News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on The Ashley Madison Database Was Leaked. Parent comment

Re:The Ashley Madison Database Was Leaked by akshatpradhan on Wednesday August 19, 2015 @08:11AM (#10084913)
>The people doing this aren't victimizing Avid Life Media; they're re-victimizing the real victims of what is clearly an actual crime. If it's O.K. to hack into someone else's server and mass-out people for having profiles on a dating site because you suspect most of them might be "guilty" of the crime of "marital infidelity" --- and come on, 98% of the people talking about this on Twitter barely recognize that as ethically problematic in the first place --- how do you make a case that it's unethical for dragnet traffic looking for people who want to blow up civilians with homemade bombs?

That wasn't the intent.

The true intent: "In a long manifesto posted alongside the stolen ALM data, The Impact Team said it decided to publish the information in response to alleged lies ALM told its customers about a service that allows members to completely erase their profile information for a $19 fee."

Impact Team's manifest is that AshleyMadison is fraudulent at business practices (e.g. charging people extra for profiles that were never deleted) and that's why the Impact Team is embarrassing the company.

I understand this is emotionally charging but don't twist the intent around to, "The Impact Team believes the members on Ashley Madison are guilty of the crime: marital infidelity and thats why they're leaking the 10GB Database."

Stick to the facts when opining, Thomas :).

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The Ashley Madison Database Was Leaked by icanhackit on Wednesday August 19, 2015 @09:21AM (#10085183)
The true intent: "In a long manifesto posted alongside the stolen ALM data, The Impact Team said it decided to publish the information in response to alleged lies ALM told its customers about a service that allows members to completely erase their profile information for a $19 fee."

So to show the people who use ALM's services that ALM lies about their policies, the users need to be exposed?

Well it's an effective strategy, I'll give them that. But I can't shake the feeling there's a hidden fuck-you in there somewhere to the people they're outing. Just be honest, this is a complex issue with so many permutations it's hard to take any moral position. A lot of cheaters will be outed, a lot of innocent people may have their lives destroyed. What has been achieved?

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The Ashley Madison Database Was Leaked by akshatpradhan on Wednesday August 19, 2015 @09:50AM (#10085390)
>But I can't shake the feeling there's a hidden fuck-you in there somewhere to the people they're outing.

That's not what Thomas is saying. He's literally saying that the main intent of why Impact Team released the 10GB database is because they felt users are guilty of the crime of marriage infidelity.

His statement is counter to what Impact Team specifically said, "publish the information in response to alleged lies ALM told its customers about a service that allows members to completely erase their profile information for a $19 fee."

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The Ashley Madison Database Was Leaked by icanhackit on Wednesday August 19, 2015 @10:12AM (#10085593)
Impact Team are being disingenuous - if you want to punish a liar you don't attack those who were fooled by the lie. More importantly, we don't know why a particular user was registered with the site - there are legitimate reasons why they may have used it including checking whether their partner was active on the site or using it at a time they were single for hook-ups. This leak will potentially destroy or taint innocent peoples relationships.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The Ashley Madison Database Was Leaked by 51Cards on Wednesday August 19, 2015 @10:18AM (#10085637)
I have to disagree here strongly. The statements published by Impact Team are heavily laced with vitriol towards the users of the service. I feel their statement about exposing ALM is just a loose attempt at claiming virtue around their act. I am quite sure it was not in any way the prime motivator.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The Ashley Madison Database Was Leaked by thedufer on Wednesday August 19, 2015 @10:04AM (#10085522)
> If it's O.K. to hack into someone else's server and mass-out people for having profiles on a dating site because you suspect most of them might be "guilty" of the crime of "marital infidelity"

I think you've misunderstood. "you" are the people judging that the hacking was OK and outing the victims, not the people who did the hacking. I'm pretty sure Thomas is making no claim about the intent of the hackers themselves.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The Ashley Madison Database Was Leaked by akshatpradhan on Wednesday August 19, 2015 @10:10AM (#10085575)
Its possible I misunderstood. Pointing out the word "you" does bring out a different context for me.

Thank you for showing me that.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The Ashley Madison Database Was Leaked by zaphar on Wednesday August 19, 2015 @09:33AM (#10085255) 

    Stick to the facts when opining, Thomas :).
Where in his comment did you see him speak to the intent of the leakers. He's just pointing out the consequences and the hypocrisy of spreading the leak all over the internet when you complain about widespread spying. Hurting someone in order to get back at someone else is a very poor justification.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The Ashley Madison Database Was Leaked by akshatpradhan on Wednesday August 19, 2015 @09:40AM (#10085307)
>If it's O.K. to hack into someone else's server and mass-out people for having profiles on a dating site because you suspect most of them might be "guilty" of the crime of "marital infidelity" --- and come on,

To me, Thomas's opinion doesn't appear to be based on facts simply because Impact Team specifically said, "it decided to publish the information in response to alleged lies ALM told its customers about a service that allows members to completely erase their profile information for a $19 fee."

Maybe if he edits his original opinion to not suggest Impact Team released the Database because of marital infidelity?

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The Ashley Madison Database Was Leaked by peejaybee on Wednesday August 19, 2015 @09:50AM (#10085388)
I think there's enough moralizing dripping from Impact Team's preamble to the release to support Thomas' suggestion.

"We have explained the fraud, deceit, and stupidity of ALM and their members."

"Chances are your man signed up on the world's biggest affair site, but never had one. He just tried to. If that distinction matters."

"Find yourself in here? It was ALM that failed you and lied to you. Prosecute them and claim damages. Then move on with your life. Learn your lesson and make amends. Embarrassing now, but you'll get over it."

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The Ashley Madison Database Was Leaked by akshatpradhan on Wednesday August 19, 2015 @09:55AM (#10085429)
These are the quotes you're using to suggest that Impact Team's intent was targeted against the guilty marriage infidels? I don't know if I agree that those are reasonable enough quotes to ascertain that was their true intent.

This sounds like the real intent, "The Impact Team said it decided to publish the information in response to alleged lies ALM told its customers about a service that allows members to completely erase their profile information for a $19 fee."

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The Ashley Madison Database Was Leaked by peejaybee on Wednesday August 19, 2015 @10:45AM (#10085832)
It sounds like the Impact Team can't get their story straight on what their real intent actually is.
[ Parent | on HN ]