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Hackers in the News
HACKERS IN THE NEWS
ORLANDO SENTINEL-
ORIGINATED FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HACKERS USED WEAPONS LAB COMPUTER TO DISTRIBUTE PORN -TITLE
"-A NEWSPAPER'S PROBE OF IMPROPER INTERNET LED TO THE DISCOVERY OF
HARD-CORE GRAPHIC IMAGES.
DRAMATICALLY ILLUSTRATING THE SECURITY PROBLEMS POSED BY THE RAPID GROWTH
OF INTERNET COMPUTER NETWORK, ONE OF THE NATION'S THREE NUCLEAR WEAPONS
LABS CONFIRMED MONDAY THAT COMPUTER HACKERS WERE USING ITS COMPUTERS TO
STORE AND DISTRIBUTE HARD-CORE PORNOGRAPHY.
EMABARRASED OFFICIALS AT LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY
IN LIVERMORE, CALIF., WHICH CONDUCT A GREAT DEAL OF CLASSIFIED RESEARCH
AND HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED SECURITY PROCEDURES, SAID THE INCIDENT WAS AMONG
THE MOST SERIOUS BREACHES OF COMPUTER SECURITY EVER AT THE LAB EAST OF
SAN FRANCISO.
.
Hackers in the News (24/25)
THE OFFENDING COMPUTER, WHICH WAS SHUT DOWN AFTER A LOS ANGELES
TIMES REPORTER INVESTIGATING INTERNET HACKING ALERTED LAB OFFICIALS,
CONTAINED MORE THAN 1,000 PORNOGRAPHIC IMAGES. IT WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE
LARGEST CACHE OF ILLEGAL HARD-CORE PORNOGRAPHY EVER FOUND ON A COMPUTER
NETWORK.
WHILE HACKERS ONCE DEVOTED THEIR EFFORTS TO DISRUPTING COMPUTER
SYSTEMS AT LARGE ORGANIZATIONS OR STEALING ELECTRONIC INFORMATION, THEY
HAVE NOW DEVELOPED WAYS OF SEIZING CONTROL OF INTERNET-LINKED COMPUTERS
AND USING THEM TO STORE AND DISTRIBUTE PORNOGRAPHY, STOLEN COMPUTER
SOFTWARE AND OTHER ILLICIT INFORMATION.
THE INTERNET, A "NETWORK OF NETWORKS" ORIGINALLY DESIGNED
TO CONNECT COMPUTERS AT UNIVERSITIES AND GOVERNMENT RESEARCH LABS, HAS
GROWN DRAMATICALLY IN SIZE AND TECHNICAL SOPHISTICATION IN RECENT YEARS.
IT IS NOW USED BY MANY BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUAL COMPUTER USERS, AND IS
OFTEN VIEWED AS THE PROTOTYPE FOR THE "INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY" OF THE
FUTURE.
BUT THE INTERNET HAS AN UNDERSIDE, WHERE SO CALLED "PIRATES" WITH
CODE NAMES LIKE "MR. SMUT," "ACIDFLUX," AND "THE COWBOY" TRAFFIC IN
ILLEGAL OR ILLEGALLY OBTAINED ELECTRONIC INFORMATION. THE STRUCTURE OF
.
Hackers in the News (24/47)
THE INTERNET MEANS THAT SUCH PIRATES CAN CARRY OUT THEIR CRIMES FROM
ALMOST ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, AND TRACING THEM IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.
THE FBI LATE LAST WEEK CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS INVESTIGATING
SOFTWARE PIRACY ON THE INTERNET. A TIMES REPORTER DISCOVERED A NUMBER OF
SITES AT PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTUIONS THAT WERE BEING USED TO DISTRIBUTE
STOLEN SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ONE IN THE OFFICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA, BERKELY.
PIRATES ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN "CHAT" LINES, A SERIES OF CHANNELS
WITHIN A SERVICE CALLED THE INTERNET RELAY CHAT. AN ELABORATE PECKING
ORDER DETERMINES WHO WILL BE ALLOWED TO TAKE PART IN THESE CONVERSATIONS
- NEWCOMERS CAN OFTEN WANGLE THEIR WAY IN IF THEY HAVE A PARTICULARLY HOT
PIECE OF SOFTWARE TO OFFER.
SANDY MEROLA, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION AND COMPUTING AT THE
BERKELY LAB, SIAD THAT THE PIRATE SITE WAS SHUT DOWN LAST WEEK AFTER THE
TIMES INVESTIGATION REVEALED ITS EXISTENCE. MEROLA SAID THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENERGY, WHICH OVERSEES LAB OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS THE FBI, HAD BEEN
NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT.
AT LAWRENCE LIVERMORE, OFFICIALS SAID MONDAY THAT THEY BELIEVED
.
Hackers in the News (24/69)
AT LEAST ONE MORE LAB EMPLOYEE WAS INVOLVED IN THE PORNOGRAPHY RING,
ALONG WITH AN UNDETERMINED NUMBER OF OUTSIDE COLLABORATORS. CHUCK COLE,
DEPUTY ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMPUTING AT THE LAB, SAID THAT NEARLY 2,000
MEGABYTES OF UNAUTHORIZED GRAPHICAL IMAGES HAVE BEEN FOUND IN A LIVERMORE
COMPUTER, AND HE CONFIRMED THAT THEY WERE PORNOGRAPHIC.
THE EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN PLACED ON "INVESTIGATORY LEAVE" AND HIS OR
HER SECURITY BADGE CONFISCATED WHILE AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERTAKEN, THE
LAB SAID. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE PORNOGRAPHIC IMAGES WERE BEING SOLD
OR HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD GAINED ACCESS TO THEM. THE PICTURES WERE
SUFFICIENTLY GRAPHIC THAT THEY WOULD LIKELY BE CONSIDERED OBSCENE BY THE
COURTS, AND THEREFORE TRANSMITTING THEM OVER THE INTERNET WOULD BE ILLEGAL.
THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF STORAGE CAPACITY USED IN THE LIVERMORE
SCHEME SHOWS HOW INTERNET HACKING COULD BE QUITE PROFITABLE.
THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT THE PERSON OPERATING THE PORNOGRAPHY
DATABASE HAD BECOME AWARE OF POSSIBLE SCRUTINY. ON JUNE 27, A MESSAGE
LEFT IN A FILE LABELED READ ME!!! SAID, "IT APPEARS THAT NEWS ABOUT THIS
SITE HAS ESCAPED, IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, I HAVE HAD 27 UN-AUTHORIZED
HOSTS ATTEMPT TO ACCESS MY SERVER. THIS DOES NOT GIVE ME A WARM-FUZZY
FEELING. I WOULD HATE TO HAVE TO SHUT THIS DOWN, BUT I MAY HAVE NO CHOICE."
.
Hackers in the News (25/92)
ONE COMPUTER EXPERT, WHO REQUESTED ANONYMITY, SIAD THAT THERE
MIGHT BE MORE TO THE INCIDENT THAN MEETS THE EYE. THE EXPERT SUGGESTED
THAT THE HARD-CORE PORNOGRAPHY MAY BE A COVER FOR AN ULTRA-SOPHISTICATED
ESPIONAGE PROGRAM, IN WHICH A "SNIFFER" PROGRAM COMBS THROUGH OTHER
LIVERMORE COMPUTERS, ENCODES THE PASSWORDS AND ACCOUNTS IT FINDS, AND
THEN HIDES THEM WITHIN THE PORNOGRAPHIC IMAGES, PERHAPS LATER TO BE
DOWNLOADED LATER BY FOREIGN AGENTS.
BUT COLE SAID THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY OF A COMPUTER INTRUDER
GAINING ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED DATA AT LIVERMORE LABS."
___________________________________
[Home[1]] [Main[2]] [Prev[3]] [Next[4]]

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" U.S. computer investigation targets Austinites "
------------------------------------------------------
[ The above caption high-lighted the Saturday March 17, 1990 edition
of the Austin American-Statesman [ Austin, Texas ]. The article has
been copied in its entirety, and the main point for typing this up
was because of the involvement of the LOD/H throughout the article. ]
The U.S. Secret Service has seized computer equipment from two
Austin homes and a local business in the past month as part of a federal
investigation into electronic tampering with the nation's 911 emergency
network.
Armed Secret Service agents, accompanied by officers from the Austin
Police Department, took the equipment in three March 1 raids that sources
say are linked to a nationwide federal inquiry coordinated by the Secret
Service and the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago.
While federal officials have declined to comment on the investigation
- which focuses on a bizarre mix of science fiction and allegations of
high-tech thievery - the Austin American-Statesman has learned that the
raids targeted Steve Jackson Games, a South Austin publisher of role-
playing games, and the home of Loyd Blankenship, managing editor at the
company.
A second Austin home, whose resident was acquainted with Jackson
officials, also was raided.
Jackson said there is no reason for the company to be investigated
. Steve Jackson Games is a book and game publisher of fiction, he said,
and it is not involved in any computer-related thefts.
The agents, executing search warrants now sealed by a judge from
public view, took computer equipment, including modems, printers, and
monitors, as well as manuals, instruction books and other documents. The
equipment has been forwarded to federal officials in Chicago.
The Secret Service, best-known for protecting the president, has
jurisdiction in the case, government officials say, because damage to
the nation's telephone system could harm the public's welfare. In
addition, the system is run by American Telephone & Telegraph Co., a
company involved in the nation's defense.
The 911 investigation already has resulted in the indictment of
two computer "hackers" in Illinois and sources say federal authorities
now are focusing on Austin's ties to a shadowy underground computer
user's group known as the Legion of Doom.
The hackers, who live in Georgia and Missouri, where indicted in
Chicago. they are believed to be members of the Legion of Doom and
are charged with seven counts, including interstate transportation of
stolen property, wire fraud, and violations of the Computer Fraud and
Abuse Act of 1986.
The government alleges that the defendants stole a computerized
copy of Bell South's system that controls 911 emergency calls in nine
states. The information was then transferred to a computer bulletin
board and published in a hacker publication known as Phrack!
A trial in the case is scheduled to begin in June.
U.S. agents also have seized the final drafts of a science
fiction game written by the Austin-based game company. Sources say
the agents are trying to determine whether the game - a dark, futur-
istic account of a world where technology has gone awry - is being
used as a handbook for computer crime. Steve Jackson, the owner of
the local company and a well-known figure in the role-playing game
industry, said neither he nor his company has been involved in
tampering with the 911 system.
