|
Packet Storm Taken Down
OSAll Staff Members
Packet Storm, which is a recognized leader in the computer security Web site field, was taken down earlier today by Harvard University because of a letter from John Vrasenivich of AntiOnline.
Vrasenivich claimed that the contents of the /jp directory, which was critical of AntiOnline, was libelous. He then threatened to take legal action against Harvard University and Ken Williams, who administers Packet Storm. Harvard University network administrators moved quickly, shutting down Packet Storm.
Harvard University said in a statement that the site was taken down because of a combination of sexual content and libelous material. Williams replied that there was no sexual content in a reply to Harvard.
Carolyn Meinel, who was speaking to JP on a minute-by-minute basis, said that the site was taken down because it had a "picture of JP´s younger sister and her address and phone number." Meinel went on to say that police were guarding JP´s residence and that the FBI, local police and Harvard University officials had seen the picture and the address.
At first it wasn´t clear whether or not the contents of the site would be returned to Williams, who didn´t have off-site backups. Later, however, in an official statement, Harvard said a backup would be returned to Williams.
Vrasenivich has, in the past, accused other sites of hosting libelous content -- including OSAll. He claimed that an article posted on OSAll which recounted a conversation between him and OSAll editor Mike Hudack was "totally libelous." OSAll responded by denying any liability under US law and offering to receive any letters from AntiOnline general counsel. No action was taken by either AntiOnline or its general counsel.
The hacker subculture, which was already very critical of JP and AntiOnline, reacted to the Packet Storm issue quickly. Response was so overwhelming, in fact, that Ken Williams said he was "being mail bombed" with outpourings of support. Since the site was taken down, a mirror has been set up by the folks at linux.org and in turn mirrored by OSAll at packet.aviary-mag.com
OSAll is following this story closely and will continue to update this page. |
