Hacking Victims Deserve Empathy, Not Ridicule

Megalith

Megalith

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Here is one perspective on the unfortunate lot out there who have had their information compromised. Do you think that most people get what they deserve, or is there really only so much you can do these days to protect yourself?

Everyone has some data — probably a lot of it — buried in their vast digital record that they would rather not disclose publicly. That problem will grow; in the last couple of decades, computers have come to function less as office tools than as friends and therapists. The digital world has become a place to offload your deepest fears and desires, to seek discreet counsel and surreptitious amusement under the veil of privacy offered by an LCD screen.
 
Ashley Madison is different, since they encourage infidelity. Nobody makes fun of people that got compromised from Adobe, OPM, Target, etc.
 
Ashley Madison was also a complete scam. They kept records when they claimed that they wouldn't. They were a front for an escort service. They are about as sleazy as you could get.

Zero fuck given for those who were hacked and those who owned the site.

On that note
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6473d-X-PQM
 
Of course hacking victims deserve empathy, but rarely get it. Unfortunately, we're seldom empathetic unless we also happen to be a victim. Somebody hacked your Steam account? Well, you must be a computer noob who should have heard of Steam Guard and obviously must have been downloading kiddy porn laden with viruses while shouting "Here, steal my account!" Valve is infallible, and it's not like they could ever have a bug which allows a user to easily change your password to something of their choosing. Sony on the other hand, being specifically targeted by certain groups, is just an evil corporation purposely out to have your data stolen.

The point being, at some point or another, you will have your data stolen. That's pretty much guaranteed. So when your life is ruined because someone steals your identity, causing you years of pain having to deal with financial companies to rid yourself of hundreds of thousands of dollars someone else spent while wrecking your credit, well, you're totally at fault because you used an evil corporate bank, instead of hiding your cash inside your refrigerator like the rest of us.
 
One can only do so much to protect themselves. I didn't ask for my CC info to be stolen when I swiped my credit card at Home Depot. The CC company was proactive enough that when they saw I purchased at Home Depot, they notified me they are sending me a new card to PREVENT fraud.
 
Poseur said:
Ashley Madison is different, since they encourage infidelity. Nobody makes fun of people that got compromised from Adobe, OPM, Target, etc.
Click to expand...

So..

What about the people researching as one writer noted, their info got leaked
What about spouse looking to see if they could find anyone..


So they deserve it as well..

nice thinking...

sure you have broken a law or 2 (no matter how small), your criminal! you deserve to have all your data leaked!
 
Well the Ashley Madison account users are just liars and social reject men getting outed so I don't have aaaany sympathy for them. Other hacking victims are obviously totally deserving of sympathy because they were just buying junk online or trying to get their bank stuff done.
 
ocellaris said:
Here is an example of why people should be ridiculed:

http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/08/29/indiana-baby-monitor-hacked-dnt-wxin.wxin

Gosh gee, who knew if you don't change the default common password of your low budget internet connected baby monitor other people would be able to access it?!? :eek:
Click to expand...

I know this sounds mean to say, but average intelligence is incredibly stupid. Think of it like an IQ of 100 (which is average), barely knows how to turn on a computer. They know how to press the power button, and how to open up their internet browser, and click the Facebook link. That's average. Knowing what a more secure password might be an IQ of 110, or having a password manager might be an IQ of 120. To your typical tech geek, changing passwords is basic, but to a lot of people, it's magic.

It's fun to make fun of people on how they can make basic stupid mistakes, but at the same time, there are probably things you or I don't know how to do that other people would laugh at us and think how we're retarded.
 
Many people don't know to change passwords as i am sure many of you here could not wire a new light into a fuse box, or properly install a new sink with proper drainage, it is easy for the people who know those fields but people outside have no idea.

Go sew a new zipper on your jeans next time it breaks...can't wait to see that..

People do need to start learning... i think people are just lazy, plug things in and go, instead of taking 2 seconds to search online and check.

