Competition body wants hackers prosecuted

[LazyLion]

They didn't manage to decode the whole document according to the CC, so maybe some feathers were left behind. Anyone know more?

Decode? Decrypt? Decrypt what? The original PDF was not encrypted. It involved just a simple file conversion. The steps were fairly self-evident and not at all complicated. The CC is using hacking terminology here to make it seems like their file was all secure and stuff and it took some hacking and some know-how to get into it which is rubbish. It did not involved any hacking or decrypting at all.

 

[w1z4rd]

/me puts on me OMW ... NOT THE START OF A DVD ... cap

People here are really advocating that it's okay to steal a car just because it's sitting there with the engine running and the keys in the ignition?

Surely the "hackers" should have revealed the problem to the CC instead of publishing the "hacked" document? It's immoral and freaking annoying because of the delay that it's causing.

Thats a terrible analogy stoke. There was no theft involved here at all. The "car" was left "running", and someone came along and with a Star Trek replicator made a copy of the car. They then took that copy home and removed the governing on the copy. The original car is still idling with its keys in the ignition.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Thats a terrible analogy stoke. There was no theft involved here at all. The "car" was left "running", and someone came along and with a Star Trek replicator made a copy of the car. They then took that copy home and removed the governing on the copy. The original car is still idling with its keys in the ignition.

Beautiful analogy

I like it

 

[Jacques]

Decode? Decrypt? Decrypt what? The original PDF was not encrypted. It involved just a simple file conversion. The steps were fairly self-evident and not at all complicated. The CC is using hacking terminology here to make it seems like their file was all secure and stuff and it took some hacking and some know-how to get into it which is rubbish. It did not involved any hacking or decrypting at all.

i incorrectly used the word "encryption" earlier... the document was merely protected, in other words, it was saved in such a way as to disable printing, copy/paste, selecting text. (and as such to prevent one from reading the blacked out parts)

The "hacker" merely had to sidestep the protection. (or that's my guess anyway)

I think the Commission is just going through the motions to limit their own possible legal exposure....... not that I think any of the banks would dare take them to court.

In the end they are managing to keep the story alive over the sleepy holidays.... perhaps that's their intention??

 

[smartguy]

2 things:
I don't know what's worse, being screwed by the banks or knowing how I'm getting screwed by the banks.

Also, labelling the "decryptor" a hacker is an insult to real hackers. At best they should be labelled a "smart person" lol

 

[Shake&Bake]

Thats a terrible analogy stoke. There was no theft involved here at all. The "car" was left "running", and someone came along and with a Star Trek replicator made a copy of the car. They then took that copy home and removed the governing on the copy. The original car is still idling with its keys in the ignition.

 

[LCBXX]

The document makes for interesting reading. It kinda allows you to tie certain actions/plans from certain banks (particularity one) together with some of the details mentioned in this document. One of the four is going to have a hard time financially if some of the recommendations are accepted and implemented, especially if you thing about their "posh image", sponsoring larnie Golf tourney's etc

 

[The_Unbeliever]

The document makes for interesting reading. It kinda allows you to tie certain actions/plans from certain banks (particularity one) together with some of the details mentioned in this document. One of the four is going to have a hard time financially if some of the recommendations are accepted and implemented, especially if you thing about their "posh image", sponsoring larnie Golf tourney's etc

Well, they can stop sponsoring posh stuff - I never gave them permission to waste my money on such frivolities.

 

[stoke]

Koedoes to Wiz, beautiful chasp.

I am still pissed off about all the fuss being made over the damn "hack" whereas the contents of this awesome document is being largely ignored.

 

[ld13]

Surely the "hackers" should have revealed the problem to the CC instead of publishing the "hacked" document? It's immoral and freaking annoying because of the delay that it's causing.

Since you talk about hackers, I'll work within that context: If Hacker #1 did not release it, Hacker #2 would have done it 5 minutes later. If #2 did not, #3 would've.... I could go on for ever.

Also, labelling the "decryptor" a hacker is an insult to real hackers. At best they should be labelled a "smart person" lol

+1 There was nothing to hack to begin with. Hacking entails gaining unauthorized access to a system. A Cracker might fit the profile better in this case.

They didn't manage to decode the whole document according to the CC, so maybe some feathers were left behind. Anyone know more?

If you have a look at the file you'll see that the redacted/censored images could not be uncensored, this is due to technical reasons - the rest of the document was fully unredacted.

 

[-toady-]

I've just been talking to the Competition Commission and they say that because you posted that link you are now also a 'hacker' and that they have asked the police to try and trace you 'electronically'.

