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Something Uncomfortable About DEFCON’s Treatment of Dateline NBC Reporter |
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Source: ZDNet - Posted by Eckie Silapaswang
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This article presented is in defense of the NBC Dateline reporter and a different view of the matter at the recent DefCon. Ryan Naraine brings up valid points on why the actions of those in attendance at the conference could be considered 'childish' and 'over-the-top' and 'unnecessary'. He mentions key points of what the reporter Madigan did, specifically breaking the rules, as what the DefCon subculture is built upon. Read the actual article for a full alternative perspective. How do you feel about the actions taken against the NBC Dateline reporter?
Personally my take on the matter is simple - I find what happened to Madigan totally justified - not on what she did, but the intent. NBC Dateline wished to 'expose hackers in the act of doing something illegal'. So in one fell swoop, the average American who thinks Internet Explorer is their operating system will see this and suddenly be wary of "all those evil hackers out there trying to get me". Does this reflect what a true hacker does? Of course not. Today in age they still do not use the proper terms of 'cracker' and 'hacker' much less go into the definitions of 'white hat' and 'black hat'. Madigan wished to do nothing of that sort - rather take the negative connotation of 'hacker' and simply profit from it.
Read this full article at ZDNet
I can't believe you linked to that drivel ZD Net calls 'an alternative view'. I expect more from Linux Security.
The ZDNet post smacks of extreme spin in defense of the 'poor reporter' - who on 4 occasions was asked to come clean. The bottom line is - she was busted before she even checked into her Vegas hotel room.... she had no chance surviving the conference. |
| Well ? | Written by m0n0lith on 2007-08-08 13:28:00 |
As my dad use to say ' Mess with the bull, your guna get the horns.'
And is what the few people from DefCon and the other journalists that followed her out did any different than a pushy reporter or the paparazzi? granted that the situation is not exactly the same but its pretty darn close. Were they a little over zealous maybe, but she got what she deserved. She decided 'to heck with the rules, I will do it my way.' well.... if you didn't get caught - good for you. If you did get caught - too bad for you. Hopefully she learned something from this... |
| RE: xentek | Written by Eckie on 2007-08-08 17:43:53 |
Hi xentek,
I noticed you said 'I expect more from Linux Security'. Believe me, if there was no room for discussion on this point, I would not have linked this article. However, not doing so does not give the readers of Linux Security a chance to see what everyone else outside the hacking world thinks of the hacking world. As stated in my main paragraph of the article, I totally justify the actions against NBC and applaud everyone here giving their reason of doing so as well.
Why link the article? It struck a nerve in me, as it did in you. Judging from the amount of comments, the article struck a nerve with many people. Why not see both sides of an issue (even if one side does not necessarily agree with us) and discuss exactly how wrong that article is?
~e$ |
