Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Sounds like this kid is a bit of genius, maybe he should be given a job at Apple instead of a prison sentence. Just saying

Hacking continues to be a huge problem causing billions of dollars in damages. We ought to start punishing it with life sentences and this kid should go to jail for years just as an example to would be hackers. As our digital lives become more and more important the costs that random hackers can impose on all of society is going to become bigger and bigger.
 
The cloud is just another example of creating a flawed solution to a phantom problem for profit...or worse.
The first time I heard of "the cloud" being hyped as the answer to all your backup needs, I knew it would be a security nightmare. Your data on someone else's hard drive...what could possibly go wrong?:rolleyes: Just ask Jennifer Lawrence.:eek:
 
How can someone Still hack Apple with their "encrypted" software.Makes you wonder how vulnerable Our data is to the hands of anyone that can hack...how can a Trillion $$ Dollar company be so exposed.
Hacking isn't as 'black and white' as media and news often reports. Computers and the APIs used to access them have handfuls of inherent vulnerabilities. It should be noted and applauded that Apple detected the intrusion on their data more so than the fact it was breached.
 
Give the child a job for Apple when he gets out of jail, lol.
Absolutely not. Hackers cannot be trusted, and they don't have the required talents to keep a site safe.
[doublepost=1534723606][/doublepost]
no, dozens of companies will look to hire him as a security expert, the same as many previous elite hackers.
Come on, he is a script kiddie, not a security expert.
[doublepost=1534723710][/doublepost]
Many security firms hire career thieves to test out their products. Surely this sort of thing isn't news to you?
Do they?
[doublepost=1534723870][/doublepost]
This lousy comment by the lawyer could be reasonably extended into an argument that burning houses down can lead to one becoming a firefighter, shooting down people is fine because we want to work for the police, and so on.
Actually, some people seem to think that burning down houses makes you a good architect, and shooting people should open a career in the medical profession. Surely if you know how to put a bullet into a man, that teaches you how to remove a bullet from a man, right?
[doublepost=1534724043][/doublepost]
Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying, by no means am I saying or implying the individual is a victim. What I am saying is that Apple or the court is being untruthful. If the court is saying that this individual did something wrong and 90GB of data was obtained, then I completely understand the wrongdoing. Apple on the other hand is saying no data was compromised. So either the court is untruthful or Apple, both cannot be truthful.
Apple says no personal data was compromised. We don't know what was in the 90 GB. Might be 15 copies of Xcode. Might be all TV adverts that Apple showed in the last 20 years. Might be the complete WWDC videos. I prefer not to jump to conclusions before I know the facts.
 
Every company which is hacked in this way has to maximize damage limitation ASAP. In other words, they'll put out the type of statement to allay fears that their customers would have about things like their credit card and SSNs. But that should be taken with a pinch of salt. You can't trust a corporation to tell you anything other than lies and nobody has slicker PR than Apple.
[doublepost=1534726391][/doublepost]
Sounds like this kid is a bit of genius, maybe he should be given a job at Apple instead of a prison sentence. Just saying
Prison is the appropriate place for this and all hackers who commit illegal acts.
 
Apple says no personal data was compromised. We don't know what was in the 90 GB. Might be 15 copies of Xcode. Might be all TV adverts that Apple showed in the last 20 years. Might be the complete WWDC videos. I prefer not to jump to conclusions before I know the facts.

Without having any details, here is something to ponder on. If a hacker broke into a large corporation database, why would their help themselves to a piece of software that is available for free to the public (XCode, etc) or public videos (WWDC). Maybe paid software was downloaded, in this case either Apple is a fool for not segregating its various App Stores, iCloud, etc. Companies do not put everything in ones database for security reasons. No details as to what database was compromised.

I understand you are providing an example, however Apple has not provided a lot of details. If someone hacked into a large corporations website and changed a few things around as a joke to demonstrate that the company does not have very good security, is it a crime (its a grey area). However if I downloaded 90GB of promotion videos from Apple’s website that is already available to the public, is it a crime (it is a grey area). Many people on a daily basis download and share things from various sites such as YouTube, some of it is a blatant crime. Does that mean we should waste the courts time and tax payers money on persecuting all these users.

