Laden and the weapons of mass destruction.. Otherwise I totally agree with Ragnor.

Cheers;-)

Somebody who's skills were so poor he was being tracked for months and got caught?

No thanks, I'd prefer them to employ people who actually have skills.

Incase you never guessed it was a bit of light humour..However I do agree with Ragnor.

And if it took American and Dutch finest months and probably 100's of thousands of dollars to gather enough incriminating evidence from a boy who lives at home and uses mums broadband for his activities,(Not exactly smoke and mirrors.) to merely have the boy fined. Really. Perhaps they have the skill required.

Cheers;-)