Youngsters cautioned for dishonest use of computer passwords
2000-3-7
Four secondary school students have been cautioned by the ICAC for unauthorised use of others' passwords to browse the Internet or communicate with their Net friends on the ICQ.
The ICAC earlier received a complaint from the public, alleging that some staff of an Internet service provider (ISP) might have accepted advantages for leaking clients' passwords and data to unauthorised persons.
In tracing the log-in records of such on-line activities, the ICAC discovered that between February and March last year, four secondary students had used others' passwords and related user identity numbers without authorisation. And their illegal activit ies did not involve any corruption on the part of ISP staff.
It was revealed that the victims had to pay an extra $300 monthly connection charge as a result.
According to the legal advice from the Department of Justice, the offenders involved, aged between 14 and 17, were cautioned in view of their juvenile age and the small amount of money involved.
The ICAC investigation revealed that some hackers had put the passwords and user identity numbers of a number of Internet service account holders on a website.
Two of the youngsters involved downloaded the information from the website for dishonest use while the other two obtained such data from a Net friend on the ICQ and a classmate respectively.
It was also revealed that such information was circulated among some other students as well.
A spokesman for the ICAC today (Tuesday) warned that young people should never try to use others' passwords to access computer without authorisation as it can be a serious criminal offence.
" Parents should also watch out for any irregularities involving their children's on-line activities.
" Under Section 161 of the Crimes Ordinance, any person who obtains access to a computer with criminal or dishonest intent is liable on conviction to a maximum penalty of five years ’ imprisonment. ”
The ICAC earlier received a complaint from the public, alleging that some staff of an Internet service provider (ISP) might have accepted advantages for leaking clients' passwords and data to unauthorised persons.
In tracing the log-in records of such on-line activities, the ICAC discovered that between February and March last year, four secondary students had used others' passwords and related user identity numbers without authorisation. And their illegal activit ies did not involve any corruption on the part of ISP staff.
It was revealed that the victims had to pay an extra $300 monthly connection charge as a result.
According to the legal advice from the Department of Justice, the offenders involved, aged between 14 and 17, were cautioned in view of their juvenile age and the small amount of money involved.
The ICAC investigation revealed that some hackers had put the passwords and user identity numbers of a number of Internet service account holders on a website.
Two of the youngsters involved downloaded the information from the website for dishonest use while the other two obtained such data from a Net friend on the ICQ and a classmate respectively.
It was also revealed that such information was circulated among some other students as well.
A spokesman for the ICAC today (Tuesday) warned that young people should never try to use others' passwords to access computer without authorisation as it can be a serious criminal offence.
" Parents should also watch out for any irregularities involving their children's on-line activities.
" Under Section 161 of the Crimes Ordinance, any person who obtains access to a computer with criminal or dishonest intent is liable on conviction to a maximum penalty of five years ’ imprisonment. ”