A Geek needs a hand, please read!

[randy48]

If you don’t want to read this, please scroll down and click on the links and lend a hand to a fellow Geek! Thanks!

Hello, Sysopt! I’ve been pretty much hanging my hat here for about a year now. This is the first and only forum I’ve every made more then 10 posts in! This place is something else…people more than happy to help out someone or something in need! Yes, this post deals with RC5, hold on, don’t go away yet, it also deals with a person and a family going through an extremely rough time! Down in Georgia, there’s a guy named David McOwen. Up until about two years ago, he worked for a college. David being a Geek and a Stats freak loaded the Distributed. net’s RC5 client up on the school’s computers that he was responsible for. Did he do it without permission? Could be! That has yet to be determined. Was it wrong? Could be! Myself and thousands of other people responsible for computer networks run some form of distributed client on their network(s). Why? It’s the perfect tool to let you know that something is wrong! If your stats drop, start up Remote Cows and see which machine cannot be reached. Check the stats page and see which IP address isn’t performing.

I don’t know David or his wife and family, I don’t spend much time over at Anandtech, and until the last few days, I’ve only made one or two posts there! The state of Georgia is taking David in front of a Grand Jury shortly and if the Grand Jury decides that the state has a case, they will prosecute him! Right now, the state claims that David owes them $415,000 dollars and 15 years in prison! There are murders and rapist running around that have received less! David did not hack or crack a computer system. He did not use the school’s machines to perform illegal acts such as attacking other computer systems, he ran a small program on the machines that TURNS ITSELF OFF when something else needs to be done! The RC5 client only uses computer resources that are sitting there idle…not being used! I run the RC5 client on my 14 personal machines at home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! I also run the RC5 client on over 300 machines at work…24/7! No user has ever complained about “the system being slow! I also run the client on 3 network servers…no problems at all!

Here’s the deal. The people over at Anandtech are working overtime to help David out. They have an online petition going and also a defense fund. I would ask each and every member of the Sysopt Community to at least, please sign the petition! If you’ve got an extra dollar, donate it! You can afford to miss a cup of coffee or that Mountain Dew! If you’ve got a few dollars, give what you can! David will still have legal fees whether this goes to court or not, he has an attorney working on this and they’re not cheap!

Here’s a few links

The petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/movsog/

The thread concerning donations: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=39&threadid=496588

A thread concerning a letter writing campaign: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=39&threadid=491973

And lastly, a thread with links to media coverage: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=39&threadid=494283

[awwall]

This is the most absurd thing I have ever seen. The State of Gerogia has no concept as to what they are doing.

I hope my part helps David.

Signed Petition
Sent letter to Governor of Georgia
Made humble contibution

Hope other Sysopt members help David out.

aw

[socalgal]

Thanks, Randy.

Absurd madness. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

[tepo]

That court should come to their sence's when some computer-expert explains this idle-thingie to them. It simply can't be otherway. The word absurd is an understatement !
Petition-link not working ?

Tepo

[NDC]

Even if RC5 did slow down the computer, I think "$415,000 dollars and 15 years in prison" sounds rediculous!!!!

[scotter]

thats Georgia for ya only in georgia would they and will they send some one to jail for something as benin as this http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif thats why I moved to the other side of the country to get as far away from that lock you up for nothing state.

[gwinters]

A jury of people that are truly this man's peers would not convict him.

[Hellmund]

Well I'm on there http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif
This is unbelievable!!

59c a minute for the net! WTF?

[Mntsnow]

Done again Randy http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Down with Georgia! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

[Raist]

Did my part and signed the petiton.. Its complete BS that they are prosecuting this guy..

[jnas]

I signed the petition and sent an e-mail. Im going to make a phone call also.

[hawkeye177]

Lets help the guy!
Sign It!

[Terminal23]

I signed the petition.I hope it helps.I really am wondering if this is the land of the free anymore.I seriously doubt it.

