The story behind the Palin e-mail hacking(michellemalkin.com)
michellemalkin.com
The story behind the Palin e-mail hacking
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/09/17/the-story-behind-the-palin-e-mail-hacking/
7 comments
Ordinarily I wouldn't approve of postings coming from a political site such as michellemalkin, but the message she quotes actually probably contains the best summary I've seen of what actually happened.
Yeah. I think it helps that she didn't actually WRITE this. She put it up without commentary. The result is that we actually get the story directly from a reliable source, without any coloring.
The quoted post is also pretty insightful, all things considered:
"Anonymous is not a group of hackers. Anonymous is more like gremlins. They are hyperactive adolescents in search of amusement and joy, which they often get by upsetting people and making messes. That’s what was happening here."
Which applies to script kiddies in general, really. (Maybe some day the media will understand this.) I think "gremlins" is a good term - they're not necessarily kids (or using scripts, these days), and it doesn't imply competence: they're just acting destructive because they're bored.
"Anonymous is not a group of hackers. Anonymous is more like gremlins. They are hyperactive adolescents in search of amusement and joy, which they often get by upsetting people and making messes. That’s what was happening here."
Which applies to script kiddies in general, really. (Maybe some day the media will understand this.) I think "gremlins" is a good term - they're not necessarily kids (or using scripts, these days), and it doesn't imply competence: they're just acting destructive because they're bored.
For those who know anything about the Warhammer "Universe"... I find Anonymous are basically like the Ork Race.
They will continually fight amongst themselves until something riles them up or a someone suggests an idea (like a very temporary leader), then they will and go off to mess with something (Waaaagggh!) until they finally get bored of that and go back to fighting amongst each other.
I find that's the best way to think about it.
There is no real motivation for doing what they do apart from the relief of boredom, it's just a swirling maelstrom of conflict. The only thing you would want to do is not give them a reason to direct it anywhere.
They will continually fight amongst themselves until something riles them up or a someone suggests an idea (like a very temporary leader), then they will and go off to mess with something (Waaaagggh!) until they finally get bored of that and go back to fighting amongst each other.
I find that's the best way to think about it.
There is no real motivation for doing what they do apart from the relief of boredom, it's just a swirling maelstrom of conflict. The only thing you would want to do is not give them a reason to direct it anywhere.
I don't know the game, but I follow...
This is how most of humanity reacts to internet access.
I wouldn't use the phrase script kiddies to describe 4chan since a great deal of them actually know what they're doing, I'd be so bold to say the overwhelming majority actually are very intelligent on what they're doing.
It's neutral on whether they're intelligent or not, the idea is that they're mischievous and destructive because they're bored.
Well sure, I appreciate your point but don't forget that some of the biggest innovative breakthroughs that we use to this day came from hackers being bored and doing things they shouldn't. Those were probably considered destructive then.
Now, I'm not condoning what this person did. I'm not saying go around trying to gain unauthorized access to a politician's computer; but instead we've got to look at these things from multiple angles instead of immediately jumping on the 'These actions are purely irresponsible and negative', true enough.
Now, I'm not condoning what this person did. I'm not saying go around trying to gain unauthorized access to a politician's computer; but instead we've got to look at these things from multiple angles instead of immediately jumping on the 'These actions are purely irresponsible and negative', true enough.
don't forget that some of the biggest innovative breakthroughs that we use to this day came from hackers being bored and doing things they shouldn't.
Such as?
We need to be careful to distinguish between two types of "shouldn't". There's the "shouldn't" that's merely against some kind of arbitrary rules, and there's the "shouldn't" that's actually immoral because it hurts people.
Plenty of useful things were invented by breaking stupid rules, but few were invented by actually being a malicious jerk.
Such as?
We need to be careful to distinguish between two types of "shouldn't". There's the "shouldn't" that's merely against some kind of arbitrary rules, and there's the "shouldn't" that's actually immoral because it hurts people.
Plenty of useful things were invented by breaking stupid rules, but few were invented by actually being a malicious jerk.
Such as?
I dunno about you, but I would call penicillin a pretty significant hack.
I dunno about you, but I would call penicillin a pretty significant hack.
Could you explain the connection? It sounds like you're implying penicillin was discovered by being a malicious jerk.
(And re: the gremlin thing, I was thinking of people doing things that would generally be considered stupid vandalism, but I don't want to split hairs.)
(And re: the gremlin thing, I was thinking of people doing things that would generally be considered stupid vandalism, but I don't want to split hairs.)
