Huh?

[ethereal-dusk.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'm just not reading this right. Earlier I remoted into one of our government computers, and a warning message came up (this was the first time I ever bothered to read it because the system was loading so slowly...). It was rather long, but it finished with this line:

"Any authorized or unauthorized use of this computer system signifies consent to and compliance with $entity policies and these terms."

Maybe it is just me and I am not gettting it, but how does the "unauthorized" part even belong in this sentence? So if I were to hack into the system, it would be okay as long as I promise to comply with their policies? Okay then....

Comments

[sethb.livejournal.com]

I suspect their policies include something like "We get to log and look at whatever you do." So somebody breaking in gets watched, and can't claim the evidence can't be used because it's an invasion of privacy.

[twfarlan.livejournal.com]

Yep, plus agreement to the terms as outlined by someone making an unauthorized use of the system is arguably waving of several defense arguments at trial. It isn't an ironclad contract, but it's one more nail in the "I didn't know I wasn't supposed to be here or doing this" defense.

[ethereal-dusk.livejournal.com]

That all makes more sense now, thanks.

[brutalentropy.livejournal.com]

Oh! I totally saw that earlier when I was rooting that box, and I wondered about it too...

j/k ;)

[ethereal-dusk.livejournal.com]

Watch your back! The Federales will be knocking on your door tomorrow. LOL ;) Sad thing is I work tech for a part of the government whose computers would bore you to tears, all identically imaged and uber-clean. I'm just happy when people have actually put a different picture on the desktop. At least it gives me something to talk about while I fix their box. "Oh, is that your dog? Is that you and your Harley? Why do you have a half-naked cowboy on your desktop? Yes, I've seen Brokeback Mountain..." *release call*

[shirenomad]

My first thought was that this was the Department of Immigration, but sethb's answer works too.