[driverdude]

Signed and commented on the insanity

[LiLRiceBoi]

i doubt the jury would convict him if they fully understood the circumstances.

[prexaspes]

Cool man, I was number 512. I feel special. 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512!

[mechBgon]

LOL, I like your comment too, prex! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[OuTpaTienT]

Wow, almost 100 people signed the petition since the time I signed it yesterday. Keep it up.

[randy48]

^^bump

[jokostel]

just plainly absurd ... that kind of a fine belongs to someone who raped his daughter and went at robbed a liquor store.

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

jokostel

[SickPup404]

I signed - number 713. Hands down, an open and shut case for dismissal. Georgia violated his 8th Amendment Rights with this case. See my comments on the petition...

[randy48]

^ One last trip to the top from me

[mechBgon]

SickPup, liked your comment enough to quote it in my email to the Governor! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif Yes, it is all about the fact they're trying to bring an excessive punishment compared to the *alleged* offense. Hey, who else wants to send the Governor an email? Have a look at http://www.ganet.org/governor/contact.html and send them an email, maybe with Category "Other" and then fill in "David McOwen" in the blank below that, just to let them know they've got a hot potato on their hands. Better yet is to snail-mail them, they can't just delete snail-mail.

[Mr.Goodbytes]

Over 900 signatures now. Glad I have more than one email address, so I can count more than once. Hey, does anyone have the specific court document stating the charges against him?

[Therob]

WTF!!! i live in the UK and i dont think that i am going to go to Georgia!! (even if i was i wouldn't!!! now!!!)

POOR GUY!! the fed's will be giving out the death penalty for littering next!!!

I will sign it http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

How pathetic do u want to get...i though the man that sent Viagra to Bill Gates needs a pat on the back **| |BUT| |** he got his credit cards and and 26 thou other ppl's and he got F**K ALL, no fine no nothing!!!

screw the system!!

[phgoerk]

Given the history of the geographical area,it doesn't take much;if any,of a stretch to believe that this has something to do with a particular regionalistic attitude,that is still held onto.
The rest of us Not living in an area that allows shallow and ignorant thinking to completely overshadow our lives;I'm sure,are thankful that the powers that are in place in OUR regions,are more "reason"able.It is a terrible shame that this person is singled out as an example to all.
With this in mind the ACLU (for good or worse)probably won't be far behind on this issue.

[^hyd^]

I can't believe how ridiculous this is! Couldn't the State of Georgia spend their taxpayers money in a more meaningfull fashion? I hope the whole deal turns itself around and ends up with the State of Georgia being charged somehow...

he's got my signature!

[alondra]

<bump> now over a thousand. this is the kind of **** that makes foreigners laugh, (with justification) at us.

[gfunkmartin]

I plan on signing in a little bit, but just wanted to let everyone know, I think this is just an example of the way things are going to go, and we need to stop government intervention into personal computer use NOW, before it becomes so widespread and powerful that we can't stop it

[Emc2]

I'm number 1102. He didn't damage anything. We gotta keep this up. I thought this kind of thing only happened in Warner Robins, but I guess it's plaguing all of Georgia.

[jpheg]

1138 so far. Keep it up, guys!

[JohnC]

This is totally absurd and really scary! What he was doing was actually a benefit to the government and everyone else to help test the latest encription scheme. I'll make a bet if he was downloading MP3's or playing QuakeIII he wouldn't have been fined like that! If they're going to go after an individual for doing something like this, why don't they completely shutdown their state's government because, we all know that the state office employees are playing on the internet all day. We also know that they are not always checking on business-rated information.

[gr8vfr]

This only proves Georia Sucks!!!

[mechBgon]

I sent a very short, to-the-point email to a bunch of people in my address book asking them to take a look at the petition... anyone else?

