Admins are evil! - Or why San Francisco is held hostage

[scoiatollo]

Read me (http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/07/insider-tech-at.html)

Summary: A pissed off ex-Admin swapped all passwords of the San Francisco government and won't tell them. So they are unable to practically do anything atm! (you should really read the source!)

On the one hand quite funny, on the other hand it just shows how dependent our society got on computers.

So what are your thoughts on the subject? Did we got to dependent on computers?

[Kratos]

No, just make sure you don`t get hated by people with knowledge.
Knowledge is power, easy rule, but especially in our time it is more true than ever.
Actaully quiet funny story. This Admin is quiet lucky they didn`t declare him to be a terrorist ...

[Dark_Axel]

Well this qoute really holds some water...

Despite the horror stories, at least one can be thankful that when someone in the IT department goes postal, they tend to take down the mail server, not pick up an assault rifle.
I wonder what mayhem a weapon designer would do...

[firestorm]

I wonder what mayhem a weapon designer would do...

watch ironman, then pretend he's a terrorist :p

[Retroboy]

Make a gun that fires backwards. :)

On topic, this underlines a basic flaw in security for large computer systems - a single point of empowerment. Security authentication processes at the highest level should require multiple endorsement of administrator-invoked admin lockouts before proceeding. It's kind of like in Cold-war era movies, where you need to turn two keys on separate consoles that are more than arms-length distance from each other simultaneously before launching an atomic missile.

Two bits says San Francisco didn't disable the default "admin" account, which is a standard security protocol.

I wonder what happened to piss the guy off - does he have a legitimate beef (e.g. they didn't pay his contractor invoices), or is he just a wacko?

-- Retro

[Paladin]

I'll withhold judgement...

I knew a few people who did things like this, but in basically every case it wouldn't have happened if their employers hadn't horribly mistreated them.

[Nalkor]

I heard about this a couple days or so ago, maybe yesterday. Either way, it'll be hilarious to see what kind of legal trouble the guy ends up in after it's over.

[Retroboy]

Pally, me too. One contractor I know had a conversation that went something like this:

"Oh, hello, Mr. Customer. What can I do for you today?"
"Get our systems back on and running right the hell now!"
"I'm sorry. Is there a problem?"
"You goddamn right there's a problem! We're all locked out here!"
"Yes, it's the first of the month, isn't it?"
"So YOU did this? I'm calling the cops if you don't get on your modem and fix this right now?"
"I'm sorry, sir, but the police won't be able to help you with this."
"Look, I'll have you thrown in jail if you-"
"Sir, did you read my contract?"
"..."
"Specifically, the clause where it clearly states that failure to compensate for services rendered within 120 days of completion and signoff of acceptance will result in loss of system access for the assets I delivered, which includes your network."
"You bastard!"
"I could come over and pick up a check immediately if you'd like."

He knew that this particular customer had a history of being arrogant assholes with respect to vendors and invoices, and put a time bomb in their system just in case. Needless to say, he did get paid in full.

-- Retro

[darkelf]

Now that is awesome, retro :) Remind me to put something like that in whatever systems I may develop in case of similar customers.

[Mind Strike]

As a punishment they should fight fire with fire. :program:

Change his bank accounts
Change his pin numbers and passwords
Change his locks
His address
Null and void his birth certificate and driving license - which may mean he will loose his name as well
Denie residence to the US
Take his phone
Make him Deaf and blind

Finally drop him off somewhere remote

and see how he likes it..ha

[Nalkor]

The guy is effing around with a state's computers, if he tries to argue anything, he will probably be in that kind of trouble and labelled a 'cyber terrorist'.

[Plasma]

I just think of this line whenever I hear stuff like this:

"We cook your meals, we haul your trash, we connect your calls, we drive your ambulances. We guard you while you sleep. Do not... fuck with us."

[Nalkor]

As true as that is, the moment someone tries to argue something like that in this country in this day and age, the government will come down on them so hard and so fast it won't even be pretty.

[Plasma]

Strikes are illegal where you are?

True the fight club message is a great deal more immediate and threatening than a simple strike but the core idea that "you need us a lot more than we need you" is a pretty valid one.

[FerociousBeast]

Reminds me of the time one of my suitemates in college cracked the school's database, stole all the passwords of everyone on campus--teachers, staff, students--then mass-emailed them with their login names to everyone on campus. I think he's also the one who started a fire in our trash can in the middle of the night that started running up the walls before the fire alarm woke me up and I put it out, but no one could ultimately prove that one... Haha, lol, good times with college.

FB, Luddite, signing off.

[Nalkor]

Not really Plasma, but if people try and tote the "You need us and we can't be replaced" card, then the authorities and even the corporations will show them that they are replaceble, especially after stunts like that. A state government, corporation, what have you, will tolerate things to an extent, but when they feel things aren't going smoothly due to a particular individual, then the person will be fired after the situation is smoothed out and someone more 'trustworthy' will have a brand new job and/or position.