Using only a web-browser (and no password cracking), a borderline hacker/security consultant, Adrian Lamo, has been altering Yahoo! news stories for three weeks. Millions will have read his subtly altered stories, including paragraphs from a story on the case of Dimitri Skylarov, imprisoned in the US for cracking the copy-protection on Adobe's e-book software.

Among others, Lamo changed a Yahoo! story on a delay in Skylarov's court dates, to state that the case raised "the haunting specter of inner-city minorities with unrestricted access to literature, and through literature, hope." The altered story went on to report that Attorney General John Ashcroft stated "They shall not overcome. Whoever told them that the truth shall set them free was obviously and grossly unfamiliar with federal law."

Until he said something, no one noticed. Sadly the hole is now reported to be closed. Still, a raised glass to you sir.