No one in Austin has been indicted or arrested as a result of
the investigation. "It is an on-going investigation. That is all
I can say," said Steve Beauchamp, special agent-in-charge of the
Secret Service Austin field office. "Until we can put it all
together, we just do not comment," he said.
Bob Rogers, Jackson's Dallas attorney, said federal officials
have assured him that neither Jackson nor Jackson Games is the tar-
get of the probe. The authorities would not tell Rogers whether the
inquiry focused on other company employees. As for the science fiction
game, called Cyberpunk, Jackson said federal authorities have mistaken
a fictional work for a technical manual [E.N. Why does this sound all
too familiar?] .
"It's not a manual for computer crime any more than a Reader's
Digest story on how to burglar-proof your house is a manual for
burglars," said Jackson, 36. "It's kind of like the hints you get
on safe-cracking from a James Bond movie."
Blankenship, the author of the book, said his attorney has advised
him not to comment on the book or the Secret Service investigation.
Jackson said he guesses his company was linked to the 911 probe
by its use of a computer bulletin board system, called Usenet. The
board, one of hundreds throughout the country, is a sort of electronic
Town Square, where personal computer users from throughout the world
can tap into the system via phone lines and a modem.
The network, free and relatively unregulated, is an information
exchange where users can post information, exchange electronic messages
and debate with keyboards everything from poetry and politics to nuclear
war.
One of the world's largest networks - boasting more than 600,000
users - Usenet was tapped by Chinese students in North America to
organize support for students during the pro-democracy demonstrations
last year. The network also was infected in 1988 by a now-famous
computer "virus" unleashed by college student Robert Morris.
Jackson said his company has maintained a bulletin board on
the Usenet network on which it posts advanced copies of its role-
playing games. The firm posts the games and requests that the users
of the network comment on the text and propose improvements.
The Jackson bulletin board, called Illuminati, greets users with
the company's logo and a message that states: "Welcome to the World's
Oldest and Largest Secret Conspiracy."
Over the past several months, the company has been posting drafts
of Cyberpunk for review.
The resident of the second Austin home raided by the Secret Service
was acquainted with Jackson and had made comments about the game on
Usenet. He asked to remain anonymous.
Typical of Cyberpunk literature, the game is set in a bleak future,
much like the world portrayed in Max Headroom, formerly a network
television program. Computers and technology control people's thoughts
and actions and are viewed both as a means of oppression and as a method
of escape. Portions of Jackson's Cyberpunk viewed by the Austin American
Statesman include a detailed discussion on penetrating government computer
networks and a list of fictitious programs used to break into closed
networks. Bruce Sterling, an Austin science fiction writer and one of
the world's best-known Cyberpunk writers, said Jackson's game and its
computer-related discussions are hardly unusual for the genre.
"Cyberpunk is thriller fiction." Sterling said. "It deals to a
great extent with the romance of crime in the same way that mysteries
or techno-thrillers do." He said the detailed technical discussions
in the Jackson games are what draws people to them. "That's the
charm of simulating something that's supposed to be accurate. If
it's cooked up out of thin air, the people who play these games are
going to lose interest."
Jackson, though, said he has been told by Secret Service agents
that they view the game as a user's guide to computer mischief. He
said they made the comments where he went to the agency's Austin
office in an unsuccessful attempt to reclaim some of his seized
equipment. "As they were reading over it, they kept making outraged
comments," Jackson said. "When they read it, they became very, very
upset. "I said, 'This is science fiction.' They said, 'No. This
is real.'"
The text of the Cyberpunk games, as well as other computer
equipment taken from Jackson's office, still has not been returned.
The company now is working to rewrite portions of the book and is
hoping to have it printed next month. In addition to reviewing
Cyberpunk, sources say federal authorities currently are investigating
any links between local computer hackers and the Legion of Doom. The
sources say some of the 911 information that is the subject of Chicago
indictments has been traced to Austin computers.
Jackson's attorney said federal officials have told him that
the 911 information pilfered from Bell South has surfaced on a computer
bulletin board used at Steve Jackson games. But the information
apparently has not been traced to a user. Jackson said that neither
he nor any of his employees is a member of the Legion of Doom.
Blankenship, however, did consult with the group in the
course of researching the writing the Cyberpunk game, Jackson said.
Further, the group is listed in the game's acknowledgments for its
aid in providing technical information used in Cyberpunk. For these
reasons he believes Blankenship is a local target of the federal probe,
though none of the investigators has yet confirmed his suspicion.
"My opinion is that he is (being investigated)," Jackson said,
"If that's the case, that's gross.
"he had been doing research for what he hoped would be a mass-
market book on the computer underground," Jackson said.
The other Austin resident raided by the authorities, who asked
to remain anonymous, acknowledged that he is the founding member of
the Legion of Doom and that copies of the 911 system had surfaced on
the group's local bulletin board. The 20-year-old college student
said the information hardly posed any threat to the 911 system.
"It was nothing," he said. "It was garbage, and it was boring."
In the Chicago indictment accuses the group of a litany of
electronic abuses, including: disrupting telephone service by
changing the routing of telephone calls; stealing and modifying
individual credit histories; stealing money and property from
companies by altering computer information; and disseminating
information about attacking computers to other computer hackers.
The Austin Legion of Doom member said his group's worst
crime is snooping through other people's computers. "For the
most part, that's all we do," he said. "No one's out ripping
off people's credit cards. No one's out to make any money.
"We're just out to have fun."
The group member said the fact that the legion is shrouded
in mystery adds to its mystique - and to the interest law
enforcement agents have in cracking the ring. "It's an entirely
different world," the student said. "It's a very strange little
counter-culture. "Everybody who exists in that world is familiar
with the Legion of Doom," he said. "Most people are in awe or are
intimidated by it."
(C)opied by Pizzia Man
03/18/9

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July 8, 1988
SOME SEE GLIMPSE OF LIFE IN 'FACE' OF MARS
AP and UPI
WASHINGTON - Unusual formations on the surface of Mars - including a
mile-long rock shaped like a human face - may have been carved by a lost
civilization, four scientists said yesterday.
The scientists, including a former astronaut, said at a news conference
that the chances are better than 50-50 that the structures were made by
intelligent beings.
The scientists said that a photograph taken of the Martian surface in
1976 by NASA's Viking spacecraft clearly shows a face that could have been
carved out of a Martian mountain a half-million years ago.
The sphinx-like image that stares outward from the planet may be part of
a complex of buildings, as evidenced by other unusual formations nearby, the
scientists said.
Brian T. O'Leary, a former astronaut and an expert on Mars, said there
is sufficient uncertainty about the origin of the rock face that it should
be a major target for future spacecraft sent to Mars.
O'Leary said last January he asked Soviet space scientists who were
preparing to send probes to Mars to examine the area where the face appears.
He said the Soviets were interested, but replied that their spacecraft was
not technically designed to study the Cydonia region of Mars, where the
sight is located.
The Soviets launched a probe toward Mars yesterday and plan to launch a
second one later this month.
The news conference yesterday was prompted by a recent study of the
Viking photographs conducted by Mark Carlotto, an optical engineering
expert.
In an article published in Applied Optics, Carlotto said that a computer
enhancement of the Viking photographs shows that the face and various other
nearby features appear to have been carved by "intelligent design."
Yesterday, Carlotto told reporters that a sophisticated statistical study of
the shapes clearly shows that "the face is not natural."
Richard Hoagland, founder of a private organization of scientists called
"The Mars Project," said that in addition to the face there is "a complex of
unusual objects" at the Cydonia site. The complex includes a five-sided
mountain that resembles a pyramid and a massif he believes could have been
part of an astronomical marker.
Hoagland said that a line drawn from the center of the city, across the
face to the massif, or cliff, would line up exactly with the Sun at the
moment of Mars' summer solstice, as it would have occured 500,000 years ago
- an alignment it is extremely unlikely could occur naturally.
(Source: The San Diego Union - July 8, 1988)


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13-Feb-88 01:53 MST
Sb: APn 02/03 1227 Mars Mania
Copyright, 1988. The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
By RICHARD COLE Associated Press Writer
MIAMI (AP) -- This year, Mars makes its closest approach to Earth in a
generation, and astronomers say the red planet's appearance in the night sky
may be the astronomical event of 1988.
As if to demonstrate the heavens have a sense of humor, the height of the
show comes in September, just shy of the 50th anniversary of Orson Welles' 1938
"War of the Worlds" broadcast that panicked the nation with fictional reports
of invaders from Mars.
"I see 1988 as a great Martian adventure," said Jack Horkheimer, the aptly
named "Star Hustler" of the Public Broadcasting System and executive director
of Miami's Space Transit Planetarium. "I'm like a kid in a candy store."
When Mars is at its closest on Sept. 21 -- just over 36 million miles away
-- it will rival Jupiter as the brightest object in the sky after the Moon and
Venus.
"It won't be this close again until 2003," says Horkheimer. "And there are a
lot of kids out there who have never seen it this bright."
Unlike the comets Halley and Kohoutek, Mars will not disappoint viewers,
because its brightness is more predictable and the planet will be easily
visible from almost everywhere.
He expects a spate of UFO sightings to accompany Mars' visit as people
unaccustomed to the unblinking reddish-orange light in the night sky mistake it
for more exotic extraterrestrial visitors.
Like planetarium directors around the nation, Horkheimer is preparing a
series of Mars shows he promises will "knock your socks off."
One involves a snazzy computerized simulation of a flight through the
planet's gigantic 2,500-mile-long version of the Grand Canyon. Another centers
around an 18-mile-high mountain -- three times higher than Mount Everest --
capped by a crater the size of Georgia.
He also is bringing to the planetarium a new telescope nicknamed "Awesome
Orson" in honor of the late Welles' broadcast and girth.
Although Earth passes Mars every two years, it is only every 15 to 17 years
that the orbits of the third and fourth planets bring them as close together as
in 1988. The year began with Earth and Mars separated by 200 million miles.
The close encounter comes four years before a scheduled Mars probe by the
Soviet Union.
The Soviet plan to have the probes bring back Martian soil, and perhaps,
Horkheimer said, settle the most intriguing question about Earth's neighbor --
whether life once existed on the now cold and arid desert planet.
