Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Sounds like a CFAA felony (unauthorized access) and I couldn't cogently be able to explain why it's not.

(Because of a hidden clause in the ToS? Can you hide "we'll install ransomware on your PC" in a software ToS and enforce that, too? What's the very fine distinction between "we'll remotely disable your printer until you pay for exclusive, cryptographically-signed ink", and "we'll remotely encrypt your files and demand payments for the key?")

(It's not a particularly new idea, to extort someone under the pretense of selling them a useful service (exclusive ink). That's just "protection racket" — I think?)



At least in German law anything "surprising" in the ToS can't be enforced. This would definitely be surprising to most. So it couldn't legally be done with ToS.


For me, when you "purchase" something, it's yours and you can do whatever the hell you want with it.

If a "purchase" comes with "terms of use", it should not be classified as a purchase. It should be clearly labeled as "rent".




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: