As a member of this Forum I might also consider myself a "victim" of the recent successful attempt at hacking this site.
I am one of the 700+ members who had used a very simple password.
Yet I cannot identify myself with any of the "victims" discussing the crime and the proper punishment in other threads.
My position is this:
this site has been hacked by a teenager, whose main interest most probably has been in demonstrating his cleverness at the computer-technical refinery of cracking codes.
Some of you have argued that his age is no excuse, that one can not and should not accept that there is some innocence when it comes to the wider effects of this deed.
I think that is very wrong. Without a life's experience of economic and social affairs he is not able to understand the wider consequences of what he is doing to other people in this respect.
He might even be very surprised to learn that adults are so very gullible when it comes to protecting themselves on the net.
Here we are, 700 members leaving all this wonderful information about ourselves as on a tray! Myself included (even though I have never flashed my e-bay identity or much else to make myself identifiable).
So we, who should know better, have have knowingly exposed ourselves to this danger.
I am aware about what I have done, and have to admit that I have been very silly.
On the other hand I am well aware of the security problems when it comes to banking and shopping on the net, and in these areas I'd like to consider myself more sophisticated.
Now if the low age of a teenager is no excuse - what is your age and life's experience?
With all that no attempts at protecting yourselves?!
You have all been caught "with your pants down" - this is embarassing and rage does not cover up for that.
Hacking, identity theft etc. are very very unpleasant realities of the internet world.
One teenager caught will do nothing to change that.
Not even as a warning - we know that from other cases which have been brought to justice.
What worries me more is the cult among young people when it comes to hacking.
It is a sport - a very unclean one, and it might best be fought an the ground, in the schools and by adults who deal with kids daily.
That is something that should be demanded.
And more resources to fight the real, economic crooks on the net.
After all this I'd like to declare that as things stand now, I would not like any legal actions to be taken in my name. No class action for me, thank you!
Kindest regards
Pixie