U.S. Mars landers in the 1970s tried to answer that question, but the
chemical soil test results beamed back to Earth were inconclusive.
"I really hope that they find fossilized signs of life," he said. "We know
that there was water on Mars."
Horkheimer said he also hopes the Soviet probes will spur the United States
to revive its own space program, with a manned landing on Mars.
"We could be on Mars easily within a decade or so," he said. "The technology
already exisits. What is missing is the money." And the funds will be available
only when the public once again supports spending the billions of dollars in
funding a Martian landing would require.
If the political situation allows it, a joint U.S.-Soviet mission to Mars
could ease the financial burden on both countries, he said.
It also could promote peace between the two rivals -- an ironic benefit from
a planet named after the Roman god of war.


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Phile 1.6 of 1.14
THE HACKER MENACE AND ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARDS
------------------------------------------------
Typed by: {ode {racker
This was taken out of the Network Security Magazine published by Datapro
Research. I found this article to be quite funny along with antinque
news. So I thought I share it with you for a laugh or whatever.
Also this article was written by a EX-HACKER! How does one become a
EX-HACKER, please tell me!!!!
HACKER GANGS
------------>
Early computer hackers tended to be college students. With the advent
of home computers, and the teaching of computer basics at the grade
school level, the average age of the begininning (youth) hacker has
dropped to only 14!! The overwhelming majority of BBS owners and users
are teenagers. Teens tend to form cliques and peer groups, so the
formation of phone phreak and hacker gangs was inevitable. The parents
of these bright teens usually do not, themselves, understand the power
of the computer. This means that the teens are not subject to the same
parental restrictions that would govern their using the family car.
Many parents veiw the home computer as an excellent baby-sitting device.
If their child spends an evening quietly in his/her room with the computer
the parents feel that thier offspring is not getting into any trouble.
In reality, these teens may be engaging in electronic gang activites
that have very serious implications. Losses to the software industry
alone are staggering!!!
Unfortunately, many of the gang leaders are older, more experienced
teens, perhaps college students. These people are interested in hacking
not for its intellectual challenge, for for its financial rewards. A
few gang leaders are adults who are politically or firal adults who are major figures behind the cracking and
distribution of pirated software for resale to the public. One
adult gang leader openly solicited credit card numbers from the
juvenile members in exchange for fraudulently obtained hard disk drives
and other equipment. Some of the teenage leaders seek notoriety and
acclaim from their peers. They strive to be the biggest phreaker or
to have broken into the greatest number of computer systems.
The gangs may be local in nature such as the infamous "Milwaukee 414
gang"; they may be national in nature, like the "Inner Circle"; or
even international. One such international group is "NYSHII" or
"CHAOS" both cracking and pirating clubs with headquaters in both
West Germany and the United States. All of these groups had a BBS
that was their main base of operations and served supposedly as a
sercure communications center. The 414s had a private BBS that was
so sercet it didn't even have a namme. The Inner Circle had a
Securityland BBS and Illegitimate accounts on GTE'S Telemail network.
Chaos operates on a variety of BBS's in both the U.S. and West Germany.
NYSHII (New York Safehouse II) to this date has baffled local and
international law enforcement agencys as to it's true whereabouts.
The Sysop "The Line Breaker" has found a way of changing the BBS's
location on a weekly basis without moving the master computer.
ORGANIZED CRIME AND THE BBS
--------------------------->
Naturally, an underground BBS could be used by organized crime in
much the same manner as the teen hacker gangs use them. The author
has good reason to believe thgat organized crime is controlling a
number of BBS systems in the Midwest, the New York City area, and
in Florida. One informant claims there is a bbs that is located
in an off-track betting parlor. Teenagers are easily recruited to
act as information gathers for organized crime. The young people
work for little or nothing and, in most cases, do not even know
that they are being used. The author and other adult hackers have
been approached and offered large sums of money tamper with
banking and credit data computer systems. Organized crime is
moving into this new area of crime. There is a real and present
danger if BBSs continue to be alloowed to operate unchecked.
Underground BBSs may be creating a whole new generation of
criminals. As the youthful hackers mature, their interest in hacking
as an intellectual challenge and rebellion against authority
may be replaced by profit motive. College students always seem
to need money and the teens who do not go to college may find it
difficult to obtain a job. It is only natural that these individuals
would graviate into hacking for personal gain. For example, many
bulletin boards cater to those who are involved in credit card fraud.
There is also evidence that drug dealers use BBSs to arrange swaps
of stolen property for drugs. Hackers who have learned how to access
credit bureau systems, such as TRWs, have discovered that making
unauthorized credit checks foe
business.
Credit bureau computer penetrations are routine in the hacker under-
ground. The typical hacker gang obtains credit card numbers from
discarded charge slip carbons. As an alternative, one or more
hackers who work in retail establishments may supply card numbers.
Other gang members can then check the cards for credit limits and
expiuration dates by using the telephone or illegally accessing
credit bureau computers. Others in the gang set up mail drops
and safe houses for the deliverly of the merchandise ordered by mail
and charged to the credit card numbers. Since the gangs know no
geographic boundaries, it is difficult to investigate these frauds.
Some commerical time-sharing services, such as Comp-u-serve, allow
merchandise to be ordered via computer and shipped to the user's
address. ime-sharing accounts are easily obtained with a stolen
credit card. This allows the thief to order merchandise with little
fear of being traced. These new high tech thieves are replacing
more traditional criminals.
The hackers and phone phreaks have knowledge and skill to completly
disrupt major communication and computer networks. All that is lacking
is organization, planning and financing. If enemy power should
infiltrate and organize this underground, the consequences could
be disastrous.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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Slippery cybervandal caught in his own electronic web
-----------------------------------------------------
(c) Copyright the News & Observer Publishing Co.
How a computer sleuth traced a digital trail
New York Times
RALEIGH, N.C. (9:05 p.m.) -- After a search of more than two years, a team
of FBI agents early Wednesday morning captured a 31-year-old computer
expert accused of a long crime spree that includes the theft of thousands
of data files and at least 20,000 credit card numbers from computer
systems around the nation.
The arrest of Kevin D. Mitnick, one of the most wanted computer criminals,
followed a 24-hour stakeout of a Raleigh apartment building here.
A convicted computer felon on the run from federal law enforcement
officials since November 1992, Mitnick has used his sophisticated skills
over the years to worm his way into many of the nation's telephone and
cellular telephone networks and vandalize government, corporate and
university computer systems. Most recently, he had become a suspect in a
rash of break-ins on the global Internet computer network.
"He was clearly the most wanted computer hacker in the world," said Kent
Walker, an assistant U.S. attorney in San Francisco who helped coordinate
the investigation. "He allegedly had access to corporate trade secrets
worth billions of dollars. He was a very big threat."
But federal officials say Mitnick's confidence in his hacking skills may
have been his undoing. On Christmas Day, he broke into the home computer
of a computer security expert, Tsutomu Shimomura, a researcher at the
federally financed San Diego Supercomputer Center.
Shimomura then made a crusade of tracking down the intruder, an obsession
that led to Wednesday's arrest.
It was Shimomura, working from a monitoring post in San Jose, Calif., who
determined last Saturday that Mitnick was operating through a computer
modem connected to a cellular telephone somewhere near Raleigh, N.C.
Sunday morning, Shimomura flew to Raleigh, where he helped telephone
company technicians and federal investigators use cellular-frequency
scanners to home in on Mitnick.
Mitnick was arrested at 2 o'clock Wednesday morning in his apartment in
the Duraleigh Hills neighborhood of northwest Raleigh, after FBI agents used
their scanners to determine that Mitnick, in keeping with his nocturnal
habits, had connected once again to the Internet.
Shimomura was present Wednesday at Mitnick's pre-arraignment hearing at
the
federal courthouse in Raleigh. At the end of the hearing, Mitnick, who now
has shoulder-length brown hair and was wearing a black sweat suit and
handcuffs, turned to Shimomura, whom he had never met face to face.
"Hello, Tsutomu," Mitnick said. "I respect your skills."
Shimomura, who is 30 and also has shoulder-length hair, nodded solemnly.
Mitnick, already wanted in California for a federal parole violation, was
charged Wednesday with two federal crimes. The first, illegal use of a
telephone access device, is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a
$250,000 fine.
The second charge, computer fraud, carries potential penalties of 20 years
in prison and a $250,000 fine. Federal prosecutors said they were
considering additional charges related to Mitnick's reported Internet
spree.
Federal officials say Mitnick's motives have always been murky. He was
recently found to have stashed thousands of credit card numbers on
computers in the San Francisco Bay area -- including the card numbers of
some of the best-known millionaires in Silicon Valley. But there is no
evidence yet that Mitnick had attempted to use those credit card accounts.
Indeed, frequently ignoring the possibility of straightforward financial
gain from the information he has stolen, Mitnick has often seemed more
concerned with proving that his technical skills are better than those
whose job it is to protect the computer networks he has attacked.
Federal officials say the arrest of Mitnick does not necessarily solve all
the recent Internet crimes, because his trail of electronic mail has
indicated that he may have accomplices. One of them is an unknown computer
operator, thought to be in Israel, with whom Mitnick has corresponded
electronically and boasted of his Internet exploits, investigators said.
Still, the capture of Mitnick gives the FBI custody of a notoriously
persistent and elusive computer break-in expert. Raised in the San
Fernando Valley near Los Angeles by his mother, Mitnick has been in and out of
trouble with the law since 1981.
It was then, as a 17-year-old, that he was placed on probation for
stealing computer manuals from a Pacific Bell telephone switching center in Los
Angeles.
<EFBFBD> <20>' 0*0*0*<2A> <20> <20> Those who know Mitnick paint a picture of a man obsessed with the power
inherent in controlling the nation's computer and telephone networks.
The recent break-ins he is accused of conducting include forays into
computer systems at Apple Computer Inc. and Motorola Inc. and attacks on
commercial services that provide computer users with access to the
Internet, including the Well in Sausalito, Calif., Netcom in San Jose,
Calif., and the Colorado Supernet, in Boulder, Colo.
To make it difficult for investigators to determine where the attacks were
coming from, Mitnick is said to have used his computer and modem to
manipulate a local telephone company switch in Raleigh to disguise his
whereabouts.
