Hi all, I saw this article in the nando.net paper today and was interested in your thoughts on it. It looks like people on probation will be limited in there use of encryption and access to the Internet. To me, it seems like this could be equated to preventing people on probabtion from using something like a phone. I am having problems with it because I feel these limitations are too severe. I mean, a good way someone on probabtion to make a living is to learn how to use the web and prehaps get a job as a html coder. There is a hacker I know of (Kevin Poulsen) who is prevented from using computers during his current probation and it really has limited his options alot. I curated and maintain a website for him at URL: http://www.catalog.com/kevin/ where this issue is dicussed. It also seems to me that preventing people on probation from using encryption would be difficult especially when encryption is used in webservers (ie Netscapes Secure Server). One could accidentally access one and not know that he was sending/receiving information via an encrypted channel. thanks, -lile http://www.nando.net/newsroom/ntn/info/121796/info1_7523.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer crime prompts new parole restrictions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1996 Nando.net Copyright © 1996 The Associated Press WASHINGTON (Dec 17, 1996 07:42 a.m. EST) -- The U.S. Parole Commission has approved restrictions on the use of computers by certain high-risk parolees. The Justice Department announced Monday that the panel voted this month to authorize such restrictions as requiring certain parolees to get prior written approval from the commission before using an Internet service provider, computerized bulletin board system or any public or private computer network. Other restrictions would: prohibit particular parolees from possessing or using data encryption programs, require some parolees to agree to unannounced inspection of computers by probation officers, require some parolees to compile daily logs of computer use or to pay for equipment to monitor their computer use. "Unrestricted access to the Internet and other computer online services can provide sophisticated offenders with new opportunities for crime and criminal associations," said Edward F. Reilly Jr., commission chairman. "We cannot ignore the possibility that such offenders may be tempted to use computer services to repeat their crimes." The commission noted a surge in "how-to" information on child molestation, hate crime and the illegal use of explosives available on the Internet and on computer online services. Copyright © 1996 Nando.net Do you have some feedback for the Nando Times staff?