3 ms·

Doesn't distributing malware break a number of laws?

yuppiepuppie 2y ago
What is the definition of distribution? If I posted a code snippet of malware on github or my personal site for educational purposes, does that count as distribution?
- creshal 2y ago
  That depends heavily on the law in question. Germany e.g. almost completely bans white hat activities because hacking is evil, and no amount of common sense has been able to get through lawmakers' thick skulls.
  - martin_a 2y ago
    You can downvote him all you want, but it's true at the core. §202c of the BGB heavily limits what can be done, even by legit researchers, and it's often being critized for that reason. For anyone interested, the Wikipedia article might give an overview (only available in German right now): https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorbereiten_des_Aussp%C3%A4hens_und_Abfangens_von_Daten https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorbereiten_des_Aussp%C3%A4hen...
- diffeomorphism 2y ago
  Really? The malware went from your computer to someone else's and your defense is that it was not "distributed" but just magically moved from A to B? If you argued that it was clearly labeled as malware for educational purposes, that seems fine. It was distributed, but then distribution is allowed. But this is very clearly not the case here.
sim7c00 2y ago
totally depends on where u live. id say 99% of places, u wont. also, research purposes is ok if its obvious. u can download malware in lots of places, sources, so taking them off of github really wont do anything either. personally if i post such things i will either ensure it has detections everywhere or somehow neuter it. usually for research you dont really need to have fully functioning malware. just enough to prove some question. so despite posting sources of malware being ok, and it being available in lots of places, i do think, especially for advanced things, its better not to contribute it freely... but to each their own. i'd advise strongly against just outright posting functional cyber weapons, not because its illegal, but simply because its really not needed. there is more bad potential than positive use compared to broken or incomplete versions.

What is the definition of distribution? If I posted a code snippet of malware on github or my personal site for educational purposes, does that count as distribution?

creshal 2y ago
That depends heavily on the law in question. Germany e.g. almost completely bans white hat activities because hacking is evil, and no amount of common sense has been able to get through lawmakers' thick skulls.
- martin_a 2y ago
  You can downvote him all you want, but it's true at the core. §202c of the BGB heavily limits what can be done, even by legit researchers, and it's often being critized for that reason. For anyone interested, the Wikipedia article might give an overview (only available in German right now): https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorbereiten_des_Aussp%C3%A4hens_und_Abfangens_von_Daten https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorbereiten_des_Aussp%C3%A4hen...
diffeomorphism 2y ago
Really? The malware went from your computer to someone else's and your defense is that it was not "distributed" but just magically moved from A to B? If you argued that it was clearly labeled as malware for educational purposes, that seems fine. It was distributed, but then distribution is allowed. But this is very clearly not the case here.

sim7c00 2y ago

totally depends on where u live. id say 99% of places, u wont. also, research purposes is ok if its obvious. u can download malware in lots of places, sources, so taking them off of github really wont do anything either. personally if i post such things i will either ensure it has detections everywhere or somehow neuter it. usually for research you dont really need to have fully functioning malware. just enough to prove some question. so despite posting sources of malware being ok, and it being available in lots of places, i do think, especially for advanced things, its better not to contribute it freely... but to each their own. i'd advise strongly against just outright posting functional cyber weapons, not because its illegal, but simply because its really not needed. there is more bad potential than positive use compared to broken or incomplete versions.