In recent weeks, as an elite team of computer security experts tightened
an invisible electronic net around the fugitive, Mitnick continued to taunt
his pursuers, apparently unaware of how close they were to capturing him.
About 10 days ago, for example, someone whom investigators believe to have
been Mitnick left a voice-mail message for Shimomura, a Japanese citizen.
The message reprimanded Shimomura for converting the intruder's earlier
voice-mail messages into computer audio files and making them available on
the Internet.
"Ah Tsutomu, my learned disciple," the taunting voice said. "I see that
you put my voice on the Net. I'm very disappointed, my son."
But the continued attempts at one-upmanship simply gave the pursuers more
electronic evidence.
"He was a challenge for law enforcement, but in the end he was caught by
his own obsession," said Kathleen Cunningham, a deputy marshal for the
U.S. Marshals Service who has pursued Mitnick for several years.
Mitnick first came to national attention in 1982 when, as a teen-age
prank, he used a computer and a modem to break into a North American Air Defense
Command computer.
He subsequently gained temporary control of three central offices of
telephone companies in New York City and all the phone switching centers
in California.
This gave him the ability to listen in on calls and pull pranks like
reprogramming the home phone of someone he did not like so that each time
the phone was picked up, a recording asked for a deposit of a coin.
But the break-ins escalated beyond sophomoric pranks. For months in 1988,
Mitnick secretly read the electronic mail of computer security officials
at MCI Communications and Digital Equipment Corp., learning how their
computers and phone equipment were protected.
Officials at Digital later accused him of causing $4 million in damage to
computer operations at the company and stealing $1 million of software. He
was convicted in July 1989 and sentenced to a year in a low-security
federal prison in Lompoc, Calif.
One of his lawyers convinced the court that Mitnick had an addiction to
computers. In July 1989, after his release from prison, he was placed in a
treatment program for compulsive disorders, the Beit T'Shuvah center in
Los Angeles. During his six months there, he was prohibited from touching a
computer or modem.
That restriction was a condition of his probation when he was released in
mid-1990, and it was for reportedly violating this condition that federal
officials were pursuing him when he dropped out of sight in November 1992.
In September 1993, the California Department of Motor Vehicles also issued
a warrant for his arrest. The warrant stated that Mitnick had wiretapped
calls from FBI agents. He then used law-enforcement access codes obtained
by eavesdropping on the agents to illegally gain access the drivers'
license data base in California.
Federal law enforcement officials believe that Mitnick has conducted a
long string of computer and phone telephone network break-ins during more than
two years on the run.
And they say his ability to remain at large until now illustrates the new
challenges that law enforcement officials face in apprehending criminals
who can cloak themselves behind a curtain of forged electronic data.

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<-> Hackers in the MOB <->
*****************************************************************
According to Schmidt, the dollar amounts are only part of
the story, GTE Telemail, an electronic mail system, was broken
into by at least four gangs of hackers, he says. "They were
raising hell. The system got shut down one time for a day. None
of these people have been charged, nor have any of the 414s been
charged yet.
"We have a major problem with hackers, phreaks and thieves,"
says Schmidt, who estimates that 75% of criminal hackers are
teenagers and the other 25% are adults using teenagers to do
their dirty work for them.
"Adults are masterminding some of this activity. There are
industrial spies, people playing the stock market with the
information- just about any theft or fraud you can do with a
computer. There are no foreign agents or organized crime yet,
but it's inevitable," he says. "I believe there are some people
out there now with possible organized-crime connections.
"It's an epidemic. In practically every upper-middle class
high school this is going on. I know of a high-school computer
class in a school in the north Dallas suburbs where the kids are
trying everything they can think of to get into the CIA
computers."
"It's a strange culture," says SRI's Parker, "a rite of
passage among technology-oriented youth. The inner circle of
hackers say they do it primarily for educational purposes and for
curiosity. They want to find out what all those computers are
being used for. There's a meritocracy in the culture, each one
trying to out do the other. The one who provides the most phone
numbers and passwords to computer systems rises to the top of the
hackers.
"For the most part it's malicious mischief," Parker says.
"They rationalize that they're not really breaking any laws, just
'visiting' computers. But that's hard to believe when they also
say they've got to do their hacking before they turn 18 so they
don't come under adult jurisdiction. After 18, they have to do
it vicariously through surrogates. They are some grand old men
of hacking who egg on the younger ones... There have been some
cases of a Fagin complex- a gang of kids led by one or more
adults- in Los Angeles."
Who are the hackers and what secret knowledge do they have?
A 17-year-old youth in Beverly Hills, California, announced
himself to other hackers on a bulletin board in this way:
"Interests include exotic weapons, chemicals, nerve gases,
proprietary information from Pacific Telephone..."
Prized secret knowledge includes the two area codes in North
America that have not yet installed electronic switching system
central-office equipment. Using this information you can call
those areas and use a blue box to blow the central office
equipment, and then call anywhere in the world without charge.
Other secret information lets you avoid being traced when you do
this.
A knowledge of the phone systems lets hackers share one of
the technological privileges usually available only to large
corporate customers: long-distance conference calls connecting up
to 59 hackers. Schmidt estimates there are three or four
conference calls made every night. The hackers swap more inside
information during the phone calls.
Thanks to packet-switching networks and the fact that they
don't have to pay long-distance charfus, time and distance mean
almost nothing to hackers. Desktop microcompters hook into phone
lines via modems make it easy to obtain copyrighted software
without human intervention.
"Software piracy exists only because they can do it over the
phone long distance without paying for it," Schmidt says. "some
stuff gets sent through the mail, but very little. There are
bulletin boards that exist solely for the purpose of pirating
software. A program called ASCII Express Professional (AE Pro)
for the Apple was designed specifically for modem-to-modem
transfers. You can make a copy of anything on that computer. It
can be copyrighted stuff- WordStar, anything. There are probably
about three dozen boards like that. Some boards exchange
information on breaking onto mainframes.
"In 1982 the FBI really didn't know what to do with all this
information," Schmidt says. "There isn't a national computer-
crime statue. And unless there's $20,000 involved, federal
prosecutors won't touch it."
Since then, the public and federal prosecutors' interest has
picked up. The film War Games and the arrest of 414 group in
Milwaukee "created a lot of interest on Congress and with other
people," FBI instructor Lewis says. "But, for ourselves it didn't
really have any impact."
"We'd been providing the training already," says Jim Barko,
FBI unit chief of the EFCTU (economic and financial crimes
training unit). He says public interest may make it easier to
fight computer crime. "There are more people interested in this
particular area now as a problem. War Games identified the
problem. But I think it was just circumstantial that the movie
came out when it did."
Despite the help of knowledgeable informants like Schmidt,
tracking down hackers can be frustrating business for the FBI.
SRI's Parker explains some of the pitfalls of going after
hackers: "Some FBI agents are very discouraged about doing
something about the hacking thing. The cost of investigation
relative to the seriousness of each case is just too high," he
says. "Also, federal regulations from the Department of Justice
make it almost impossible for the FBI to deal with a juvenile."
An FBI agent cannot question a juvenile without his parents
or a guardian being present. The FBI approach has been mostly
to support lhe local police because local police are the only
ones who can deal with juveniles. Another difficulty the agency
faces is the regulations about its jurisdiction.
"There has to be an attack on a government agency, a
government contractor or a government-insured institution for the
FBI to have clear-cut jurisdiction," Parker says.
The FBI gets called into a case only after a crime has been
detected by the complaining party. The FBI has done a generally
competent job of investigating those crimes it was called in to
investigate, in Parker's view. But the federal agency's job is
not to help government or financial institutions attempt to
prevent crimes, nor is its function to detect the crimes in the
first place.
"We're not out detecting any type of crime," says Lewis.
"We like to think we can prevent them. We can make
recommendations. But do we detect bank robberies or are they
reported to us? Or kidnapping- do we detect those? Or
skyjacking? There must be some evidence of crime, a crime over
which the FBI has jurisdiction. Then we open a case." And
despite the spate of arrests and crackdowns last summer, it looks
like the FBI will have its hands full in the future: The hackers
have not gone away. Like mice running through the utility
passages of a large office building, they create damage and
inconvenience, but are tolerated as long as their nuisance
remains bearable.
That status could change at any time, however.
Meanwhile, little electronic "sting" operations similar to
Abscam keep the element of danger on the hacker's game. An Air
Force telephone network called AUTOVON (a private telephone
system connecting computers on every Air Force installation in
the world), was reportedly cracked by a hacker last last year.
The hacker published lists of AUTOVON dialups on a bulletin
board.
The breach came to the attention `oo the Department of
Defense on late 1983, but apparently nothing was done to stop the
hackers. Then, in January, the AUTOVON number was answered in a
sultry female voice. We wish to thank one and all for allowing
us to make a record of all calls for the past few months. You
will be hearing from us real soon. Have a happy New Year."
That's a New Year's message calculated to give any hacker a
chill.
-End of file-
.
DOWNLOADED FROM P-80 SYSTEMS.......

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* Originally By: Randy Edwards
* Originally To: All
* Originally Re: NEW YORK COMPUTER CRIME INDICTMENTS
* Original Area: <FIDO> U.S. News & World Report
* Forwarded by : Blue Wave v2.10
Via The NY Transfer News Service 718-448-2358, 718-448-2683
Subject: New York Computer Crime Indictments
Date: 10 Jul 92 21:14:29 EDT
From: mcmullen@well.sf.ca.us
alt.society.cu-digest Sun Jul 12 18:18:52 1992
NEW YORK, N.Y., U.S.A., 1992 JULY 9 (NB) -- Otto G. Obermaier, United
States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, has announced the
indictment of five "computer hackers" on charges of computer tampering,
computer fraud, wire fraud, illegal wire tapping and conspiracy. The
announcement was made at a press conference at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, July
8th at the Federal Court hose in Manhattan
Named in the indictment were Julio Fernandez, 18, known as the "Outlaw";
John Lee, 21, a/k/a "Corrupt"; Mark Abene, 20, a/k/a "Phiber Optik"; Elias
Ladopoulos, 22, a/k/a "Acid Phreak"; and "Paul Stira, 22, a/k/a "Scorpion."
In addition to alleged specific illegal acts involving computers, the five
individuals were also charged with conspiracy.
