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What's Wrong With Checking For Aliens On The School System's Computers?

By John Mesirow

We don't know if there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. And it seems unlikely that we'll find out by installing software on our computers to detect the presence of aliens. But that is precisely what the former director of IT for the Higley Unified School District in Arizona is accused of doing. As reported by abc15.com (Phoenix, AZ) ...

Brad Niesluchowski ...has resigned [after being given a notice of termination in October, per Superintendent Denise Birdwell] amidst an investigation that he installed software to spy for aliens on school computers.

Dr. Birdwell said Niesluchowski installed the software program SETI@home on nearly 5,000 HUSD computers. SETI stands for the "Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence."

And?

Birdwell said the program caused the district's computers to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

That's a lot of juice, no? Yes.

The district estimates during the 9 years of Niesluchowski's employment, he cost the district as much as $1.6 million in electricity, bandwith and the diminished life expectancy of computers.

Costly and odd, but criminal?

Birdwell said the district is working with Gilbert Police as part of a criminal investigation.

The Juice is down with restitution, not prosecution.

Full post as published by Legal Juice on December 02, 2009 (boomark / email).