It's fun to make fun of people on how they can make basic stupid mistakes, but at the same time, there are probably things you or I don't know how to do that other people would laugh at us and think how we're retarded.
Click to expand...

Exactly!
 
MrGuvernment said:
Many people don't know to change passwords as i am sure many of you here could not wire a new light into a fuse box, or properly install a new sink with proper drainage, it is easy for the people who know those fields but people outside have no idea.

Go sew a new zipper on your jeans next time it breaks...can't wait to see that..

People do need to start learning... i think people are just lazy, plug things in and go, instead of taking 2 seconds to search online and check.



Exactly!
Click to expand...

Comparing changing a password to wiring a circuit into a fuse box is like comparing making kraft mac and cheese to a 3 Michelin star meal. One requires a significant amount of skill and training, the other requires you to be able to boil water without burning your house down.

Hacking victims absolutely deserve ridicule, but that doesn't mean the other side gets a free pass either.
 
Nytegard said:
I know this sounds mean to say, but average intelligence is incredibly stupid. Think of it like an IQ of 100 (which is average), barely knows how to turn on a computer. They know how to press the power button, and how to open up their internet browser, and click the Facebook link. That's average. Knowing what a more secure password might be an IQ of 110, or having a password manager might be an IQ of 120. To your typical tech geek, changing passwords is basic, but to a lot of people, it's magic.

It's fun to make fun of people on how they can make basic stupid mistakes, but at the same time, there are probably things you or I don't know how to do that other people would laugh at us and think how we're retarded.
Click to expand...

Even the shit Chinese security cameras come with paperwork that tells you to change the password.
 
Dekoth-E- said:
Comparing changing a password to wiring a circuit into a fuse box is like comparing making kraft mac and cheese to a 3 Michelin star meal. One requires a significant amount of skill and training, the other requires you to be able to boil water without burning your house down.

Hacking victims absolutely deserve ridicule, but that doesn't mean the other side gets a free pass either.
Click to expand...

It's really not though.

I'll give you a personal example. I've been a professional programmer for years now. But I work in the Windows environment. One of my pet peeves are Linux programmers. First, they tend to look down upon Windows developers as not being real programmers. Second, from a Windows developer standpoint, Linux development is very esoteric where to gain the knowledge you need to solve the problem you have, you first need to have the knowledge you need. Oh, all you need to do to solve your problem is to type this basic (non-English) command on the command line. Any programmer should know how to do this!

Recently at work, they wanted me to port over a library to Android. I've never developed for Android before, and it took me a good week and a half to get Android Studio running. The code took two hours to port, but the basic setup of the development IDE took a week and a half. Is it that I'm stupid? Perhaps. But at the same time, Android Studio is fairly complex and user-unfriendly. It didn't just work, and I had to search through about 20 pages on Google before I found the answer to why it didn't work. It turned out there was a flag I was missing in the build.gradle, which, of course, was not in the documentation. Stuff like this is terrible design, yet it's the very core of basic knowledge for Android development.

Sorry, but changing a password is not easy. It's easy for you, but not for many people. That's where Apple is actually pretty good. They understand intuitive interfaces. They're looked down upon by many people as creating software any idiot can use, but ask yourself this. If any idiot can learn how to use it, isn't that a good design?
 
I hate to break it to you, but setting up and Androix development and build environment is a pain in the ass for seasoned Android developers as well :eek:
 
I've been on the receiving end of having a website hacked. It's the digital equivalent of minding your own business, only to have someone ransack your house, lock you out, and then invite all their dirtbag friends over to squat the place. Imagine how that would feel if it were your real dwelling. Complete dirtbags. Then you get the cyberthieves that steal CC and financial info, commit identity theft... those are the lowest of the low. Yes, I absolutely sympathize with victims of hacking because they're victims of criminal activity.