According to the indictment, the five were members of a group known as MOD
(standing for either "Masters of Disaster" or "Masters of Deception") and
the goal of the conspiracy was "that the members of MOD would gain access to
and control of computer systems in order to enhance their image and prestige
among other computer hackers; to harass and intimidate rival hackers and
people they did not like; to obtain telephone, credit, information, and
other services without paying for them; and to obtain. passwords, account
numbers and other things of value which they could sell to others."
The indictment defines computer hacker as "someone who uses a computer or
a telephone to obtain unauthorized access to other computers."
Obermaier stated that this investigation was "the first investigative use
of court-authorized wiretaps to obtain conversations and data transmissions
of computer hackers." He said that this procedure was essential to the
investigation and that "It demonstrates, I think, the federal government's
ability to deal with criminal conduct as it moves into new technological
areas." He added that the interception of data was possible only because the
material was in analog form and added "Most of the new technology is in
digital form and there is a pending statute in the Congress which seeks the
support of telecommunications companies to allow the federal government,
under court authorization, to intercept digital transmission. Many of you
may have read the newspaper about the laser transmission which go through
fiber optics as ernment needs the help of Congress and, indeed, the
telecommunications companies to able to intercept digital While all of those
indicted were charged with some type of unlawful access to one or more of
computer systems belonging to the following: Southwestern Bell, BT North
America, New York Telephone, ITT, Information America, TRW, Trans Union,
Pacific Bell, the University of Washington, New York University, U.S. West,
Learning Link, Tymnet and Martin Marietta Electronics Information and
Missile Group, Fernandez and Lee were also charged with selling illegally
obtained credit information to a person that later re-sold the information
to private detectives.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Fishbein announced that Morton
Rosenfeld has been indicted and pled guilty to purchasing credit information
and access codes from persons named "Julio" and "John." Fishbein said that
Rosenfeld, at the time of his arrest on December 6, 1991, has approximately
176 TRW credit reports in his possession. Rosenfeld, 21, pled guilty on June
24, 1992 and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 9th. He faces a
maximum of five years imprisonment and a fine of the greater of $250,000 or
twice the gross gain or loss incurred.
Fishbein also announced the outcome of a "separate but related court
action, Alfredo De La Fe, 18, pled guilty on June 19, 1992 to the use and
sale of telephone numbers and codes for Private Branch Exchanges (PBX's). De
La Fe said that he had sold PBX numbers belonging to Bugle Boy Industries to
a co-conspirator who used the numbers in a call-selling operation. He also
said that he and a person that he knew as "Corrupt" had made illegal long
difference conference calls. De La Fe faces the same maximum penalty as
Rosenfeld and is scheduled for sentencing on August 31st.
Among the charges against the five charged as conspirators is the
allegation that Fernandez, Lee, Abene and "others whom they aided and
abetted" performed various computer activities "that caused losses to
Southwestern Bell of approximately $370,000. When asked by Newsbytes how the
losses were calculated, Fishbein said that there was no breakdown beyond
that stated in the indictment -- "expenses to locate and replace computer
programs and other information that had been modified or otherwise
corrupted, expenses to determine the source of the unauthorized intrusions,
and expenses for new computers and security devices that were necessary to
prevent continued unauthorized access by the defendants and others whom they
aided and abetted."
In answer to a Newsbytes question concerning the appropriateness of making
an intruder into a computer system totally responsible for the cost of
adding security features "which possibly should have been there to begin
with," Obermaier said "That theory would make the burglar the safety expert
since one can't have people going around fooling around with other people's
relatively private information and then claiming that I'm doing it for their
good."
Paul Tough of Harper's Magazine followed up on the same topic by saying
"In the Craig Neidorf case a regional telephone company claimed that a
document was worth over $100,000. When it was found to be worth only $12,
the case was thrown out. In view of that, are you concerned that they
(Southwestern Bell) may have overreported? In response, Obermaier "No, we
are not concerned. It's a matter of proof and, if the accused stand trial
and have a similar experience to as happened the case you cite, not in this
district, then the results predictably will be the same." Fishbein said that
the conspiracy change carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment
while each of the other counts (there are 10 additional counts) carries a
maximum of five years imprisonment and a fine of the greater of $250,000 or
twice the gross gain or loss incurred. A single exception is a count
charging Fernandez with possessing fifteen or more unauthorized access
devices. That count carries a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment.
In response to a statement by Alex Michelini of the New York Daily News
that "What you've outlined, basically, except for the sales of credit
information, this sounds like a big prank, most of it," Obermaier said
"Really, Well, I suppose, if you can characterize that as a prank but it's
really a federal crime allowing people without authorization to rummage
through the data of other people to which they do not have access and, as I
point out to you again, the burglar cannot be your safety expert. He may be
inside and laugh at you when you come home and say that your lock is not
particularly good but I think you, if you were affected by that contact,
would be somewhat miffed"
Obermaier also said that "The message that ought to be delivered with this
indictment is that such conduct will not be tolerated, irrespective of
tensible purpose."
Obermaier also said that "The message that ought to be delivered with
this indictment is that such conduct will not be tolerated, irrespective of
the ag of the particular accused or their ostensible purpose."
Others participating in the news conference were Raymond Shaddick, United
States Secret Service assistant director - Office of Investigations; William
Y. Doran, FBI special agent in charge, New York criminal division; Scott
Charney, United States Dept. of Justice chief of computer crime unit. All
stressed the cooperation that had gone on between the various law
enforcement agencies during the investigation.
Charney told Newsbytes that, in spite of the fact that the search warrants
executed on Stira and Ladopoulos preceded those executed on Lee and
Fernandez by almost two years and that the last specific allegation against
Stira proceeds the first against Lee by 16 months and the first against
Fernandez by 21 months, there is evidence that links them together in the
conspiracy. Charney also told Newsbytes that the counts against Abene were
not related to a misdemeanor conviction in early 1991 for which he served
community service. Those indicted have been asked to present themselves at
New York Service Services headquarters at 9:00 AM on July 8th for
fingerprinting. Arraignment for the indicted is scheduled for Thursday, July
16th.
Abene told Newsbytes that while he couldn't comment on anything related to
the indictment until he obtained legal counsel, "I've been participating i
conferences with law enforcement personnel and guest lecturing to college
classes for the last year and a half. In every case, I have said how those
responsible for information about us have the responsibility to protect that
data. I have also tried to explain the great difference between a true
hacker and a person who uses computers for criminal profit. I hope that I
have increased understanding with these efforts."
(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/Press Contacts:Federico E.
Virella, Jr., United States Attorney's Office, 212 791-1955; Betty Conkling,
United States Secret Service, 212 466-4400; Joseph Valiquette, Jr, Federal
Bureau of Investigation, 212 335-2715/19920709)
-!- GoldED 2.40
! Origin: Marxists do it with CLASS. (1:128/105)
--- Blue Wave/TG v2.10 [NR]
* Origin: SYSTEM: Utility City BBS (313-299-5854) (85:871/112.0)


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Multimedia - worse than Tomorrow's Schools?
This is a column from an issue of Macworld, about the dangers of the
upcoming multimedia 'revolution'. I think it's important to be aware of
just what may lie behind the hype and marketing. Think.
With thanks to Mark Norman, who typed it all in....
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE END OF LITERATURE
Multimedia is Television's insidious offspring.
By Steven Levy
(C) 1990 Macworld Communications Inc.
Multimedia has become a certified buzzword in computerdom, so much
so that the only people who's heads don't drop to the table when that word is
intoned are those who have something to sell. At the heart of the instant
boredom concerning this presumably exciting concept is overhype. The
promise of multimedia is just a little too far ahead of what Macintoshes
(and other PC's, including those of IBM, a company also touting multimedia
as the platform of the future) can presently deliver. And besides, in the
mantra-like repetition of the word, its definition has fuzzed to the point of
near-meaningless. What is multimedia, anyway? Should we care?
We should care very much. Because despite its vague beginnings,
multimedia is just as potent as its myriad promoters say it is. The forces of
history almost dictate that it will succeed, and in the not-distant future,
multimedia will be so easy to produce that it will be pandemic as a means
of communication.
But no one, at least to my knowledge, has anticipated the potentially
disastrous effects of multimedia's success. So please say you read it here
first: multimedia will hasten the end of literacy. Despite the fact that its
promoters are almost universally well intentioned, multimedia's lasting
legacy will be the debasement of the remaining forms of communication in
this country that have not already been debased by the perpetually widening
gyre of television.
Tale of the Tube
First of all, let's consider the nature of multimedia. Once you strip it
bare of its considerable pretensions, multimedia is essentially one thing:
computer applications that aspire to being television. Once you add video-
quality images, high resolution animation, and high-fidelity sound to
computer files, you've got your MTV. That's why some folks are calling this
Desktop MTV. (Wimps call it Desktop Media - same difference.) Presumably,
these multimedia capabilities aid the user in communicating and learning.
But this is a different form of communication we're talking about,
something that, according to Business Week magazine, "could change the
way people work, learn and play." How is multimedia different? With colours
and pictures and noises and motion, it's oriented not to the mind, but to the
senses and the gut - like television. Multimedia disregards the previous
communications paradigm: the person as reporter, blending logic, language
and perhaps illustrative charts in order to inform or compel. The new
paradigm sees the user as a television director, most often one who works
in the advertising business.
The result is a debasement of content, because the language of
television, as convincingly argued by New York University professor Neil
Postman in his book "Amusing Ourselves to Death" (Penguin, 1985), is
inherently incapable of promoting complex discourse - style _always_
overwhelms substance. Postman writes, "Television's conversations
promote incoherence and triviality...the phrase 'serious television' is a
contradiction in terms...and television speaks in only one persistent voice -
the voice of entertainment."
Entertainment, of course, is the bottom line of multimedia. Just
listen to its promoters. (Most of them are marketing men like John Sculley.)
Invariably they describe these innovative modes of expression as "exciting"
or - the most common description of all - "sexy". These adjectives are
applied regardless of the content of the concepts or facts to be processed
through the multimedia mill. Multimedia deals solely with the style in
which information is conveyed. Thoughts are permitted, but they can't look
like thoughts - you have to dress them up like showgirls. Sooner or later you
realise that you communicate more effectively in this medium if you ditch
complex thoughts altogether.