At the end of the day this is a white collar crime, to the lowest possible degree. When corporate bankers stole millions if not billions during the home equity bubble of a decade ago and prior instances, those white collar crimes are on a grander scale compared to someone taking some data. EquiFax did not protect people’s sensitive data that was entrusted to them, what ever happened to that? It seems the law is going after small fish and ignoring the large ones that have done more damage.

Reminds me of the saying, “too big to fail, small enough to jail.”

Give the teenager probation, restrict usage of the internet. Go after the real criminals, the one who lost their homes, life, job, family when all their life’s savings were stolen by lying to them to their face.
[doublepost=1534732518][/doublepost]
I believe you are misinterpreting the details. Apple said: “ no customer data was comprised “. That does not equate to no customer data was downloaded. I already gave an example above about what could theoretically be in a file that contains customer data but no PII.

However you a free to view apple’s transparency anyway you want. If you don’t believe or trust them, that is certainly your right. I don’t believe they can be 100% transparent due to a variety of factors, but as a public company flat out lying will get them in a heap of trouble.

Apple is certainly know for its transparency (Butterfly mechanism MB/P keyboard, Battery performance, Meltdown/Spectre, etc). People should be sceptical of large corporations or governments and hold them to the highest scrutiny. There are other companies worse, however Apple’s track records is not great either.
 
Without having any details, here is something to ponder on. If a hacker broke into a large corporation database, why would their help themselves to a piece of software that is available for free to the public (XCode, etc) or public videos (WWDC). Maybe paid software was downloaded, in this case either Apple is a fool for not segregating its various App Stores, iCloud, etc. Companies do not put everything in ones database for security reasons. No details as to what database was compromised.

I understand you are providing an example, however Apple has not provided a lot of details. If someone hacked into a large corporations website and changed a few things around as a joke to demonstrate that the company does not have very good security, is it a crime (its a grey area). However if I downloaded 90GB of promotion videos from Apple’s website that is already available to the public, is it a crime (it is a grey area). Many people on a daily basis download and share things from various sites such as YouTube, some of it is a blatant crime. Does that mean we should waste the courts time and tax payers money on persecuting all these users.

At the end of the day this is a white collar crime, to the lowest possible degree. When corporate bankers stole millions if not billions during the home equity bubble of a decade ago and prior instances, those white collar crimes are on a grander scale compared to someone taking some data. EquiFax did not protect people’s sensitive data that was entrusted to them, what ever happened to that? It seems the law is going after small fish and ignoring the large ones that have done more damage.

Reminds me of the saying, “too big to fail, small enough to jail.”

Give the teenager probation, restrict usage of the internet. Go after the real criminals, the one who lost their homes, life, job, family when all their life’s savings were stolen by lying to them to their face.
[doublepost=1534732518][/doublepost]

Apple is certainly know for its transparency (Butterfly mechanism MB/P keyboard, Battery performance, Meltdown/Spectre, etc). People should be sceptical of large corporations or governments and hold them to the highest scrutiny. There are other companies worse, however Apple’s track records is not great either.
It's not about transparency. Most companies give few details on the hack attempts except when PII is involved. In this case PII, was not involved, but nonetheless a crime was committed. It's up to the courts to mete out the sentence, but the kid was caught and charged.
 
Not compromised in the same way as the 'fappening'. A few too many security breaches in Apple's stuff lately. Security is one of the last remaining things holding me to Apple. If that goes, might as well get windows.
 
I would guess the data he got was basically encrypted nonsense.

Nice detailed analysis.

The fact celebs had poor password controls isn't Apple's fault.

It wasn't just poor passwords. I use passwords that you just about might figure out if you knew who I am, and collected lots of details about my past and present. Since nobody knows who I am, and nobody is quite interested in nude photos of me, I'm safe. (The fact that there are no nude photos makes it even safer). The same quality password used by some top celebrity might get hacked, because someone might be willing to put lots of effort into it.
 
It wasn't just poor passwords. I use passwords that you just about might figure out if you knew who I am, and collected lots of details about my past and present. Since nobody knows who I am, and nobody is quite interested in nude photos of me, I'm safe. (The fact that there are no nude photos makes it even safer). The same quality password used by some top celebrity might get hacked, because someone might be willing to put lots of effort into it.
If you're a celebrity where your birth date and personal information could be known, it's your responsibility to make it secure.