You seem to be stuck on the notion all of 4chan is full of jerks who want to destroy the Internet when it's quite the contrary. By the admission of the person quoted in the article, it's one message board out of the entire site that causes the most trouble.
But I think his point is that great things have come about completely by accident, and that's the same point I was trying to make. Great things have happened to take technology where it is today; sometimes by sheer chance and tomfoolery with what a hacker had in front of him. In no way is he calling Alexander Flemming a 'jerk'
But I think his point is that great things have come about completely by accident, and that's the same point I was trying to make. Great things have happened to take technology where it is today; sometimes by sheer chance and tomfoolery with what a hacker had in front of him. In no way is he calling Alexander Flemming a 'jerk'
No, I don't really care about 4chan.
I just think penicillin was an odd example.
I just think penicillin was an odd example.
I want to satisfy 2 points, firstly no, I don't particularly care for 4chan either - but I think to discount all of it's members based on what seems to be a few bad eggs is stereotyping at its worst.
Secondly, the Penicillin example, it was a run on example from this.
don't forget that some of the biggest innovative breakthroughs that we use to this day came from hackers being bored and doing things they shouldn't.
Such as?
I dunno about you, but I would call penicillin a pretty significant hack.
As you might know, Fleming noted a contaminant in one of his cultures. Instead of throwing it out as a failed experiment, he played with it or essentially 'hacked' it. It resulted in one of the most significant medical discoveries of last century.
If he instead was doing what he was meant to be doing (studying Staphylococci) instead of 'playing' around (or 'hacking'); millions of lives may not have been saved.
So in truth, it was a fair comment.
Secondly, the Penicillin example, it was a run on example from this.
don't forget that some of the biggest innovative breakthroughs that we use to this day came from hackers being bored and doing things they shouldn't.
Such as?
I dunno about you, but I would call penicillin a pretty significant hack.
As you might know, Fleming noted a contaminant in one of his cultures. Instead of throwing it out as a failed experiment, he played with it or essentially 'hacked' it. It resulted in one of the most significant medical discoveries of last century.
If he instead was doing what he was meant to be doing (studying Staphylococci) instead of 'playing' around (or 'hacking'); millions of lives may not have been saved.
So in truth, it was a fair comment.
Totally agree. I was mildly surprised that the core story was devoid of injected bias or spin. It seemed to be the best overall summary of the incident that I had seen so far.
Just remember, someone could've posted "DISREGARD THAT I SUCK COCKS" as the first reply to that message using the same credentials and it would be just as verifiable.
As ars points out (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080918-alleged-1st-pe...): While the account is plausible enough on its face—and, if true, highlights the special vulnerability of such password reset mechanisms for public figures—there are also some reasons for skepticism. The post was made under the handle "rubico," and linked to a similar e-mail address. Through a bit of Google searching, it is trivial to link that handle and e-mail to a real person—a student with ties to state-level Democratic politics. And while it is not entirely out of the realm of possibility, it does strain credibility somewhat to think that, after committing the most publicized computer intrusion in recent memory, the perpetrator would effectively return to the scene to deliver a signed confession. Equally possible, then, is that either the real hacker oran unrelated party with an active imagination decided to play a prank on the student in question.
As ars points out (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080918-alleged-1st-pe...): While the account is plausible enough on its face—and, if true, highlights the special vulnerability of such password reset mechanisms for public figures—there are also some reasons for skepticism. The post was made under the handle "rubico," and linked to a similar e-mail address. Through a bit of Google searching, it is trivial to link that handle and e-mail to a real person—a student with ties to state-level Democratic politics. And while it is not entirely out of the realm of possibility, it does strain credibility somewhat to think that, after committing the most publicized computer intrusion in recent memory, the perpetrator would effectively return to the scene to deliver a signed confession. Equally possible, then, is that either the real hacker oran unrelated party with an active imagination decided to play a prank on the student in question.
Umm, someone I know who frequents 4chan just IM'd me, there might be something brewing.
Apparently someone just uploaded "full emails on rapidshare" with 3 passwords on it, first 2 passwords work but last one is currently unknown.
Will be interesting to see if it's real or fake.
Apparently someone just uploaded "full emails on rapidshare" with 3 passwords on it, first 2 passwords work but last one is currently unknown.
Will be interesting to see if it's real or fake.
HN getting the back story from Michelle Malkin?
Tea and crumpets what's next!
Tea and crumpets what's next!
I picture a teenager using a Tina Fey as Sarah Palin soundboard to talk to Yahoo Support... "I can see Russia from my house!"
[deleted]
[deleted]