The ethos of multimedia was unwittingly expressed recently in a New
York Times op-ed piece written by Robert W. Pittman, the television
executive who created MTV. He argues, in essence, that the postwar
generation of so-called TV babies have grown accustomed to, indeed are
entitled to, the short-term, emotion-geared, nonintellectually engaging
forms of discourse exemplified by television news and music video clips.
Pittman suggested that politicians and educators should use even more of
this form of communication. He wasn't speaking of computers, but
multimedia fits right into his vision: it stretches the ability of computers
to cater to the short attention spans and nonlinear thinking processes of
nonliterate TV babies. Thus we face a future where our business reports and
school papers aspire to the communicative standards of a Def Leppard clip
in MTV heavy rotation.
Will It Fly?
We see a good example of this TV baby communication in the
justifiably excoriated Apple advertising campaign in which some would-be
geniuses in some corporation hatch the idea of a "helocar," and proceed to
convince their bosses to give the project a thumbs-up. What bothers me
about the ads is that by using multimedia to illustrate the concept - making
a kinetic report chock-full of exploding charts and flying vehicles - the
main effort is spent not in doing the hard work of figuring out whether or
not the thing will literally fly, but in creating the sexy images that will get
their bosses all heated up about the concept. What makes the workers
successful is not the idea, but the flashy presentation. Who cares whether
the helocar makes financial sense? Look at it fly!
Essentially, the ad campaign views workers, even engineers, as
marketers whose job it is to sell ideas to their superiors. That may be a
valid interpretation of part of an engineer's job, but placing the heavy
artillery of Madison Avenue in the hands of an engineer will likely do much
more harm to the process than good. Those tools are effective precisely
because of their ability to bypass logic and access emotion. The victory goes
to the engineer who can make the best commercial - not the best vehicle.
This process almost guarantees that choices will be made on
irrelevant criteria. To quote Neil Postman again, "The commercial disdains
exposition, for that takes time and invites argument. It is a very bad
commercial indeed that engages the viewer in wondering about the validity
of the point being made...Moreover, commercials have the advantage of vivid
visual signals through which we may easily learn the lessons being taught.
Among those lessons are that short and simple messages are preferable to
long and complex ones; that drama is to be preferred over exposition; that
being sold solutions is better than being confronted with questions about
problems."
This is what we want to introduce as the standard means of
communicating? Obviously, yes. Catherine Nunes, in charge of multimedia in
Apple's publishing, presentation and audio visual markets, told me that it
was "very likely" that the writing tools of the future would be able to
process sound and video images as well as words.
Lowering Higher Ed.
If multimedia in business isn't bad enough, consider the potential
effects of multimedia in education. Here again, this platform is being touted
as a beneficial revolution. No on has bothered to ask, "What are we
revolting against?" The answer, of course, is reading and writing. Implicit
in all the hype about multimedia is the premise that language alone just
doesn't cut it. Those still nourished by this antiquarian activity may argue
that the ability to express oneself in words, and to understand the words of
others, is essential to the process of thinking. But multimedia laughs at
that objection - because multimedia, like its progenitor, television, is
designed to entertain, at the cost of thinking.
Let's look at a multimedia project geared to the education market: the
ABC-TV products that utilise television news footage of important events,
such as the presidential elections, or the Middle East crisis. Presumably the
product's purpose is to amplify the failings of the written word. As Doug
Doyle, Apple's manager of multimedia solutions for higher education, puts
it, "Traditionally, we thought that information resides in the library - in
books. But that's not true any more." Multimedia is a way to capture that
information and, as Doyle says, "add value" to it by including it in the
learning process.
That seems to make some sense, but is the gain sufficient to
overcome the danger that the images will overwhelm everything else? Take
the ABC product dealing with the Middle East. Presumably, by interacting
with a multilinked set of video clips loaded with key images and sound bites
from the Holy Land, the student gets a deeper understanding of the situation.
Actually, since the language of television is the main form of
communication here, and the student is encouraged to browse the material
by accessing a subject here and a subject there, a lack of context is almost
guaranteed. Some of the clips are quite dramatic but lack a full explanation
of the circumstances under which they were taped.
In order to get full use of the system, each student needs to spend
unhurried time with a Macintosh, a video monitor, and a laser disc player.
(Apparently one advantage of multimedia over book learning is that the
former generates significantly higher revenues.) Once installed before a
machine, students are encouraged to create their own reports on the system.
Drawing on the culture of TV babies, these reports are not driven by
language or reasoning, but by the accumulation of vivid images. The students
are literally asked to perform the function of a television news producer,
splicing clips together for maximum impact. And clever students will soon
learn, as clever television producers understand all to well, the facts of
dealing in a visual medium: one dramatic image, even if misleading,
communicates more effectively than an interesting idea without a
compelling picture accompanying it. It's history by sound bite. Doug Doyle of
Apple insists that responsible teachers will prevent this from happening,
but in light of our national experience with television - which has
trivialised literature to sitcoms and transformed our politicians into
pitchmen - this seems rather optimistic.
If Books Could Talk.
Recently I spent a session with Marc Canter and John Scull, the two
key executives of MacroMind. They guided me through an impressive tour of
their newest version of Director, a program designed to enliven information,
multimedia style. Canter was frank in admitting that, given the present
state of computer power, the only way Director and other powerful
multimedia tools can be implemented is in expensive machines with
relatively hard-to-use applications. Even so, those who do this type of work
anyway - art directors and advertising people and television graphics folks
- will currently find a Macintosh to be a cost-effective tool. I see no
problem at all with lowering the cost of tools to people already involved in
this form of show business, and MacroMind is doing honourable work in this
regard. Likewise I think that multimedia capabilities have real value when
used in areas such as scientific visualisation.
But Canter and Scull were both gushing about the not-too-distant day
when our Macintoshes will be more powerful, and their software will be as
simple to use as a Nintendo machine. At that time, they guess reasonably,
multimedia will be as accessible to ordinary users as, say, word processing
is to people today. That will be the day when multimedia will be utilised in
many instances where previously, logical communication sufficed quite
nicely - except for the fact that one had to be literate to participate. Marc
Canter believes that ultimately, multimedia will make significant inroads
in replacing the beleaguered holdouts of communication, those dinosaurs
that refuse to yield to pictures and sound...you know, books.
Earlier, Canter and I had been talking about my current book project.
As with the previous ones, I proceed with my research on the assumption
that any images I collect in addition to the the realms of written and spoken
material I gather will be conveyed only by my language. The finished project
will be a bound stack of pages consisting of words, accessed a page at a
time. Canter is convinced this process will be improved upon. "Steve," he
said, bursting with enthusiasm, "I really believe that ten years from now
you won't be writing a book in that traditional way. In ten years, books won't
be written only in text - they'll be done with sound and video and images,
and people will access it by links, not start to finish."
Multimedia fulfilled: a world where sensory input is king. Where
writing is replaced by "authoring." Where the techniques of sneaker ads "add
value" to charts and spreadsheets, and a thousand words die with every
picture. Words we could have used. Words that bind a reader and a writer,
words that bear rereading, words that when carefully unraveled detonate
fireworks inside the mind and change lives.
Canter couldn't have meant this, could he? Yet, he said it - within a
decade, books are going multimedia.
"What you don't understand, Mark," I said to him, "is that you're
describing my nightmare."
________________________________________________________________________
Steven Levy is a Macworld columnist and author of "The Unicorn's Secret:
Murder in the Age of Aquarius" (NAL, 1989).


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*****************************************************************************
* *
* Tarkin Darklighter *
* *
* Presents: *
* *
* The NASA Hackers *
* *
* September 16, 1987 *
*****************************************************************************
* Call: DSF Devestator (214) 581-7565 Supporting the IIgs. *
*****************************************************************************
This was in the newspaper today, and in the interest of keeping the
phreak/hack world informed, here is the article:
WASHINGTON -- Computer hackers in West Germany broke into a NASA
computer network that contains technical information from space shuttle
flights and were able to manipulate the data stored there, a West German news
report said Tuesday.
NASA, responding to the report, said its computer-security system
detected three electronic break-ins in August, at least one of which came
from West Germany. Spokesmen for the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration downplayed the significance of the incident, saying the
network contained postflight technical data from the space shuttle, none of
which was classified.
The hackers reportedly gained access to information by asking the NASA
computers for information under such keywords as "shuttle," "challenger," and
"secret."
The NASA network is one of hundreds operated by groups around the world
as a means of sharing information. The networks are linked to the telephone
system, and authorized users can gain access after connecting their computers
to a phone line. In most cases, a user needs only to know the networks'
telephone number and a password or access code.
Computer-security experts say it is impossible to make a computer
network immune to break-in by hackers, computer enthusiasts who like the
challenge of dialing into computer systems without authorization.
Persistence, logic, and clever computer programs allow hackers to break
access codes and find passwords.
Stringency of access to NASA networks varies depending on the degree of
risk posed by unathorized access, an agency statement said. All the networks
are routinely monitored and attempted break-ins -- which are fairly common --
are investigated, the NASA statement said.

970
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<The following transcript of Craig Neidorf's trial was provided
by his legal counsel, to whom we are indebted. The page numbers
correspond to transcript pagination. The document was retyped by CuD,
and cross-checked against the original. A spell checker removed
spelling errors, and if any of these errors appeared in the original,
they too were removed.>
********************************************************************
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, .
Plaintiff, . 90 CR 70
.
.
v. . Chicago, Illinois
.
CRAIG NEIDORF, . Tuesday,
Defendant. . July 24, 1990
.
. 10:10 a.m.
.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
VOLUME ONE
TRANSCRIPT OF JURY TRIAL PROCEEDINGS
BEFORE THE HONORABLE NICHOLAS J. BUA
AND A JURY
PRESENT:
For the Government: THE HONORABLE IRA H. RAPHAELSON,
United States Attorney, by
WILLIAM J. COOK
COLLEEN D. COUGHLIN
DAVID A. GLOCKNER
Assistant United States Attorneys
219 South Dearborn Street
Fifteenth Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60604
For Defendant: SHELDON T. ZENNER
Katten, Muchin and Zavis
525 West Monroe Street
Suite 1600
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Case Agent: TIMOTHY M. FOLEY
Special Agent
United States Secret Service
Court Reporter: Agnes M. Thorne
Official Court Reporter
- 2 -
(Twelve jurors and four alternate jurors sworn to try
issues.)
