**************************************************************************** >C O M P U T E R U N D E R G R O U N D< >D I G E S T< *** Volume 3, Issue #3.11 (April 4, 1991) ** **************************************************************************** MODERATORS: Jim Thomas / Gordon Meyer (TK0JUT2@NIU.bitnet) ARCHIVISTS: Bob Krause / Alex Smith / Bob Kusumoto POETICA OBSCIVORUM REI: Brendan Kehoe USENET readers can currently receive CuD as alt.society.cu-digest. Back issues are also available on Compuserve (in: DL0 of the IBMBBS sig), PC-EXEC BBS (414-789-4210), and at 1:100/345 for those on FIDOnet. Anonymous ftp sites: (1) ftp.cs.widener.edu (or 192.55.239.132) (back up and running) and (2) cudarch@chsun1.uchicago.edu E-mail server: archive-server@chsun1.uchicago.edu. COMPUTER UNDERGROUND DIGEST is an open forum dedicated to sharing information among computerists and to the presentation and debate of diverse views. CuD material may be reprinted as long as the source is cited. Some authors, however, do copyright their material, and those authors should be contacted for reprint permission. It is assumed that non-personal mail to the moderators may be reprinted unless otherwise specified. Readers are encouraged to submit reasoned articles relating to the Computer Underground. Articles are preferred to short responses. Please avoid quoting previous posts unless absolutely necessary. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DISCLAIMER: The views represented herein do not necessarily represent the views of the moderators. Contributors assume all responsibility for assuring that articles submitted do not violate copyright protections. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CONTENTS THIS ISSUE: File 1: Moderators' Corner File 2: From the Mailbag File 3: SUNDEVIL ARREST ANNOUNCED 4/13/91 File 4: Northern District (Ill.) Press Release on Len Rose File 5: Letter to AT&T Cancelling Long-Distance Carrier Service ******************************************************************** >> END OF THIS FILE << *************************************************************************** ------------------------------ From: Moderators Subject: Moderators' Corner Date: April 4, 1991 ******************************************************************** *** CuD #3.11: File 1 of 5: Moderators' Corner *** ******************************************************************** IN THIS FILE: 1. CASE UPDATES (Ripco, Len Rose, Hollywood Hacker) 2. SUN DEVIL PROSECUTIONS 3. BYTES ON SUN DEVIL AND EFF ++++++++++++ Case Updates ++++++++++++ >>RIPCO: The Ripco case has not been forgotten. Counsel for Dr. Ripco is holding strategies close to the vest, and because the seizure of the BBS is alleged by the Secret Service to be part of an on-going investigation, things move even more slowly. CuD filed an FOIA request to the Secret Service for information on Ripco, and the response was: With regard to Ripco, we regret to inform you that we cannot comply. according to the Freedom of Information Act, there are no records or documents available to you. Persuant to 5 U.S.C. 552 (b) (7) (A), this file is being exempted since disclosure could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings. The citation of the above exemption is not to be construed as the only exemption which may be available under the Freedom of Information Act. >>LEN ROSE: Len Rose will be sentenced in May. We are concerned about the posts we have seen on the nets and in news stories that continue to construe this as a hacking case. Mike Godwin underscored this point in a post in RISKS Forum (#11.40): What makes it unreasonable to claim that Rose is a hacker is the fact that he had authorized access to every system he wanted to use. There was no question of unauthorized intrusion in Len's case. It bears a lot of repeating that Len pled guilty to unauthorized possession of Unix source code, not to computer fraud or unauthorized access. >>THE HOLLYWOOD HACKER: Stuart Goldman, dubbed "The Hollywood Hacker" by Fox News, is still facing state felony charges in California for accessing a computer to which Fox claims he lacked proper authorization. On the surface, this case seems to illustrate the dangers of the broad language of the California computer abuse laws that can make what should require an apology or, at worst, be a low order misdemeanor, a felony charge. We have been waiting for somebody to give us evidence to counter the impression that this case was a set up and an abuse of law, but to date all that we've seen continues to support the preliminary judgment that this is a case of vindictive prosecution, *not* hacking. +++++++++++ First Sun Devil Prosecution +++++++++++ Barbara and John McMullen's Newsbytes reprint below (File #3) summarizes the first prosecutions announced from Operation Sun Devil. Baron M. Majette, a teenager when the alleged offenses occured, was charged with three counts of fraudulent schemes and artifices and three counts of conspiracy under Arizona law. For those wishing information on the case, the case number (Maricopa County) is CR 91-02526: State of Arizona vs. Baron M. Majette aka Doc Savage, aka Samuel Savage. The original search affidavit for the search on May 7, 1990, cites "CI 404-235," a "volunteer, paid" Secret Service informant, as the primary source of the goverment's information. "CI 404-235" was also the informant responsible for providing information that led to the raid on RIPCO. In CuD 3.02, we reported that the Secret Service indicated that this informant ran a sting board that we identified as THE DARK SIDE (run by a sysop known as THE DICTATOR who continues to call boards around the country. +++++++++++++++++++ BYTE's Jerry Pournelle on Operation Sun Devil and the EFF +++++++++++++++++++ Jerry Pournelle, noted science fiction author and computer columnist, hands out his annual "Orchid and Onion" awards in the April 1991 issue of BYTE magazine. (pp 91 -101) Two of this year's 'awards' are of interest to CuD readers: _The Big Onion_ And the Onion of the Year, with Garlic Clusters, goes to Special Agent Tim Foley of the Chicago office of the U.S. Secret Service. While I have good reason to know that many Secret Service people are conscientious and highly competent, Mr. Foley's actions in Austin, Texas, regarding Steve Jackson Games no only exceeded his authority, bu weren't even half competently done. All told, a sorry chapter in the history of the Secret Service, and no service at all to those genuinely concerned with electronic fraud and computer crimes. _The Big Orchid_ The Orchid of the Year goes to Mitch Kapor, for funding the Electronic Freedom Foundation and providing legal help and support to Steve Jackson, whose business was nearly ruined by the Secret Service in Austin. I hold no brief for electronic thieves and snoops, but many of last year's government actions were worse than the disease. Thanks, Mitch, from all of us. Source: BYTE Magazine April 1991 Vol 16, Number 4 pp 92,93 +++++++++ THE EFFECTOR +++++++++ The first copy of the EFF's hardcopy newsletter, THE EFFECTOR, came out and the content and form are great! Highlights include a history of the EFF by John Perry Barlow and Mitch Kapor's summary of the goals of EFF (yes, he *explicitly* states that the EFF unequivocally opposes unauthorized computer trespass). To get on either the hardcopy or net mailing list, drop a note to eff@well.sf.ca.us ++++++++++++++ PHRACK Index ++++++++++++++ Timothy Newsham compiled a complete index for PHRACK. It's about 50 K and is available from the CuD ftp sites and Ripco BBS. ******************************************************************** >> END OF THIS FILE << ***************************************************************************