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From: mauney@ncsu.UUCP (Jon Mauney)
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Must computer systems be an armed camp?
Message-ID: <2745@ncsu.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 17-Dec-84 09:41:30 EST
Article-I.D.: ncsu.2745
Posted: Mon Dec 17 09:41:30 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 20-Dec-84 01:15:54 EST
References: <229@looking.UUCP>
Organization: N.C. State University, Raleigh
Lines: 27

> While it's true that proper security is the only "secure" solution to
> computer break-ins, can we take proposals that the laws should not
> be there seriously?  Translate them to other forms of property..
> 
> "Laws against theft attack the symptom, not the problem.  What are truly
> necessary are bolted doors, security patrols, guard dogs, and fully
> authenticated access procedures.   Anybody who protects their house with
> something as easily breakable as glass is ASKING to be broken into.
> Anybody who leaves their door unlocked might as well give their property away."

I agree that computer crimes are wrong and that there should be laws
concerning them.  But I also think that companies with sensitive computers
would be foolish to depend on laws to protect them.  Would you deposit
your valuables in a bank that *didn't* have an electronic burglar alarm
and an impressive locking system on the vault?  Would you expect insurance
companies to put up with banks that transport large amounts of cash in
ordinary vehicles?  No.  Making bank robbery a federal offense is not
sufficient to prevent robberies.  Similarly, I don't like the idea that
TRW probably has a credit file on me that can easily be gotten to by
crackers.  Just as it should be a crime to break into TRW's system, it should
be criminally negligent of TRW to have inadequate security precautions.

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Jon Mauney    mcnc!ncsu!mauney    C.S. Dept, North Carolina State University