[plug] (off-topic) Law regarding hacking

[John Summerfield]

> All I have found in the WA Criminal Code is Section 440A "Unlawful operation
> of a computer system" which provides for a penalty of 1 year or $4000 for
> unlawful access to information in a restricted access computer system.

I (not a lawyer) would bet that running a program or causing a program to 
be run would constitute "operation of a computer system."

Consider that telnetting to the telnet port of a typical Linux box causes 
a program to be run (inetd runs tcpd and telnetd on my system)...

I surmise there may be other offenses too, to do with using 
telecomunications equipment (phone lines) for unlawful purposes.


> If anyone is able to shed any addition light on how the law stands in this
> regard it would be much appreciated.

If you're thinking of hacking, don't.
If you've found a hacker, Kim Heithmann (I'm not sure of the spelling, 
pronouced heightman and is probably German) is a good lawyer to talk to). 
He gets quoted in the papers occasionally & I think is a spokesman for the 
WAIA.

-- 
Cheers
John Summerfield
http://os2.ami.com.au/os2/ for OS/2 support.
Configuration, networking, combined IBM ftpsites index.