Dear LAwd!!! You SNITCH!!!!! Run Elvis! Run like the wind!!!!!!

 

[thatdamnJoe]

Well, they can stop sponsoring posh stuff - I never gave them permission to waste my money on such frivolities.

of course you did

When you joined them, you agreed to a certain fee structure. What they do with their profits is up to them.

In a free market, you'd just move on to the next supplier. The problem being of course that we hardly have freedom of choice if everyone is screwing you over.

Think about it from a bank's point of view however. Like any business they want to maximise profits. And why should they offer much cheaper services than the other banks if everyone else gets away with it too.

It's like my uncle used to say(although he was talking about something completely different ). Skep terwyl dit reen boetie, want die groot droogte kom.

 

[reech]

+1 There was nothing to hack to begin with. Hacking entails gaining unauthorized access to a system. A Cracker might fit the profile better in this case. -

nope - it's a little hack - but it didn't require a hacker - the information was very poorly redacted (originally) by the CC

If you have a look at the file you'll see that the redacted/censored images could not be uncensored, this is due to technical reasons - the rest of the document was fully unredacted.

True now - but all the 'redacted bits were fully recoverable from the original 'redacted' publication.

I love this bit:

...Shan Ramburuth said in a letter to the website’s proprietors that the information..

They seem to think that wikileaks is a 'business' with a proprietor - and that they give a ****.

 

[Peon]

Dumb n00bs, their utter stupidity is further highlighted by the fact of saying things like, 'criminal charges' and 'hacked'.

Its clearly evident they dont know their ass**** from their elbow.

If you dont want to be caught with your pants down then dont leave the doors and windows open for everyone to see. Conversely, this comes from the competition commission, an independant institution in a democratic country. South Africans live in a free democratic country and have rights to free speech and infomation. All persons are free and equal. Corrupt and hideous corporations are now steam rolling and bullying people as their see fit because they believe themselves to be all powerful. This isint North Korea or Zimbabwe - get over it you fools!

 

[Jacques]

btw... inbetween this all we must thank the Competition Commission for a very good report that should drastically reduce banking costs if the recommendations are implemented (and they will most likely).

The report is very comprehensive, and the commission dismisses most of the banks' defenses. (it's unfortunately a very long read, and reporters are still on holiday to worry too much)

On instance comes to mind:

The banks (particularly FNB) tried to justify charging exorbitant debit order return fees by saying that it's done to correct customer behavior.

Unfortunately their own data showed the opposite, and the commissioner told them that it's not their role to try to police the behavior of their clients (with regards to unpaid debit orders).

 

[smartguy]

...upaid debit orders, atm fees, interpayment fees, transaction fees, penalties etc etc etc.

It interesting to note the money they make from dishonoured debit orders by simply processing each instance and charging for it. This forms a large part of non interest income.

 

[metalcore]

I was listening to Cape Talk/702 at lunch time and a lady from the competion commission was being inverviewed on air. She said that the current version on wikileaks still has some censored bits, but the original uncensored report and links to how to hack it were published on "mybroadband".

Yes she mentioned this site. Does that mean this site is involved in this whole mess too.

 

[rwenzori]

it seems like the commission used Acrobat's "highlighter" function to black out certain text in the report, and then encrypted the PDF to prevent text-selection, copy-paste or printing.

The documents were freely published/posted on their web site for download, the page linked to off their main page. They are "protected" in the sense that they prevent the "copy" function on selected text ( you CAN select but that's about it LOL! ), though of course screenshots are possible. You CAN print - at least I tested one of them. If you have your Text Colour set in Acrobat Reader to a colour other than black, the "censored" bits are quite visible.

So this whole "hacking" bit in relation to the original documents is complete nonsense, unless one wants to copy/paste.

 

[smartguy]

I was listening to Cape Talk/702 at lunch time and a lady from the competion commission was being inverviewed on air. She said that the current version on wikileaks still has some censored bits, but the original uncensored report and links to how to hack it were published on "mybroadband".

Yes she mentioned this site. Does that mean this site is involved in this whole mess too.

I think they're clutching at straws.
To CapeTalk/702/public:
the CC released the equivalent of a document that had parts crossed out with black marker. Someone was able to make out the bits under the black marker and left it in a public place. It's not much hacking, is it?

 

[Tweak]

What hackers? They, the Competition Commission, made the information freely available on their website. Dumba . . . I'm sure everyone who saw it there on their site would be willing to testify to that effect.

lol..

When does the South African media ever get something right when it comes to technology, i bet the author didn't even have internet access Lool