Approaching 1200 sigs now! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[marc666]

No. 1205 on the list hope it helps out

[Flammie]

I certainly think this is some State policy that they have to rob some poor innocent man and give money to the fat and sloppy rich Govt. I know, I'm saying this because it is true, for them to charge this man that much for putting RC5 on those computers is sincerely wrong, and this must be some overly ignorant young new lawyer out to make some name for himself. Can someone e-mail me the lawyer's name? Or post it at least that's part of the prosecuting defense? It'd be nice to know to see if in the future they become non government to know who not to hire. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Flammie]

You know, here's a sick thought, but did you know a guy got murdered for only having seatbelt violations? He basically had a warrent out for his arrest and then led a small high speed chase, and when they asked him to leave his car, he went to UNBUCKLE his seatbelt, and they shot him under assumption of gun.

Apply SEATBELT to RC5 cracking, and then APPLY STUPID LAW/WRONGFUL PENALTY to PROSECUTING ATTORNEY. You'll find in both cases it's overly ignorant.

[mechBgon]

Regarding who is leading the prosecution:

"Heres the phone and fax numbers of Daryll Robinson the Georgia attorney general deputy counsel who apparently is running this witch hunt. Just in case anyone feels like personally telliing them what fools they are and to go back and read their own mission statement and pay particular attention to the line in it that says
Strive to always do what is right


Daryl A. Robinson, Deputy Counsel
Phone: 404-651-6194
FAX: 404-651-7676"

(From http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=39&threadid=501023&highlight_key=y)

[krusty the klown]

1241 here!

Good luck Mr. McOwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[hocheung]

Wow, you can prosecute for that? It uses idle time that would be otherwise wasted. David was just trying to be efficient.

[Lockbane]

I've heard a lot of stupidity in my life. This ranks upon the top ten. When did cpu cycles become more important than human life. This man would have been in less trouble had he raped, murdered, or molested somebody. As you all may know by now, we live in a dictatorship. Lady Justice is crying tears of blood in the mockery of her name. I urge everyone to sign this petition. It is OUR country. It is time WE take it back!

[kriisten]

I'm #1284. I sent it to everyone I know, maybe they should throw the gov of georgia in jail for a few years for being an idiot.

[OC Guy]

I signed it.Its up to 1,289 names now!

[randy48]

Come on Sysopt! We can do a better showing than this http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

[flea]

unhappy person #1392 http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

[reddog4629]

I'm 828 and 1394 on the petition. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[reddog4629]

And 1396. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[reddog4629]

And 1397. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[Ifyoubuildit]

^bump^

1465 sigs now.

[alondra]

<bump>

[VERT]

1486, always happy to help out a fellow geek http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[iamgap]

#1565

Keep spredding the news.

[awforrest]

I signed the petition and sent $20.00 to Dave's attorney. I hope it helps. This situation is entirely out of hand. But then again didn't Texas recently execute a legally retarded man?

[etcm]

I think that it is important to convict this person. The use of other person's (or sovereign's) property, the consumption of resources (electric power and bandwidth) are all examples of the theft. If he cannot be convicted now, setting a precedent now, how much harder will it be to convict someone who "hijack's" third party computers to assault networks?
Whether the full fine is assessed or not is not very relevant, the need to CONVICT, if he has indeed violated the law, is real and needs to occur...

[hawkeye177]

1593 signatures
Could use more.
Soon it is going to be the World vs. Georgia

[This message has been edited by hawkeye177 (edited 07-21-2001).]

[Gouki-]

etcm--

There's a big difference between what Mr. McOwen was doing with those computers then someone who would use them to assault networks.

I suggest that you go back and re-read the posts made on this topic or to check out the RC5 forum to learn more about this project. It is in no way harmful and uses cpu cycles that would otherwise be wasted.

The fact that he wasn't doing anything HARMFUL is why so many of us are so upset. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[ZENYO]

Speechless

#1791

[sdp872]

just signed it #1801 ok maybe what he did was wrong, but so is trying to prosecute the poor guy. a ticking off would have sufficed.