Mother's Maiden name might not work if you're famous...common sense. You can't "hack" a password any easier because a person is famous. If your secret questions are stupid and someone gets them because you're famous, that's not a "hack."
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mr. Heckles
It's not about transparency. Most companies give few details on the hack attempts except when PII is involved. In this case PII, was not involved, but nonetheless a crime was committed. It's up to the courts to mete out the sentence, but the kid was caught and charged.

Question is when this happened, why did Apple not see fit to disclose it earlier. its not like the white collar crime happened Tuesday, authorities caught the teenager on Wednesday and trial on Thursday, while Apple discloses it on Friday. If the crime was commit on Tuesday, the least Apple could have done was disclose the severity of the situation on late Wednesday if not sometime Thursday. If the authorities had a smoking gun there really is no reason to not disclose the incident.

Apple is positioning itself as a white knight the protector of your information, their have the responsibility to report any sort of attack, penetration and removal of data from their databases.

When we look at Meltdown/Spectre that affected a lot of people, did the authorities take all the large corporations involved to court for knowing this information months in advance and not disclosing it to its users.

It seems the authorities are wasting tax payers money to catch small time criminals (teenagers) rather than go after the established one who are committing larger crimes. Either the authorities and law is toothless and picking on people without money (bullying) or incompetent to tackle the large criminal organization. If you believe these actions discourages teenagers from doing the same you are sadly mistaken, it will only encourage others to cover their tracks and do more damage. For a person with a hacker mindset it is all about the challenge and to prove their skills to the community, prison time only fuels their anger to contemplate ways to get back at the system.

It is a destructive cycle for both parties. A beneficial solution would have done more good and limit further action and remorse. Had the teenager be guilty of a serious crime such as killing/murder/rape/etc, I agree with jail time. For white collar crime a fine, probation, community service would be a better benefit. Limiting physical social interaction may have gotten this teenager in this situation to begin with, maybe limit and monitor his online usage. Prison is never the answer (for serious crimes as mentioned above it is to isolate the general public from further physical damage).
 
Question is when this happened, why did Apple not see fit to disclose it earlier. its not like the white collar crime happened Tuesday, authorities caught the teenager on Wednesday and trial on Thursday, while Apple discloses it on Friday. If the crime was commit on Tuesday, the least Apple could have done was disclose the severity of the situation on late Wednesday if not sometime Thursday. If the authorities had a smoking gun there really is no reason to not disclose the incident.
There are most probably reasons you (and I) are not aware of as to the timing of what happened and when. I place no meaning at all on what was announced and when.

Apple is positioning itself as a white knight the protector of your information, their have the responsibility to report any sort of attack, penetration and removal of data from their databases.
You’re conflating multiple thoughts. Tim Cook making Apple take a strong stance against the protection and misuse of your customer data is not the same as what is done working with law enforcement on a hack attempt.

When we look at Meltdown/Spectre that affected a lot of people, did the authorities take all the large corporations involved to court for knowing this information months in advance and not disclosing it to its users.
How can you compare the spread of a virus with the targeted attack on a specific (set of) servers?

It seems the authorities are wasting tax payers money to catch small time criminals (teenagers) rather than go after the established one who are committing larger crimes. Either the authorities and law is toothless and picking on people without money (bullying) or incompetent to tackle the large criminal organization. If you believe these actions discourages teenagers from doing the same you are sadly mistaken, it will only encourage others to cover their tracks and do more damage. For a person with a hacker mindset it is all about the challenge and to prove their skills to the community, prison time only fuels their anger to contemplate ways to get back at the system.
If you believed the authorities are wasting money on small time criminals, next time your house gets robbed don’t bother calling the police. They are too busy to be bothered catching petty thieves.

It is a destructive cycle for both parties. A beneficial solution would have done more good and limit further action and remorse. Had the teenager be guilty of a serious crime such as killing/murder/rape/etc, I agree with jail time. For white collar crime a fine, probation, community service would be a better benefit. Limiting physical social interaction may have gotten this teenager in this situation to begin with, maybe limit and monitor his online usage. Prison is never the answer (for serious crimes as mentioned above it is to isolate the general public from further physical damage).
The kid needs to be taught a lesson, imo. Maybe jail time isn’t the answer and maybe it is. However I am thankful more learned people (than me) will determine that outcome.
 
