Note to self: Don't download HL2 source code

[hezeuschrist]

Je-sus CHRIST.

http://uninteresting.myby.co.uk/siezed.html

Valve has to be really really pissed.

[kai123]

Man that is some scary shit. X_x X_x X_x X_x

[Ed Oscuro]

I see the link to Hungry Programmers (whom I'm assuming got him in trouble by association in the first place) isn't working.

Well, I thought I had something witty to say earlier but I either didn't or I've forgotten what it was (a bit of the latter for sure). It must suck to lose every hard drive you own, but as somebody said in a response to his blog: "If you lie down with dogs you'll wake up with fleas." None of us know whether he actually had this coming or not.

A lot of blame should lie with Valve for not having a better security setup. I could see allowing the dev team internet access, but not on development machines...! I'd be a lot more paranoid about security than I am now (which is saying something) if I was working on one of the most anticipated software titles of all time. Sure, making employees go to another machine to shoot the breeze on AIM or, more importantly, get in touch with folks in the HL community or to retrieve files would necessarily make things go more slowly, but HOW MUCH do you have to be on the 'net after all? That, and the fact that I've read one of the fellows describe how he noticed the machine was acting strangely for a matter of at least a week. No shit, Sherlock...pull that machine offline immediately!

Valve can afford to put two PCs in each dev's office, especially if one's just to connect to the internet (what're we looking at, $5000 for 10 people to get an internet worthy PC, probably less if you're halfway competent?)

[SoulBlazer]

I'm a little confused as to the background on this -- and the scans of the warrent are not the most clearest in the world. :roll:

What did he DO? Did he download the HL2 code? Or did he just know some of the people who DID illegialy break into into Valve's computers and download the code?

If it's the former, he deserves everything that happened. If it's the later, why not just ask him to come in for a interview with the FBI and leave his stuff alone? :eek 2:

[maxlords]

Serves him right if he's at all associated. If not....tough luck.

[Flack]

What did he DO? Did he download the HL2 code? Or did he just know some of the people who DID illegialy break into into Valve's computers and download the code?

If it's the former, he deserves everything that happened. If it's the later, why not just ask him to come in for a interview with the FBI and leave his stuff alone? :eek 2:

Obviously by their actions, the FBI thinks that he is at least assocated with the people who downloaded the code. Lines in cyberspace aren't quite as definitive as they are in real life. If your friend robbed a bank and you weren't there, then you weren't there. If your friend stole money online from a bank and e-mailed you about it, or you hosted files for him, the lines aren't so clear. Remember, this is a day and age where they have tried prosecuting people for LINKING to the DeCSS code, not just hosting it.

By the way, the FBI never just asks people to come in for an interview and leave their stuff alone. Without going in to too much detail, I know two different people who were involved in federal cases, and they FBI didn't ask them to come in for an interview. In one case, the FBI took everything in my friend's computer room including the desk and chair. Any rights you think you have coming to you I wouldn't bet on in that case. Actually, now that I think about it I know three people who have had the misfortune of getting into trouble, and none of them ever saw any of their stuff again.

[GaijinPunch]

Reason #241 why I got the fuck out of the states.

[hezeuschrist]

Yeah, but from what I can pull from the comments and the questions he answered, the only link he has to any of the guys from Hungry Programmers is that he used to live with them. If my roommate in college went and did a bunch of shit online, then I got raided after I moved out I would be really pissed.

And the 'contraband' listed in the warrant is really ambiguous too.
- any IP related to the Valve internal or external networks
- email addresses with "@valvesoftware.com" domain
- Valve passwords/usernames

So... what if he played Counterstrike 1.6? He would connect to valve's servers all the time through steam, and he would obviously have valve software on his machine.