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| Rob Rosenberger (VMyth.com) Can someone tell me if this is old news in this forum? The writer for Vmyths.com, Rod Rosenberger, found a security flaw in a major virus retailers product, they in turn enlist the assistance of a government agency to have him stopped in the name of national security?
Any links/info on this? I find it absolutely amazing...
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The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.
[text was edited by author 2001-11-08 00:46:02] |
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 RyanPremium
join:2001-03-03
Quincy, MA | Re: Rob Rosenberger's (VMyth.com) arrest? Your watching the screensavers arnt you?  I just watched that. |
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| reply to Karl Bode
From: techtv: »www.techtv.com/screensavers/show···,00.html
"Yes, it really is true. Three federal policemen visited me in the middle of the night, and they stayed with me for an hour until a federal agent arrived on-scene to interview me. Yes, the US government really did ask me to censor a column I planned to publish.
It occurred over the period of September 21 to 24, and I published a replacement column on October 14. My little escapade began when I wrote a column about something an antivirus vendor did -- let's just say it was something very embarrassing.
Like a good little reporter, I asked if the vendor wanted to clarify anything. The person I spoke with called the feds. It wasn't hard to find me -- the guy knew where I was at the time. I did some needless posturing at first -- until I realized a bigger story had fallen into my lap. That's when I said, "Why sure, I'll gladly censor my unimportant column in the interests of national security."
Then I wrote a more important column about a vendor who called the feds on me. In chess terms, I sacrificed a pawn for a rook. But I do not like it when someone uses my patriotism as a pawn. I wanted to go straight to the press with this (and I wanted to alert the government conspiracy theorists too), but my editor-at-large asked a simple question, "What's really new here, Rob?"
Antivirus vendors despise the criticism we provide at Vmyths.com. Vendors sometimes try to bribe us. Vendors sometimes try to assassinate our character when bribery fails. That's nothing new. The only difference is that someone tried to squelch us with a new tactic. "
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The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it. |
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| reply to Ryan
Yes, I just watched it. I'm amazed that people aren't fuming over this. What's worse, is this guy, who's normally hard hitting, decided to clamp up and not release the manufacturer's name, what the flaw was...nothing.
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The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it. |
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RyanPremium
join:2001-03-03
Quincy, MA | reply to Karl Bode
Thats because if he did release the name on national tv he would have probably been fined a few million dollars heheh. He almost acted like somone was pointing a gun in the back of his head as he was talking. |
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| It's basic essential first ammendment rights, he's protected under the most basic functions of the constitution. They must have gotten him to sign something ridiculous, you can tell he's pissed about buckling.
Simply astounds me. I want to put this on the front page if it isn't old news......
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The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it. |
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| reply to Karl Bode
I've met Rob on a couple of occasions. (I lived pretty close to him when I lived in Illinois) Trust me.. He didn't decide to clamp up. I'd be willing to bet he's got something bigger up his sleeve. |
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RyanPremium
join:2001-03-03
Quincy, MA | reply to Karl Bode
HEHE well has he told you any info wink wink you could post wink wink. Like the compony wink wink, boycott wink wink, cough cough. |
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 SteveI know your IP addressConsultant
join:2001-03-10
Yorba Linda, CA
kudos:5 | reply to Karl Bode
said by Leviathan:
It's basic essential first amendment rights
"National Security" trumps the First Amendment, and even though the claim was almost certainly a bogus, abuse-of-power one, it's easy to be outraged when you're not the one on the other side of the table from the Feds.
He who that takes the heat gets to make the call.
Steve
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| No. Sorry. Put me under the blade. I'd fight. I guarantee you. Absolutely no doubt in my mind. I'd go to jail. I'd serve prison time. I'm not posturing. This is the kind of crap I'll scrap for.....
[Edit: I didn't realize he had signed any NDA's...]
To be arrested because of something you write, unless it's a death threat, is completely inexcusable.
Patch your damn software. Do a recall. Arrest a man who criticizes it? Get the feds involved?
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The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.
[text was edited by author 2001-11-08 01:08:49] |
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SteveI know your IP addressConsultant
join:2001-03-10
Yorba Linda, CA
kudos:5 | said by Leviathan:
I'd go to jail. I'd serve prison time. I'm not posturing.
I'm pretty sure that not everybody values "staying out of jail" the same as you, and I am more than willing to let the guy who's actually facing jail make his own decision without being called a wimp or worse.
Besides, if we're looking to create some outrage -- which is as warranted as anything I've ever heard -- this can be likely be accomplished without the fellow going to jail. The other media will pick up on this and raise the profile sufficiently to accomplish what jail would have.