If you believed the authorities are wasting money on small time criminals, next time your house gets robbed don’t bother calling the police. They are too busy to be bothered catching petty thieves.

I have insurance on things that can be replaced and things that cannot be replaced like data, it is backed up offsite to multiple locations. Physical possessions that I have can be replaced. Had a criminal physically hurt, murdered, killed etc I believe calling the authotrities is warranted. Someone broke in, file a report and an insurance claim. Minor inconvenience, however I am not going to loose sleep over it. Having a teenager spend an undisclosed amount of time in prison that could have a lasting effect on their mental/physical development for a lifetime is more important to me. There was something that happened that led this teenager to do this white collar crime, maybe curiosity. Are we going to jail people for being curious (it is human nature).

I am prepared to loose any physical objects in my house, even if the place was set on fire (I can rebuild), fixing a persons mental health once their are placed in a traumatic situation such as prison takes a lifetime to fix. I am not sure what is worth more to you physical possessions or someone’s mental health (maybe their do not know better). Unless you are saying your possessions are worth more than someone’s life, that is quite telling about you as a human being.

Maybe this kid was poor, maybe curious. Some of the great minds in the tech industry have done some questionable things during their younger days, had their been thrown in prison we may not have had the technology advances and convenience we enjoy today.
 
Last edited:
I have insurance and things that cannot be replaced like data, it is backup offsite to multiple locations. Physical possessions that I have can be replaced. Had a criminal physically hurt, murdered, killed etc I believe calling the authotrities is warranted. Someone broke in, file a report and an insurance claim. Minor inconvenience, however I am not going to loose sleep over it. Having a teenager spend an undisclosed amount of time in prison that could have a lasting effect on their mental/physical development for a lifetime is more important to me. There was something that happened that led this teenager to do this white collar crime, maybe curiosity. Are we going to jail people for being curious (it is human nature).
It’s not about losing your data and have insurance on your property and calling it a day. The person who committed the burglary may be selling drugs, committed a murder etc. unless the police are called to examine the crime scene, there will be less of a chance to catch a ne’er do well. So imo, you should carefully examine your thought processes. On the other hand, I’m not in charge of if this kid gets jail time, but if he does I’m not losing any sleep over it.

I am prepared to loose any physical objects in my house, even if the place was set on fire (I can rebuild), fixing a persons mental health once their are placed in a traumatic situation such as prison takes a lifetime to fix. I am not sure what is worth more to you physical possessions or someone’s mental health (maybe their do not know better). Unless you are saying your possessions are worth more than someone’s life, that is quite telling about you as a human being.

Maybe this kid was poor, maybe curious. Some of the great minds in the tech industry have done some questionable things during their younger days, had their been thrown in prison we may not have had the technology advances and convenience we enjoy today.
Tough on the kid. He did the crime and maybe he will do the time. But as I said I am glad people more learned than me get a vote on this. It’s out of our hands, we can just comment on it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CarlJ
Hacking continues to be a huge problem causing billions of dollars in damages. We ought to start punishing it with life sentences and this kid should go to jail for years just as an example to would be hackers. As our digital lives become more and more important the costs that random hackers can impose on all of society is going to become bigger and bigger.

There is a bigger issue at hand here than just hacking. And it's what I highlighted above. The sheer fact that you are referring to lives as "digital" is a serious offense in itself. Did it ever occur to you and millions of other smartphone addicts that maybe, just maybe, you're publicizing your life too much? - You don't have to be all "digital", ya know. Try simplifying your life to some degree, lay off the screen for a while, and stop checking FB/Insta/Twitter every 5 minutes. Yes, new tech is forcing us into becoming more and more dependent on smart devices, but there are many way to limit how much you expose yourself. Maybe then, it wouldn't be as big a deal if you ever got hacked. The fact that all of your info is stored in the cloud somewhere is beyond frightening. When somebody robs you of your info, there's no FDIC-equivalent to get it all back.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.