Now... I will add a little point of clarity here. I do not sympathize with people who use illicit services knowing full well that what they're doing is wrong when it comes back to bite them. What happened with Ashley Madison... I don't condone the hackers, but I have zero sympathy for the adulterous slime that use that site. They broke an oath sworn when they were married. They deserve to have their actions brought to light.
 
MrGuvernment said:
Many people don't know to change passwords as i am sure many of you here could not wire a new light into a fuse box, or properly install a new sink with proper drainage, it is easy for the people who know those fields but people outside have no idea.
Click to expand...

So you are telling me, with zero skill what so ever, the person not only turned on the computer, opened a browser, typed in the URL and went to the site, and followed all those instructions on how to not only setup an account, but also verify it through their email address, but they dont know how to change a password? They went through all of that, input all their data, browsed for whatever goods they wanted, whether it be a john grisham book or a 5'9" bit titted blonde with no inhibitions and 6 kids who wants to suck them dry like they are a capri sun pouch, and this is like the 50th site they have visited and subscribed or became a member of to browse or buy goods from (Think amazon apple kmart sears jcpenny etc. etc. etc.), and they dont know how to change a password? This is somehow an actual excuse that is somehow comparable to installing a fucking sink or light?


This is like saying the guy is a plumber whos installing that sink, but after getting his license and installing numerous sinks in the past, he is installing another sink, of the same make model and size, in a house with the same type of plumbing as most of the other houses he has installed this exact model too... and he cant figure out how to use a fucking pipe wrench to remove the drain pipe, to put a new one on?

Yea.. Thanks for that...
 
MrGuvernment said:
So..

What about the people researching as one writer noted, their info got leaked
What about spouse looking to see if they could find anyone..


So they deserve it as well..

nice thinking...

sure you have broken a law or 2 (no matter how small), your criminal! you deserve to have all your data leaked!
Click to expand...

If you suspect your spouse is cheating... tbh, it's already failing. AND..... I find it funny, that neither of these people did not make a fake account with fake names. Though i don't know the process, so maybe they have a process to cancel that out.
 
Nytegard said:
It's really not though.

I'll give you a personal example. I've been a professional programmer for years now. But I work in the Windows environment. One of my pet peeves are Linux programmers. First, they tend to look down upon Windows developers as not being real programmers. Second, from a Windows developer standpoint, Linux development is very esoteric where to gain the knowledge you need to solve the problem you have, you first need to have the knowledge you need. Oh, all you need to do to solve your problem is to type this basic (non-English) command on the command line. Any programmer should know how to do this!

Recently at work, they wanted me to port over a library to Android. I've never developed for Android before, and it took me a good week and a half to get Android Studio running. The code took two hours to port, but the basic setup of the development IDE took a week and a half. Is it that I'm stupid? Perhaps. But at the same time, Android Studio is fairly complex and user-unfriendly. It didn't just work, and I had to search through about 20 pages on Google before I found the answer to why it didn't work. It turned out there was a flag I was missing in the build.gradle, which, of course, was not in the documentation. Stuff like this is terrible design, yet it's the very core of basic knowledge for Android development.

Sorry, but changing a password is not easy. It's easy for you, but not for many people. That's where Apple is actually pretty good. They understand intuitive interfaces. They're looked down upon by many people as creating software any idiot can use, but ask yourself this. If any idiot can learn how to use it, isn't that a good design?
Click to expand...

Its not the same as coding a different language, its not confusing, you followed the simple steps to get to your account being activated and setup to take money out of your credit card company, and obviously you understand english, the password change FAQ isnt in Korean for gods sake, you shouldnt have any problems. If you do, HOW THE HELL DID YOU EVEN GET THE ACCOUNT SETUP TO BEGIN WITH? There are HELP/FAQ links on almost every single page you visit on a website that accepts money for a service or goods.
 
MrGuvernment said:
Many people don't know to change passwords as i am sure many of you here could not wire a new light into a fuse box, or properly install a new sink with proper drainage, it is easy for the people who know those fields but people outside have no idea.

