One admin's missing password leaves San Francisco in a lockdown state

[zatoicchi]

A former San Francisco city computer network administrator remains in a Bay Area jail after pleading not guilty to four charges of computer tampering. Meanwhile, the city's computer network is in limbo.

Prior to his arrest, Terry Childs, 43, of Pittsburg, California, managed to manipulate the city's computer system, creating a password that has effectively locked out all other city network administrators. As an employee in the San Francisco Department of Technology Information Services, he helped create a new network used for the San Francisco FiberWAN (wide-area network), his former defender said.

The FiberWAN network is responsible for controlling the city's e-mails, law enforcement records, payroll, and personal records. It controls 60 percent of the city's municipal data that also includes lawyer information and 311 information system.

BetaNews | One admin's missing password leaves San Francisco in a lockdown state

[anon]

you wouldn't expect just 1 password to be able to give so much trouble... like when homer simpson didn't patch his comp and the "year 2000 virus" created chaos everywhere

[zatoicchi]

probably he did that for Job Security and it was purposely forgotten..

[Aurion]

"...he helped create a new network used for the San Francisco FiberWAN (wide-area network)" LOL he made some achievements tho,but now he dumped all his work down into the drain

[anon]

LOL he made some achievements tho,but now he dumped all his work down into the drain

well, as RB's sig says, it's always easier to destroy than to create.

[zatoicchi]

well, as RB's sig says, it's always easier to destroy than to create.

very true, sometimes when your usefullness is at an end ,the only way to get it back is to destroy it again as in this case.or lose the important password or maybe delete some data

[anon]

the only way to get it back is to destroy it again as in this case.

if something becomes confusing it's better to drop it and start all over again, heh

[zatoicchi]

if something becomes confusing it's better to drop it and start all over again, heh

absolutely true. makes a lot more sense to me than trying to figure whats the password..format c: sound good

[anon]

than trying to figure whats the password..

ntpasswd to the rescue

format c:

NO! I have 16GBs of documents there!

...

[zatoicchi]

NO! I have 16GBs of documents there!

"dont worry i got it covered , i can always put back all the files..then lost the password

[Aurion]

yeah sure,not all u make is makiing people happier for sure but at least he got the balls to shut down several network based services,in the meanwhile he did some achievements (ever if he was wrong )