HN Explorer

Ask HN: If Juniper found the responsible programmer, could they sue them?

5 points by sqldba ↗ HN
And how would the situation change if that programmer was under a request/order by the government?

Is there any precedent for this kind of action?

6 comments

[ 2.4 ms ] story [ 17.3 ms ] thread
davismwfl
Well if the programmer was internal and regardless of whether acting on his own or for a state would be subject to both criminal and civil liability. I am not a lawyer but it has been done before in other companies.

The US government wouldn't protect this individual likely, as they want deniability. They may assist in trying to reduce his criminal charges but even that is remote.

If it is found that the person actively engaged in selling access to the exploits it also changes what charges could be brought from my understanding. And if they were paid by another government it could get even worse if they are found.

aurizon
Russian, Chinese, Israeli or US government? That said, whoever inserted this may have used a stealthy method so no tracks can be found, although one would expect version backups will leave some tracks - UNLESS THOSE TRACKS WERE ERASED. I would expect exhaustive real time backups, off site, might be in use, so any tracks get frozen in time,,,.and can not be erased.

Some sort of detailed search must be underway as we speak...

kosikfl 

  Would I be able to sue  them that's a good question?  I know it's Google and Microsoft  and then the UK government and of course  US .  If so would anyone be able to get me a good lawyer ?  That's a hard thing to need someone that would work on the results of the case only .
kosikfl
My name is Michelle Kosik and I'm the one you're referring to and I never took any money from any government . I've never done anything wrong .
atmosx
Probably off topic, but since we're in the 'sue' domain: What I wonder is, if my locked-down (in order to avoid OpenWRT installation) SoHo router gets exploited by a well known bug and I suffer psychological and physical (as in money) damage, can I sue Linksys for NOT allowing me to install a SECURE software?