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Computer science student expelled for testing university software security

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IainB:
...Just remember folks, there are TWO SIDES to every story.
-Josh (January 21, 2013, 06:01 PM)
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...and to every equation...        ;)

But seriously, I would suggest that the issue here is the communication and publication of college security standards.
It would need to have been communicated clearly to the students - i.e., documented in college rules/regulations, and they had had it spelled out to them - that it was a "capital offence" to ping or test/retest the university's network security, but had it been so communicated?

If it had, then fine, and Ahmed Al-Khabaz had been dealt with appropriately - but only if he had also been clearly warned after the first breach (I read one report that said he was apparently told that this was the second breach).

If it had not, or if he had not even been warned after the first breach, then Ahmed Al-Khabaz would seem to have been done a great wrong, and possibly even entrapped.

In any event, I am skeptical whether they really would put it to a vote as has been reported. Would that have been the policy and corresponding due process? If so, then it sounds like it's a potentially wide-open to question and dubious process to me. I mean, no-one takes a decision, just blame it on a committee? No, the Provost should/would have been all over this one like a bad rash, making decisions.

No typical college or university can be a high-security IT establishment (e.g., like a military or Defence establishment), by definition. They need to retain Open and accessible systems for the students to use. Students will not necessarily be familiar with all the prevailing rules/regulations, and would be given the benefit of the doubt - especially in such a a case as this, where the student accidentally discovers and reports a flaw.

If he was an employee of a military or Defence establishment, then, in my experience he'd have been summarily dismissed and immediately physically escorted out the door, but that is not applicable in this case.

40hz:
I don't think it's about forgiveness and understanding.
A student of computer science beat the ones with the bachelors and masters at what they are supposed to be teaching.
The student is expelled?
-cmpm (January 21, 2013, 04:29 PM)
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I'd characterize it more as a smart student identified a security hole in a university system. Period.

There's a big gap between doing that and us taking the ball and running with it by saying "he beat the ones" with degrees and is therefor more qualified than they are. Something which also ignores the fact that, putting all those old sayings (about how those who can't do it go on to teach it) aside, it's important to remember teaching something is a separate skill from the doing of something. There are many brilliant specialists and experts that can't teach what they do to save their lives. And vice-versa.

Also...he was not expelled for who he is, what his dreams are, or by the envious for being the romantic 'lone misunderstood hero.' He was expelled (so the less emotional reports seem to say) because he ran an unauthorized network scanning program on a system he was specifically not allowed to run it on. And further, it was a scan that had nothing to do with the original discovery of the exploit. It was done after the fact.

So all the "yeah buts" aside, he did something he knew he wasn't supposed to do.

And FWIW, unless you are a professional cracker, finding security holes is more about luck and being observant than anything else from what I've seen. So lets not automatically flip the 'genius-flag' on this student until we see a little more of what he can do.

I had a martial arts instructor who used to compliment us every time we did something unusually well - or got some technique 100% correct for the first time. He'd walk over and bow, clap you on the shoulder, and then say: "Well done!!! Not do it five more times just so we both know it wasn't luck."

cmpm:
I did not add 'therefore more qualified than they are.
They should be more responsible though.
'Beat the ones with the degrees' was not meant as a contest.
More of a lack of the right words I suppose.

Tinman57:
  I kind of see both side of the stories, so I'm kind of in neutral grounds.  HOWEVER, (and there's always a however ;) ) I'll play the devil's advocate and ask these questions before I make up my mind, not that it really matters.  lol

1.  Did the student sign a legal agreement with the school/network on what was acceptable and unacceptable behavior?

2.  How did/could the school or network admin know that he was trying this in a white-hat manner, trying to help the network, or actually just trying to find vulnerabilities for his own evil agenda?

  Inquiring minds want to know!   :tellme:

Renegade:
Audio interview with the sudent:
http://www.cbc.ca/player/Radio/Local+Shows/Quebec/Daybreak+Montreal/ID/2327525012/
-mouser (January 21, 2013, 02:58 PM)
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If anyone listened to that... the student was GIVEN A TESTING ACCOUNT. What do you do with test accounts? Errr... test maybe?

Just to add insult to injury, he was given all zeros for all his grades.

Nice. Kick 'em while he's down why don't ya? Show 'em who's the boss.

Proportionality has disappeared from "laws/rules/regulations/whatever". I could give recent examples that would simply blow your mind, however, as they're real, and so utterly insane, they can only be put in the Basement.

The fact that he, on his own, informed them about the vulnerabilities the first time, tells you everything you need to know about his intentions, his moral character, and the nature of the "threat" he supposedly posed.-mouser (January 21, 2013, 03:06 PM)
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+1 - Agreed. Now if he'd have polked it twice all sneeky and quiet...then I'd be up for a BBQ. But that ain't what happened.
-Stoic Joker (January 21, 2013, 03:15 PM)
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+1 and +1


Nothing better than BBQing a Good Samaritan though! They're not all that common, so when ya find 'em, better cook 'em up real quick!

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