[big_block_buick]

1808

[LuckyTech]

1807 http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[robapacl]

With all of the destructive stuff floating around on the Net, why don't these prosecutors ( persecutors ) devote their time and energy to either blocking it or throwing the perpetrators in the slammer instead of wasting everybody's time and money on what could, at worst, be a trivial offense deserving a slap on the wrist. Like the Spanish Inquisitors, they are probably so certain of their righteousness, the only thing that would get their attention would be a massive hacker attack on " THEIR " system. There is nothing more pernicious than an burocratic zealot. They brought down the whole Soviet Empire and their counterparts are alive, well and busy here too.

[zohar]

me and my 2 friend (jujar and anil) whose e-mail address are jujar@im.eth.net and anildeshle@im.eth.net also are really thinking it nonsense of the way you are treated an if needed e-mail me and them if needed there help

[Crunchmonkey]

I think this is an extreme case of ignorance on the DA's part. It seems to me this man must not understand the idea behind distributed computing or he is just paranoid after the Napster slap down. Perhaps it is just a case of making a name for himself by taking the easy pickings. I think THEY feel the might of an entire state can't be challenged by the combined efforts of a few piddly internet users. I think we ought to demand a statement from the DA which will be trying this explaining why he feels this case is sooooooo important. Maybe next, guys like him will begin charging us with criminal negligence if our children's shoe laces become untied while playing or some other inane charge. People like him are the biggest cause of our mixed up legal system. There is no sense of priority. BOO to the Georgian legal hierarchy and your trifling justice system. I am sure there is more than one Georgian who feels the same way and is disgraced by this action. That is my soapbox. I will go sign the petition now.

[moebius]

No. 1919.
(Wish i could send the guy some money, but, i'm scraping myself.)

This case is just another example of how our freedoms are being slowly and methodically eroded by the big corporations and the republican government they own.

[Hawkeye178]

NO. 1968 I hope it's enough.

Hawkeye178

[Hawkeye178]

^Bump^
Sign the petition

[Shinji-kun]

I didn't go though all the post's so someone might have said this already but...They are not suing him because he used computer time or the idle proc's. They are suing him because he used bandwidth. I know he used bandwidth like anyone else but the university has to pay for that bandwidth DEARLY!!!!! They are only fining him about 80% of the cost of the bandwidth that he used.(At least that what they say the record show) He put it on alot of computers and that university always went way over the allowed usage of the people who piped the OC-3 to the university (Bell South I believe). Anyway, I think it is really stupid that they are fining him and putting him in jail...I signed the petition and will send money. Anyway this is just what I understand from it…I'm sure there are some mistakes with the numbers but that is what I have read and heard about on the news. Anyway I still think it is dumb that they are fining him.

[gardiner]

You should publicize the following information:

The phone number for the Georgia Attorney General's office is 404-656-3300. The AG is Mr. Thurbert E. Baker. Feel free to give him a call and let him know what you think of this case

I called and found out the assistant AG handling the case is named Cassandra Chensman. I left a message on her answering machine, which is even harder for those bureaucrats to ignore than a letter!

[LemonHead]

no 2889

[Scorpio69]

I am doing what I can for this guy. I emailed a couple of friends in Georgia about it, too. One thing to consider is that contacting elected officials of your own state pulls more weight. Spread this news to anyone you may know in Georgia.

[Chiguy]

I hope this helps.
signer 3769

[SickPup404]

^Bump^

Links and more info too... http://www.tacube.com/pages/mcowen.html

C'mon people, poor dude needs a hand...

[Thabiso]

i also sighned number 6621.My support goesout to him and his defense lawyer/s.

[BL00EY!]

signed...sent e-mail to wv gov.

I guess it's easier to Prosecute someone who won't kill you before trial for being a semi
brain damaged government llama.


[This message has been edited by BL00EY! (edited 08-07-2001).]