As a sysadmin who uses perl, I must respectfully disagree. I find the fact that computer crimes laws could be used against me for doing my job extremely disturbing.

Have you actually read any of the documents surrounding this case? Computer crime laws were not used against Randal for doing his job. That is simply plain false and I am disappointed that Randal isn't doing a better job trying to clear up that misconception. In no way was running crack on password files part of his job description at Intel at the time. Installing programs to subvert Intel's security policies regarding machine access was also clearly outside the realm of any of his stated duties, and was an activity which he admitted to having been repeatedy told by superiors to cease.

If you wish to persist in your belief that Randal was busted for doing his job, that's your affair. Please do not continue to spread such unsupported allegations here. Please do show us how computer crime laws were used against Randal for doing his job! There is a great deal of stuff floating around claiming that Randal was blindsided by laws that made his job-related activities illegal. The activities he engaged in that led to the charges and convictions against him were simply not part of his job. I'd feel much more sympathy for the man if he would more publicly assert the fact that he did break the law, that he was operating well outside of his then current job description when he did so, and that he had been warned on more than one occassion by superiors to doing some of things he was eventually charged for.

Yes I think there were certain miscarriages of justice involved. They just aren't the miscarriages you and many others seem more than willing to believe.