(Following proceedings transpired out of the presence of the
jury:)
MR. COOK: Judge, we have two short issues to bring up. The
government, obviously, understands the court's rulings on the First
Amendment mistake of law. We are in a bit of a quandary in terms of
the best way to argue that or front that with the jury during our
openings. Does the court anticipate giving an instruction as to the
law of mistake of law with respect to this either before Mr. Zenner
talks or at the conclusion of the case?
THE COURT: At the conclusion of the case in written instructions
to the jury.
MR. COOK: And that would be along the lines that it is not a
defense to this violation mistake of law.
THE COURT: That we will decide at the conference on jury
instructions.
MR. COOK: All right.
THE COURT: Mistake of law is no defense. I think we can agree
to that.
MR. ZENNER: No.
THE COURT: We can't?
MR. ZENNER: Wait. We agreed that the First Amendment is no
defense. Mistake of law is a defense to a specific intent crime.
MR. COOK: That's enough. That's enough for me to make my
- 3 -
Cook -- opening statement
opening.
THE COURT: Is that enough?
Mr. Cook: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay. What else?
MR. COOK: Also, Mr. Zenner is indicating that he wants to
argue about the videotapes or make some presentation about the
videotapes in his opening remarks. Those are irrelevant.
THE COURT: What is the nature of those videotapes?
MR. ZENNER: It is very simple. On one of the dates charged
in the indictment, the exact date, in fact, the exact date charged
in the indictment in Count Two, the date the scheme was supposed to
start, Mr. Neidorf was surreptitiously videotaped by the Secret
Service at SummerCon '88, the hacker convention.
THE COURT: Okay, now I recall.
MR. ZENNER: That is the subject of that. The fact that he is on
videotape for 15 hours on the date he is supposed to have committed
the crime in the midst of a supposed conspiracy with some
of the other people who are on videotape I expect to mention,
albeit very briefly, probably ten seconds worth in an opening,
well, maybe thirty seconds worth in an opening, that he was
videotaped on that day, a date charged in the indictment, and that
the worst thing they saw him do or talk about when he was with these
people he is supposedly conspiring with is to drink a beer, order
a pizza. I mean, that's it. They have a the videotape in the middle
of this scheme with his coschemers.
- 4 -
Cook -- opening statement
THE COURT: And what's the problem with that?
MR. GLOCKNER: Judge, we went through all this before on the
discovery motions. And your Honor agreed with the government that
(a) the fact that the defendant is videotaped not committing a
crime is not relevant to whether or not on some other occasion
he did.
Second, as we argued in the earlier filings with your Honor,
he is not charged with holding SummerCon, with participating
in SummerCon...
THE COURT: You will object to the entry in evidence of that
videotape?
MR. GLOCKNER: Absolutely.
THE COURT: The objection will be sustained.
MR. GLOCKNER: Thank you.
THE COURT: What else?
MR. COOK: Nothing else, Judge.
MR. ZENNER: With respect to the videotape, I accept the court's
ruling that the videotape will not be introduced, but I can
certainly refer to the fact that he was videotaped, and I can ask the
agent that, and I intend to ask the agent who investigated this case:
"On a date charged in the indictment..." Mr. Cook is going to show
that. He is going to say, "On July 22, 1988, my client committed
a wire fraud". He's going to tell them to convict him of that.
On that date, he's on videotape for fifteen hours with the Secret
Service looking at him, and he doesn't do anything of the sort.
He's meeting with his coschemers...he's meeting with his
coconspirators.
- 5 -
Cook -- opening statement
THE COURT: And you will seek to introduce the videotape to
show that he couldn't have committed the crime on that date?
MR. ZENNER: All I want to be able to do is to cross-examine
Agent Foley on that.
THE COURT: Well, you might be able to cross the agent
depending on what his direct testimony is. Those issues...
MR. ZENNER: It is a date charged in the scheme. I have a hard
time imagining how I can't cross.
THE COURT: Mr. Zenner, you can make the opening statements, and
if there is an objection, I will sustain it. Okay.
MR. ZENNER: All right.
THE COURT: What else?
MR. COOK: Nothing.
THE COURT: Bring in the jury please.
(Jury present at 10:20 a.m.)
THE COURT: Good morning ladies and gentlemen.
JURORS: Good morning.
THE COURT: Please be seated.
Mr. Cook, is the government prepared to make its opening
statement?
MR. COOK: Yes, Judge.
THE COURT: Very well.
MR. COOK: Thank you.
_OPENING STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT_
MR. COOK: Good Morning, ladies and gentlemen.
- 6 -
Cook -- opening statement
JURORS: Good morning.
MR. COOK: My name is Bill Cook. I'm an Assistant United States
Attorney. I am going to be substantially aided in this prosecution
by Colleen Coughlin, who is an Assistant United States Attorney, and
Dave Glockner, who is also an Assistant United States Attorney. We
will be having Special Agent Tim Foley of the United States Secret
Service working with us. He is sitting at the trial table with us.
In 1876, the first telephone communication ever made was:
"Mr. Watson, come here, I want you".
That was also the very first emergency telephone call ever made.
Since that time, the telephone company has, obviously, sophisticated
their operation to a large degree so that where we stand today in
1990, we are the beneficiaries of what is known as the Enhanced 911
system. That system is a life line for every person certainly in the
Southern Bell region of the United States. It's taken for granted.
It is an extensively developed system. You're going to hear a great
deal of information about the development of that system and the
architecture that that system is based upon. It is built on
computers from bottom to top.
In 1988, a road map to that computer system, that life
line, was stolen from a computer in Atlanta, Georgia, by a man
by the name of Robert Riggs, who is a member of an organization
known as the Legion of Doom.
That document, with its proprietary markings, its warnings
- 7 -
Cook -- opening statement
on it, and the clear indications that it was the property of
BellSouth, was transferred electronically to Mr. Craig Neidorf, the
defendant here, seated right here.
Mr. Riggs is a hacker, a person that breaks into
computers. He answers to no one but his own ability to get into
those computers.
We anticipate that the evidence will show that in February
of 1989, Mr. Neidorf published that extensive road map to the
life line of the entire hacker community so far as he was able to
determine it and define it.
In many respects, I submit to you that this is not going
to be a, "Whodunit", or "What was done?".
There are two sets of violations charged in the indictment.
Very briefly, they are the interstate transportation of stolen
property and what is referred to in legal jargon as a wire fraud.
With respect to the interstate transportation of stolen
property, the evidence will show that Mr. Neidorf admitted to
receiving the stolen property, the stolen E911 text file from Robert
Riggs. He further admitted to Agent Foley that at the time he
received the document, he knew it was stolen.
With respect to the wire fraud the evidence will show
that the wire fraud was really an outgrowth of what you are going to
be hearing about and what will be described as the Phoenix Project,
an effort by Mr. Neidorf to consolidate a group of hackers.
The object of that wire fraud scheme was extensive, but it
- 8 -
Cook -- opening statement
included providing hackers with information about how to crack into
other people's computers, soliciting them to try to provide him
articles, articles for his publication PHRACK newsletter which
he would then distribute to other hackers.
The evidence will also show that Mr. Riggs knew of the
hacker activities, the break-ins that were occurring as he would
follow along with their activities. In that respect, he was almost
a "hacker groupie", except a groupie that sought to be in control and
direct many of the operations. He received stolen property, property
stolen from computers, stored on computers.
Now, just one more set of observations about the indictment
and the format of the indictment, and then I'll move on to what
some of our more immediate concerns might be.
(Chart) Does everybody see that? One juror I know can't
see the bottom.
THE COURT: Can all the jurors now see that?
JURORS: Yes.
MR. Cook: Mr. Neidorf is charged in each count of the indictment,
except for the first count here. The coding here is this is the
second count of the indictment on down to Count Eleven. These
are the approximate dates that the violations or the activities
occured that are alleged in the indictment.
Specifically, in the second, the second count of the
indictment alleges that on July 22, 1988 as part of the wire fraud
scheme, Mr. Neidorf generated an issue of PHRACK World News in which
- 9 -
Cook -- opening statement
he announced the instigation of the Phoenix Project, the Phoenix
Project because it had been a year since the 1987, in their parlance,
collapse of the computer world by virtue of a series of law
enforcement raids. Mr. Neidorf announced here that he wanted the hacker
community to come together again to be more effective than ever.
The next activity is the third count of the indictment,
September 19, 1988, a wire fraud allegation again, E-mail,
electronic mail, generated from Mr. Neidorf to Mr. Riggs and
Mr. Scott O, a computer hacker.
This electronic mail, this electronic mail here also,
these are efforts by Mr. Neidorf reaching out to consolidate,
identify and pull together a group of hackers that he could be
working with for the publication of PHRACK, people that would supply
him with information and articles, and, as it turned out, people that
in fact, supplied him with stolen information, stolen from computers.
These allegations refer more directly to the interstate
transportation and movement and file transfers of the E911 text file.
Count Seven refers to the publication of a series of
computer articles that deal with how to break into a UNIX operating
system.
Counts Eight and Nine refer to the text file being sent from
Neidorf back to Riggs, from Neidorf in Missouri to Riggs who was
physically in Atlanta, but who used the bulletin board, computer
bulletin board, in Lockport, Illinois, sending it back for review and
to make sure that Neidorf had done an adequate job of concealing the
- 10 -
Cook -- opening statement
nature of the file fro the point of view not the contents so much
of the file, but concealing where Riggs had stolen it from to protect
Riggs, and, to a large degree, to protect himself so that it couldn't
be identified exactly where the document had been stolen from.
Finally, we have the publication of the E911 text file in
the PHRACK newsletter by Mr. Neidorf.
you will be seeing the indictment in the jury room as you
deliberate. This is just an overview to give you an overfocus of
where the allegations are going to fall and the types of information
that you are going to be hearing about.
Now, if I were you, if I were you, I would be sitting
there, as some of you may be, thinking to myself, "What have I gotten
myself in for? He's talking about computers. He's talking about
operating systems. Whooooaaaa!"
First of all, you don't need to be a computer user, or a
computer ace, to understand what this case is going to be about. It
really deals with, in its most essential form, stealing property and
transferring property, the interstate transportation of stolen
property. So it's a simple stealing and a simple fraudulent
taking, taking by deception. But it just involves some relatively
high-tech tools. Don't let the tools confuse you from the fact of the
taking and the bottom-line information. I'm telling you to relax
about the computer jargon.
