Why do news outlets insist on giving people bad ideas?

[Topcatyo]

http://redtape.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/29/9076395-exclusive-millions-of-printers-open-to-devastating-hack-attack-researchers-say

So, they just recently discovered that online printers have a huuuuge security flaw.  Yeah, that's shit, but what I don't understand, then, is why they insist on giving people who might know how to hack ideas for how to kill people?

Could a hacker from half-way around the planet control your printer and give it instructions so frantic that it could eventually catch fire? Or use a hijacked printer as a copy machine for criminals, making it easy to commit identity theft or even take control of entire networks that would otherwise be secure?

Great ideas, guys.

These are hypothetical situations they're talking about here.  These have not been done, this is them speculating on the possibilities of what can be done.  So, when telling us about a huge security flaw that is in every printer right now or something, why would they tell them all the great new features of this security flaw that has been discovered?  What the fuck are you doing, moron?

In all actuality, the security risk probably isn't anything like the article describes and at the most hackers will, like, print out dicks or something.  I had one idea for something possibly dangerous but you know what I'm not going to do?  Give you guys ideas.  Cause I'm not dumb.

I agree with Arj Barker on this one

[video=youtube_share;3IXAPnNle10]http://youtu.be/3IXAPnNle10[/video]

[DigitalLemonClock]

because it was in a scientific paper and is thus accessible to hackers already

it would be illogical to refrain from informing people of the possible risk, exposing flaws and bringing attention to them is part of the process that improves security

[Topcatyo]

because it was in a scientific paper and is thus accessible to hackers already

This is a fair point.

it would be illogical to refrain from informing people of the possible risk, exposing flaws and bringing attention to them is part of the process that improves security

I have no problem with informing the public, that is a must for this kind of thing so they can be better prepared for situations.  I just find it dumb (and funny) when they start giving people ideas on what kind of nasty tricks you can pull on people.

Like, they can say "The problem with the printers is thus."  When you add "Because of this problem you can totally kill some suckers if you do this" it seems counter-intuitive.

Plus it's pretty sensationalist when you conjure up scary scenarios in a bid to attract more readers.  That's why I read it originally.

[Sinister Clock]

News outlets thrive on fear


It wouldn't be so bad if everyone wasn't a retard who believes everything they read.

[pop-tart]

[miracle fruit]

haha yeah

i remember when i learned how to steal a dodge neon on an anti-car theft program

[FLOUNDERMAN_CLOCK]

Its technically possible to make a person's laptop explode or at least overheat with a virus if they have a shitty battery.

[AmberArachnidClock]

the witcher 2 made my friend's friend's graphics card explode

[DWARFINATORclock]

a printer killed my parents

[Topcatyo]

Soon they'll hack our optical mouses to strangle us in our sleep.

[WiiClock]

CASEY ANTHONY GOT AWAY WITH IT