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"If you're tricked into revealing your log-in credentials, whether it's through the use of fake emails or malware, we know that Sci-Hub will then use those deta
by Silhouette 6y ago
"If you're tricked into revealing your log-in credentials, whether it's through the use of fake emails or malware, we know that Sci-Hub will then use those details to compromise your university's computer network in order to steal research papers," [Max Bruce, the City of London Police's cyber protection officer] said.
That's the first I've heard about this, and it would represent a very different perspective on Sci-Hub to the traditional anti-copyright Robin Hood styling.
That said, even though CoLP is a rather strange police force within system here, it would be surprising for it to make a definitive public statement like that without being reasonably confident that it was correct. Is there any truth to that allegation?
- yellowapple 6y agoNote that the police statement makes it clear that said credentials are allegedly being used to "steal papers", which to me sounds like Sci-Hub's actually just using said credentials to do, you know, exactly what it's advertised to do: download any and all paywalled research papers it can find, to be shared with the general public.
- Silhouette 6y agoIf SH is actually crawling independently, the police might have at least part of a point here. Academics who gave it unauthorised access using their credentials could then end up on the wrong end of a very nasty legal action if they were subsequently identified, not just about the copyright infringement aspect but potentially criminal charges related to the unauthorised access itself too.
- TeMPOraL 6y agoWhich is why, when asked by their university / police, such academics would likely claim they were hacked or otherwise had their credentials stolen.