Go sew a new zipper on your jeans next time it breaks...can't wait to see that..
Click to expand...

Guess I'm not one of the many :)

I could do all those things, just installed a ceiling fan last week (including running new wiring), put several new sinks in years ago when I remodeled my house, even installed tile floors and built planters in the yard.

About the only one I haven't done (at least in the last 20 years) would be the zipper, as it takes much less time to just go buy a new pair of jeans :)
 
Nytegard said:
It's really not though.

I'll give you a personal example. I've been a professional programmer for years now. But I work in the Windows environment. One of my pet peeves are Linux programmers. First, they tend to look down upon Windows developers as not being real programmers. Second, from a Windows developer standpoint, Linux development is very esoteric where to gain the knowledge you need to solve the problem you have, you first need to have the knowledge you need. Oh, all you need to do to solve your problem is to type this basic (non-English) command on the command line. Any programmer should know how to do this!

Recently at work, they wanted me to port over a library to Android. I've never developed for Android before, and it took me a good week and a half to get Android Studio running. The code took two hours to port, but the basic setup of the development IDE took a week and a half. Is it that I'm stupid? Perhaps. But at the same time, Android Studio is fairly complex and user-unfriendly. It didn't just work, and I had to search through about 20 pages on Google before I found the answer to why it didn't work. It turned out there was a flag I was missing in the build.gradle, which, of course, was not in the documentation. Stuff like this is terrible design, yet it's the very core of basic knowledge for Android development.

Sorry, but changing a password is not easy. It's easy for you, but not for many people. That's where Apple is actually pretty good. They understand intuitive interfaces. They're looked down upon by many people as creating software any idiot can use, but ask yourself this. If any idiot can learn how to use it, isn't that a good design?
Click to expand...

Your example isn't applicable in the least. Understanding passwords isn't even remotely like programming. Holy crap some of you are over complicating this. There is only 1 group I'll give a pass to at this point. Those over 60. Anyone younger than that was young enough when computing started getting ubiquitous that ignorance isn't an excuse it's laziness. If you are 40 and younger and don't understand how to operate a computer, that is just willful stupidity at this point.
 
MrGuvernment said:
So..

What about the people researching as one writer noted, their info got leaked
What about spouse looking to see if they could find anyone..


So they deserve it as well..
Click to expand...

Ya, exactly, its for informational purposes. Like going to Thailand and "researching" if young boys really are sold for entertainment. Several famous celebrities have conducted this research and been the unfair victims of public scrutiny.

If you tell me it's for research purposes, I will believe you sir.
 
Nytegard said:
It's really not though.
I'll give you a personal example. I've been a professional programmer for years now. But I work in the Windows environment. One of my pet peeves are Linux programmers. First, they tend to look down upon Windows developers as not being real programmers. Second, from a Windows developer standpoint, Linux development is very esoteric where to gain the knowledge you need to solve the problem you have, you first need to have the knowledge you need. Oh, all you need to do to solve your problem is to type this basic (non-English) command on the command line. Any programmer should know how to do this!
Click to expand...

The Unix commands had short names due to the limitations of the early systems (memory allocations). These conventions were simply handed down as legacy. Windows (and DOS) came along at a later point and had the luxury of being able to use longer names.

But the QWERTY keyboard is no different. Why do we still use QWERTY? The reasoning for it's existence no longer applies, but for legacy purposes it's just easier to keep it in place.
 
Poseur said:
Ashley Madison is different, since they encourage infidelity. Nobody makes fun of people that got compromised from Adobe, OPM, Target, etc.
Click to expand...

I agree.

A really good example is that pretty much everyone universally agrees that hacking into a bank account and transferring the money out to other accounts without authorization is really bad. Then, there was the time that a bunch of hackers broke into a Nigerian 419 scammers bank account and returned a bunch of money to the victims. Sometimes a "crime" is justice.
 
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