Steve
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Stephen J. Friedl / Software Consultant / Tustin, California USA / »www.unixwiz.net |
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| reply to Karl Bode
I think it is a crock...
Here is Robbie's Rant page with every paragraph maked with his (U)
»vmyths.com/rant.cfm?id=409&page=4
[Editor's note: the "(U)" before each paragraph is an inside joke.]
But What can a guy do when things are slow and he is looking for more hits. You can also listen to him live on MP3 crescendo.
He make may heart flutter just to think he went through all that pain and he could not share any of the juicy stuff with us.
[text was edited by author 2001-11-07 22:36:04] |
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| reply to Steve
He not only avoided jail, he made an agreement with them not to mention the companies NAME, or PRODUCT. There has to be more to it.
He wasn't publishing the location of the president's secret exit from the white house. He was discussing flaws in a commercial product, a product that could be patched, with users also having the option to switch products....
[text was edited by author 2001-11-08 01:18:52] |
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 Jamming777$Time Is Running OutPremium
join:2001-07-25
USA | reply to Karl Bode
said by Leviathan:
Patch your damn software. Do a recall. Arrest a man who criticizes it? Get the feds involved?
Maybe that's what they needed, time, by sending the Feds to talk to him. If, for example, this product was used on military networks they may need the time to patch the product to prevent a major problem in security. They didn't shut him up completely, and if they wanted to they could of, they didn't threaten him by anything other than their presence and we only have his word for it they where there at all. I don't know the man personally like some here and since I don't, I have into account that this may be made up. The author may be a very honest man, like I said "I don't know", but not everyone is beyond a little self promotion. All in all, it is a rather incomplete story and I would like to hear about it from other sources.
As the man said "observation maybe called cynicism".
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| Then why have three weeks passed an he no longer can mention the company's name, or the product?
I agree about desiring more information. If anyone sees any more info on this, please IM me or post it here....
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Jamming777$Time Is Running OutPremium
join:2001-07-25
USA | said by Leviathan:
Then why have three weeks passed an he no longer can mention the company's name, or the product?
I agree about desiring more information. If anyone sees any more info on this, please IM me or post it here....
I don't know why he can't and neither does anyone else that has posted here, we are operating under the assumption that all is as presented by his article. This may or may not be true, the press, he is a member of the press, do not always show complete understanding of the issue even when they are personally involved in it. Sometimes they may assume facts not in evidence, make things up, or make honest mistakes. As someone who has been around people quoted incorrectly in the news and seen things just made up by the press. I have no true idea if this is factual or not. You assume it is and I am operating that he may or may not be factual. As to why he does not mention the name of the company or product it could be three reasons, (one) he is unable without penalty of criminal law, (two) he could but be subject to civil litigation, or (three) smart people who ar intentionally misleading people don't provide details in their misleading statements.
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| He's got an excellent reputation in the industry as a straight shooter. While it's certainly possible he's staging some kind of media stunt, his well documented history argues STRONGLY against it.
You're using vagueness with an eloquence reserved for attorneys....are you one?
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The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it. |
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Jamming777$Time Is Running OutPremium
join:2001-07-25
USA | said by Leviathan:
He's got an excellent reputation in the industry as a straight shooter. While it's certainly possible he's staging some kind of media stunt, his well documented history argues STRONGLY against it.
You're using vagueness with an eloquence reserved for attorneys....are you one?
Hey!  no reason to get testy, call me an Attorney will you.
I hope you are correct and I think probably you are, I am not saying it could just be a media stunt, that is just one option. I think a more likely scenario is he may have stumbled onto something which was truly a national security issue and that the truth will come out eventually. Many people filter things by their own perception, what may have been seen as something sinister from one persons point of view through their personal filter may be actually something different. His view could be what actually happened, but as it stands now we have no way to judge, which is all I am saying.
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Jamming
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| hah. Sorry.
Understood. I'm assuming the guy speaks the truth, he's been writing about this stuff pretty much since the birth of the computer virus.
I watched his video interview on Techtv, which I think says many things his statement on their site does not. One was that he stated the problem with the AV software was a "basic and very stupid mistake", and that he didn't think the mistake compromised national security in any way whatsoever. He could not tell the interviewer where he was, what software he was looking into, or what company he was dealing with.
We'll have to see how this thing unfolds.
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The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it. |
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| Maybe I misunderstood the above postings. But it
seems to as, SHH we do not talk about and it will go away.
If this is not a PR stunt publish the mistake and let
others be aware of it. |
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