News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:So long WordPress by threatofrain on Monday October 28, 2024 @04:45PM (#41976087)
Illegal? Or just a civil problem? Illegal takes it in a pretty severe direction.
Re:So long WordPress by eli on Monday October 28, 2024 @04:52PM (#41976153)
Some courts have interpreted the definition of "unauthorized access" in the CFAA pretty broadly. That checkbox about WP Engine is arguably an "access control mechanism" since you can't access the site without checking it. Maybe it's a stretch but it's not that much of a stretch.

I could see a breach of contract argument too.

IANAL.

Re:So long WordPress by throwup238 on Monday October 28, 2024 @05:18PM (#41976412)
IANAL either but I was under the impression that changed with the Van Buren v United States Supreme Court case [1]. If you register and accept a EULA, it’s no longer “unauthorized” access, regardless of whether you exceed EULA limits, as long as you’re using the authorized interface (as opposed to trying to get access to the servers via SSH or some other side channel). It’s not the criminal courts’ job to enforce access limits.

[1] https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/cert/19-783

Re:So long WordPress by arielcostas on Tuesday October 29, 2024 @05:02AM (#41981087)
IANAL, not from the US either. But if you register, you are signing a legally-binding licence agreement. Doesn't lying or giving false information nullify this contract?

For example, if you register on wordpress.org while claiming you have no affiliation with WPE, but you did have any sort of affiliation, they could consider the contract null/void, and claim the access was unauthorised because the contract wasn't valid.

Re:So long WordPress by throwup238 on Tuesday October 29, 2024 @12:13PM (#41985798)
The contract can be null and void but if you can still login, it’s not unauthorized access. The burden is on the company to pursue breach of contract. That’s my reading of the decision but again, IANAL.
Re:So long WordPress by llamaimperative on Monday October 28, 2024 @04:53PM (#41976163)
Civil infractions are still called "illegal", at least in the US