Part 4: Porn-Infected PC -- How it Happens

Let's all see what is on the judges' computer...

Yup, that happened to me and my girl friend still thinks I'm a dirty old man. Pleading your case sounds like a very lame excuse, but I must say that I wasn't a juror in this case so, who knows. Your right though, there should have been filters installed on school computers.

I've had senior citizens (about half my customers) almost too embarressed to call me to clean the PC because of the very same thing.

Who owns the pc's and network at this school? Most likely it's the school board for that parish/county. What about the school board's IT dept? Part of being and "IT" dept is maintaining absolute control over an organizations info tech system. Since the IT dept should be in control of this schools pc's they should be held (at least partly) responsible. Since most organizations have people that are know just enough about pc's to be dangerous, everything should be locked down. Control internet traffic. Block sites. Use some kind of proxy server to monitor all internet activity. And most of all, enforce rules of using an organizations pc's such as always logging out of one's account or face suspension and eventually loss of one's access.

The school is responsible for the computer. The lack of an appropriate firewall, spyware blockers, etc, on a computer that students can access can be laid directly on this school disctrict.
The "computer specialist" from the police department needs to be trained. He obviously believes everything Microsoft puts out.
This woman was NOT adequately represented, and that is a crime.
Personally, I would have pulled out the power cord, and let the priniciple know I was extremely offended, that is is the district's computer, and he will be hearing from my attorney.

Everyone I've read so far is ready to blame the school board or the principal for their incompetent policies and management, but the real culprits are the state legislators, the police and, the District Attorney's office, if such a charge is allowed to proceed against the hapless teacher. Sure, children ought not to be subjected to porn at school [or anywhere else, for that matter] but it seems we have a comedy of errors, with a vast supporting cast of fools who have leaped into punitive action with not the slightest grasp of the difficulties and problems faced by teachers. Every one seems to get on the band-wagon of installing computers and internet access in the schools without being willing to provide [pay for] the expertise on the spot to manage the resource properly. It is likely the kids know more about those computers than most of the adults who are charged with managing the educational institution.

I'll tell you who's guilty. This Judeo-Christian JACKASSES and their ZERO tollerance bullcrap. Anyone with an ounce of common sense would have stopped this persicussion before any of it got started. I'm getting so sick of all these idiotic cases by "over the top zealious" to get their 15 minutes. Why don't they work the hard cases with real criminals and leave the people alone that just find themselves in an unfortunate situation that they have no control

snobles,
I guess this is all Bush's fault. I don't know who is to blame here, but I am certain it is not Bush! You are just using this to spout off your totally stupid, totally ignorant, political views. Please take them somewhere else (like radio airhead America). May the fleas of a thousand, no make that a million Iraq camels infest your pants!

This is puritanical new england religious fanaticism at its finest. Once again the specter of witch trial mentality raises its ugly head and excises its black nature by sacrificing an innocent teacher in order to satisfy the ancient religious prejudices of zealots. I lived in new england for 3 years and quit my job,sold everything and got out of there as fast as I could. Those people are deranged and will crucify you in a heartbeat. Sounds like the same bunch that sends border patrol personnel to jail for trying to stop illegal drug smugglers. I dont think god is amused at them.

I'd say the school district is responsible given those choices. However, the school's IT staff should have put better blocking on the network and/or individual computers.
Faced with the same situation, I'd probably turn off the monitor.

Funny thing: I went to what is now called "Kelly Middle School" when it was called Kelly Jr. High. I also recognise the names of some of the parties, and I also know/knew who was supplying their IT back in the 90s and to 2000(of course this might have changed since I moved away), and for their IT department guy saying their software failed only 6 times in ten years is ludicrious.

The IT supervisor admits he neglected to update the filter/firewall software.

This lapse in updating/upgrading is probably what allowed malware, or those kids to bypass the outdated security. My bet is the kids bypassed it, or else they would have been shocked and shaken at the images, not huddled around giggling. I am shocked that she was convicted. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence knows that without constant updating of anti spyware/malware/virus software (and I mean minimum of weekly updating) getting past content banning is as simple as editing the HOSTS file in the Windows directory. Chances are th

Chances are the prosecutor made sure there was no one who was computer savvy on the jury... she would have been acquitted if there had been at least one.

I can't describe how much sympathy I have for Ms. Amero. I think the school administration is at fault, and they know it! To cover up their own errors, they are trying to lay the blame on a temporary teacher (not even one of their staff, so she's expendable!)

And then, where was the defense attorney? He obviously was not able to bring witnesses to the stand who were competent enough, or didn't ask them the right questions, to convince a jury of the inadequacy of the prosecution's case. Anyone who uses internet has seen these unwanted popups... there should have been 100s of "witnesses", if needed. I notice in the newspaper article that even the judge indicated her surprise that the defense was calling no more witnesses when the prosecution rested its case.

The guilty verdict is a travesty of justice! I think the suggestion above that PCWorld should lead a protest is an excellent one. Don't wait for the non-IT media to find this one... go tell them! NOW!

This is not the fault of "Judeo-Christians". Judeo Christians have more sense that that. And this is not the fault of Pres. Bush. This is nothing more than using the substitute teacher as a scapegoat, to cover up for the incompetence of the IT dept. ANY IT manager these days has to be aware of how pervasive and intrusive spyware/adware is. I lay the porn problem squarely at the feet of the IT manager, and the witchhunt squarely at the feet of the school administration and school board.

What would I do for my children? I have the bsafe filter for porno, I have Norton A/V, and CounterSpy for spyware/adware. I also occasionally look through the temp internet files and cookies on the kids' computer. All you need to do is confront them once or twice with actual evidence, and they will be too rattled to try it again.