Diary of a Network Geek

Okay, here’s a good reason to sit and think before hacking.
Or, even just taking a quick look at anything that you find you “accidentally” have access to and probably shouldn’t. I read a short story on AustralianIT.com about a guy who deleted e-mail sent to his former lover by her new beau. Apparently, he set up her e-mail address and knew the password, so he used it. I guess she wasn’t quite smart enough to change it while she was still using it to contact her new guy. Of course, the kicker was that she was seeing the “new” guy while still with the e-mail “hacker”. I can imagine how that must have felt. Probably pissed the poor guy off pretty bad. But, that’s still no excuse to lose your head!
Security work is often about maintaining a clear head when emotions or pressure are running high. Sometimes, both. I understand about keeping a clear head under pressure. Heck, everyone in this industry does. We’re usually under pressure, frankly, but freaking out doesn’t make it any better! In any case, if the guy had just printed the e-mail, or just read them, he probably would have gotten away with it. After all, who would’ve known? How would they have known? But, he lost his temper and, out of spite, deleted the e-mails that he found offensive. And got caught.
He got off lightly, though, mainly due to the fact that he got over the girl in question and moved on with his life. And, he pleaded guilty. In other words, he fessed up to what he’d done and how it was wrong. He got a suspended sentence. So, as long as he keeps his nose clean, he’s free and clear. Fair enough. But, there’s a lesson there for all of us who have that kind of access to other people’s accounts. Be careful and be smart.

Advice from your Uncle Jim:
"Brigands demand your money or your life; women require both."
   --Samuel Butler