Y Combinator cofounder was convicted under CFAA in 1990

Re:Y Combinator cofounder was convicted under CFAA in 1990 by DanBC2 on Friday January 18, 2013 @08:14AM (#5078450)

This is briefly mentioned in Clifford Stoll's book "The Cuckoo's Egg" (which is great read).

It's a fascinating story. I also like his father's (or maybe it was his?) idea for a spellchecker - using statistical analysis.

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Re:Y Combinator cofounder was convicted under CFAA in 1990 by mpyne on Friday January 18, 2013 @10:11AM (#5078973)

It really is a great read, and it shows the other side of the story: When there was very little, if any, idea of computer crime enforcement in the Federal government.

Back then there was an a hacker running amok on the Berkeley (yes, that Berkeley) network. Even when they managed to prove that the hacker was coming from overseas (definitely making it a Federal case) they were met with a big giant MEH from everyone they talked to. FBI didn't handle it. USSS didn't care. And on and on it went, until they managed to drag the government (and other parties besides) kicking and screaming into helping them out.

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Re:Y Combinator cofounder was convicted under CFAA in 1990 by jacquesm on Friday January 18, 2013 @10:19AM (#5079015)

Things haven't changed that much. If you have a case and it does not involve one or more of:

  - child porn

  - someone famous 

  - a large amount of money

There is not all that much chance you'll get any cooperation.

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Re:Y Combinator cofounder was convicted under CFAA in 1990 by leejoramo on Friday January 18, 2013 @04:24PM (#5081139)

"The Cuckoo's Egg" is one of the defining books of history of the Internet. Anybody in this field really should read it, and it is an exciting story.

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