Computer security isn’t just about keeping networks safe, its about keeping yourself safe from nebulous criminal laws and civil liabilities that may attach to various computer research activities. This past year, we’ve seen video game companies legally challenge coders who tinker with the way their games appear, Sybase threaten NGSSoftware over the publication of security flaws and the USA Patriot Act come up for renewal. These issues and more impact your life and work. Knowledge is power, and in my talk, I’ll do my best to clearly explain the legal doctrines that may affect computer security experts. I’ll also talk about privacy, civil liberties, free speech, or whatever else it top on the agenda of Black Hat attendees.

Is there a lesson to be learned from this early security attempt?

Edward and Bertha Briney inherited an uninhabited old farm house and for "about 10 years, from 1957 to 1967, it was repeatedly broken into the result of a series of trespassing and housebreaking events. The Brineys had posted 'no trespass' signs for several years. But nothing secured the house. Finally, on 'June 11, 1967', Ed cleaned and oiled his 20-gauge shotgun, took it to the old house and secured it to an iron bed with the barrel pointed at the bedroom door. It was rigged with wire from the doorknob to the gun's trigger so it would fire when the door was opened. It was aimed so an intruder would be hit in the stomach but at Bertha’s suggestion it was lowered to hit the legs. Suffice it to say, Marvin Katko trespassed, entered the room and now poor Marvin is six foot two inches tall when he stands on his right foot and five foot six when he stands on his left!!” Katko v. Briney,/ 183 N.W. 2d 657 (1971)