Hacker News Reader

Comment by fortran77 | Hacker News Reader

"target them"? What are you proposing?

An often cited rule on HN is that you should assume the most charitable interpretation... Parent might be suggesting that those that make money on NSO Group's spyware should be treated in the same way that we treat others that make money on deeply immoral or illegal businesses. E.g it is not illegal to optimize online casinos to suck money out of gambling addicts, but many of us thinks that it is immoral.

Firstly, chill. Secondly, focus attention on them so they feel the legal, civil and reputational consequences (in line with the theme of this entire post) of their career choices. Draining a disgusting industry of expertise that it couldn't exist without.

They made their choices. Their victims had none.

Ban them and their immediate family from everywhere: iCloud, Google, Instagram, Github, Cloudflare, Spotify, Steam, etc.

Make them explain their kids that they can't play games on Xbox or listen to music on Spotify because their daddy is a terrorist.

Terrorist? Really? I think one can argue that they've likely saved many, many lives.

Whose?

They support oppressive regimes with their products and services, thereby suppressing public revolts and preempting civil wars that doubtlessly would claim the lives of many. Very noble of them. /S

The U.S supports the same regimes. The U.S made huge weapons deals with UAE, Saudi Arabia and more. Selling actual fighting jets that destroy thousands of people, not some cyber app.

Ideas can cost and save lives too.

So whatabout someother asshole? Come back when you have an argument.

please

Based on context, and the phrase “expensive”, I assume they mean they want prosecution/legal action against the individual engineers and management. Not threatening

Wouldn't it be better to target the one outfit (NSO), and not its workers? Then again, I suppose the workers would setup another underground business to do the same thing, with the same exploits, and the same people. What is the solution for this?

The solution is go after its staff.

For governments, standard CT/AML financial intelligence: identify employees, shareholders/UBOs and add them and subsequent companies they start to the various watchlists/blacklists. For the public: open source intelligence, post info on forums, name and shame etc.

If you work for a company that is engaging in bad behavior, the mud is on you as well.

Strongly-worded emails written by mediocre AI.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com