News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:People Staring at Computers by adgjlsfhk1 on Friday October 21, 2022 @12:42PM (#33290070)
Apple made store computers available for demo and he didn't bypass any protection to run the software, and there isn't any agreement you have to sign to use one of the demo computers that lists what you are and aren't allowed to do with them. I agree this is on the edge, but looking through the CFAA, it isn't obvious to me which if any section applies here.
Re:People Staring at Computers by cmeacham98 on Friday October 21, 2022 @12:54PM (#33290257)
This is like claiming "You downloaded and ran my executable from the internet, so the fact it starting keylogging you is ok! I had totally legitimate access provided by you!!"

Apple makes the computers available for the purposes of demonstration. No rational person would ever think this includes installing spyware on them, so you are exceeding the level of authorization Apple gave you. I strongly suspect a court would see it the same way.

Re:People Staring at Computers by kergonath on Friday October 21, 2022 @01:22PM (#33290623)
> Apple made store computers available for demo and he didn't bypass any protection to run the software, and there isn't any agreement you have to sign to use one of the demo computers that lists what you are and aren't allowed to do with them.

Unauthorised entry is unauthorised regardless of whether you have to open a door or break a lock. Not having to circumvent protection measures does not make something legal.

Re:People Staring at Computers by mjburgess on Friday October 21, 2022 @12:49PM (#33290180)
> law prohibits accessing a computer without authorization, or in excess of authorization

Excess is a very broad condition, and deliberately so. The law doesnt say what counts as auth one way or another, that's up to the courts to interpret.

It seems beyond doubt that any reasonable court would find this guy did not have auth to install anything, let alone spyware.

Re:People Staring at Computers by SoftAnnaLee on Friday October 21, 2022 @02:10PM (#33291168)
The thing with authorization is... well... you can have authorization to go to a public park. But carving up a park bench is very much not authorized. You can be "able" to do something when the public has access to it. However the ethics of altering property that belongs to somebody else tends to lean from anywhere from "okay if you have permission" to "heavily illegal".

Anybody can install spyware on a public computer, anybody can install spyware when given permission by the property owner. Installing spyware on a public computer (that you do not own) without permission of the owner is very much illegal.

Re:People Staring at Computers by uoaei on Friday October 21, 2022 @03:24PM (#33292050)
Do I have authorization to sketch highly-accurate versions of people's faces in that public park?
Re:People Staring at Computers by whycombinetor on Friday October 21, 2022 @03:39PM (#33292211)
Public park yes, but in an Apple store is a different question entirely. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_panorama#Laws_aroun...