There are several concepts that we're going to be talking
about here. What I'm going to give you is a kind of a lawyer's
- 11 -
Cook -- opening statement
description. That is supposed to let you know that it is far from
an expert's opinion on some of the things you're going to be hearing.
(Blackboard) Well, let's talk about some of the technology
that's involved, and see if we can't make ourselves more comfortable
with it.
I referred to the UNIX operating system. UNIX...U-N-I-X.
What is that? Well, computers speak a language. Computers speak
the language that the people that built the computer want them to
speak, or they speak the language that the people that run the
computer want it to speak. Sometimes computers can be set up so that
you can have them speak several different languages. UNIX is just a
language. It is just the language that the computer speaks. It
talks UNIX. Some of you talk about MS/DOS. It's a microsoft disk
operating system. Forget it! It's just the language that the
computer speaks.
(Blackboard) Now, this is a theft of information. You are
gong to be coming in contact with the concept that when you take
information from a computer, what you really do is you order the
computer to make a duplicate original o what its memory is or what
it contains with respect to that particular item. And when you are
asking the computer to send that information to you, you are doing a
file transfer. I'll get to that later. You are just telling the
computer to send it to you. What the computer sends to you is a
copy. It's an exact copy in every respect of the original
information on the computer.
- 12 -
Cook -- opening statement
So the value of the property comes from the fact that it
contains information. There is an expression that, "Information is
power". It is only power if it's communicated. That's where the
value of information comes from in our society.
Certain types of information are protected by companies.
They are reasonably protected by companies, especially when they
become sensitive. The E911 road map and the information about where
all the stops along the way are, that was a sensitive piece of
information. You're going to be hearing about the protections that
BellSouth put on that information, and the efforts that they made to
safeguard it. So when the information is stolen, what is stolen is a
copy of the information. You will be receiving further instructions
>from the judge on all that. So it is the information that is being
stolen.
(Blackboard) Now, the next concept--I talked about
protection--file transfers. File transfers. Here's a riddle for you:
"Why is a file transfer the same as a high
school graduation?"
Here's the answer. When you hear about this, think about a high
school graduation. They call your name from the audience. You come
up to the stirs, probably by the path that the nun ordered you to
take to get to the stage, and you had better not vary from the path.
You follow that route up to the stage, across the stage, and a file
transfer takes place at center stage in the auditorium. You reach
out, you shake hands with the principal, and with the other hand,
after you have shaken hands with the principal, you receive your
- 13 -
Cook -- opening statement
diploma, or you receive your information, you receive your file.
That's really all a file transfer is on a computer. You come up,
you are ordered, someone in a remote location, the principal in this
case, calls your name, you come up to the stage, you are the
computer on one side and he is the computer on the other side. You
shake hands. And in the computer world, all that means is that you
are able to communicate. It's actually called that. It is called a
"handshake relationship" with another computer. There are some other
words, like "protocol" and things like that, but, really, it is just
a handshake relationship with another computer.
After the handshake is there and the principal recognizes
you to be the problem kid that he's glad to get rid of--he didn't
like you--then he gives you the file. That's the file transfer. It
is no different transferring information from one computer to
another.
(Blackboard) Computer network. Well, that is probably a
pretty easy concept to get hold of these days. It is really not much
different than with your televisions, especially if you have cable
television where you have some designated programming and it comes in
to your machine, your television in this case. Of course, the
difference is with cable television as opposed to a computer, with
the computer you are able to have more of an interchange with the TV
and what is going on with the program. So don't be concerned about
the network idea. Keep in mind the idea of a cable coming into your
computer as part of a centralized system. That is really all the
- 14 -
Cook -- opening statement
network is, a series of computers joined together.
In the case of BellSouth, you are going to see that that is
a very expensive computer network. In order to provide service to
their customers, they hang a lot of computers on that network,
computers that do different things, computers that keep track of
where the people that are using the phones are at, computers that
keep track of what telephone number goes with what address, computers
that keep track of the switches, the computer switches. Now,
that's another concept I'll talk about for a second.
(Chart) When people think of computer switches, they
are telephone switches. The concept of a lady at the switchboard
always comes to mind with a knob here that goes to a hole up here,
connecting one person to another person. Today, all of that is done
by high-speed computers, high-speed switches. They are electrical.
Because they are electrical, they are referred to as ESS. All this
means is an electronic switch. This is a computer. This computer
has the memory of how to get the numbers that are diales to the
phone that corresponds with those numbers. These computers also have
the information about how to get your call all the way across the
country, which route are we going to take to get there, which
road are we going to take.
The Enhanced 911 system was built on these computers.
Part of the reason was because of the high speed that is involved.
You can get the emergency call through faster if it goes like thing.
Now, the switches at various areas: Switch 1, Switch 2.
- 15 -
Cook -- opening statement
This is the first switch we produced, Switch 1. And the second
switch we produced, Switch 2. The fifth switch, Switch 5.
When they increased the capabilities of those switches, the
way they kept track of which switch they were talking about was to
label the switches: 1 or 1A, 2, 3, 4, 5, a fairly easy way to keep
track of the switch development. But the idea is that all electronic
switches operate essentially the same. So if you have the key to
get into this (indicating), you have the keys to get into them all.
The evidence will show that the hackers in the BellSouth
Region had the keys to get into them for a period of time.
Now, another question, a riddle:
"Why is computer security like a hotel?"
Mr. Garcia is going to be explaining that to you. Actually, it's a
lot like staying in a private hotel.
In the case of the computers at BellSouth, the computers
that drive the E911 system and support the phone company system
aren't known to the public. They are unpublished numbers. They
have their own network. The network, to be sure, has interlinks
with the private sector and can be reached by field people in the
telephone company, but it is really a closed system. It is designed
to be for protection.
So the hotel, the computer, is not known to the outside
world. Where the door is is not known to the outside world. When
you walk into the hotel, it's like if you try to walk into a hotel
in downtown Chicago. If you go to the desk and ask them, you know,
- 16 -
Cook -- opening statement
"I want to have Joe Jones' room".
Well, first of all you say:
"I want to see Mr. Jones."
"Well, we can't tell you if he's here."
"Well, if you tell me he's here, I want
to talk to him. I want to speak to him.
Give me his room number.
"Well, we're not going to give you
his room number. You are going to
have to call him on the house phone
and he'll have to verify that you're
somebody he knows."
So there are a series of checks that are set up inside the system.
But once you get inside the hotel, you can make contact with Jones.
And you will see, just as in real life, you have a number of people
at one hotel. You will have people going back and forth in the
hotel. And the person that runs the hotel assumes that they're all
there for good valid reasons. He's not going to do anything but
just a cursory check to make sure that everything is still in order.
It is really the same thing and the same principle is
involved if you are the system administrator on one of these
computers. You are in the position, in the shoes, of the hotel
operator, the guy that runs the hotel or the lady that runs the
hotel. You make sure that the right people show the right
credentials to get in and you exercise and upfront control. You also
exercise control over some of the common spaces. You make sure the
halls are lit. You make sure that things aren't being badly
destroyed to the best of your knowledge, although you don't know always
- 17 -
Cook -- opening statement
what's going on inside each of the rooms. It's very much the same.
So when you hear a person talk about running a system or computer
system security, think to the analogy of being a hotel operator.
We have a man, Mr. Garcia, from BellSouth, who will be testifying
to that and to that analogy, and I think you'll find it most
interesting.
(Blackboard) Text file. You will hear a lot about that.
That is probably a new term for you when you walked in: text file.
Just think of it as a book or a pamphlet stored on a computer.
That's it. That's the end of the mystery. A book or a pamphlet
stored on a computer. But because it is stored on a computer, it
can be copied if you can get into the computer. That's what
happened here.
(Blackboard) BBS. It means bulletin board system.
Sometimes it will have a "C" in front of it. All that means is
computer bulletin board system.
Now, here's my analogy to that. The computer bulletin
board system is a lot like a private high school where you have to
have permission to get in the front door. And the people that run
the high school have to give you permission to get into their
private location. But once you get into their private high school
and as you walk through, one of the first things that meets you as
you walk into the private high school is a bulletin board with
messages posted on it. And what you will also see along the sides of
it are going to be lockers, student lockers.
- 18 -
Cook -- opening statement
The principal bulletin board that you are going to be
hearing about during the course of this case is the Jolnet bulletin
board in Lockport, Illinois. The Jolnet bulletin board in Lockport,
Illinois, acted as a central clearing house for the information that
was being sent from Riggs in Atlanta to Neidorf in Missouri.
To carry the analogy a little further, the evidence is
going to show that Riggs used the bulletin board. He used it under
a false name which he used to disguise his real identity. He use it
under the name of Robert Johnson instead of Robert Riggs. He had
authorization to use the bulletin board section where you post
messages generally, and he also had a storage locker on the bulletin
board, on of those lockers along the wall in a high school, where he
thought he could safely store the text file, the E911 text file that
he had stolen. The evidence is going to be, though, that law
enforcement, Hank Kluepfel, found out about it. Mr. Kluepfel's
efforts to get into and to use Jolnet in that storage area will be
testified by Mr. Kluepfel. But the only thing we need to remember
here at this point is that the information was stored in Lockport,
Illinois. That is where the private high school is located. It was
stored in the locker of a private high school in Lockport.
But because computer technology is the way it is, Riggs is
able to transfer the file by E-mail or a file transfer down to
Neidorf in the computers at the University of Missouri. Again, this
analogy is not quite the same as the bulletin board, but the
University of Missouri has a capability there at the university to
- 19 -
Cook -- opening statement
allow students to have essentially a locker on their computer system
where Neidorf generated PHRACK Magazine from.
Just a final note of reassurance. As we go through the
evidence here, we are going to try to have the witnesses explain as
each step progresses what the technology is again. So hang in there
and listen with an open mind, as I know you will anyhow, listen to
the explanations of the technology.
(Chart) The evidence in this case is going to show that
the text file that was stolen here described in vivid detail each of
the locations along the E911 path to an emergency call. It's going
to show and it did show the central location and the central
significance of two places. When an emergency call is made in the
BellSouth area, BellSouth region--it is really the area
geographically that southerners describe as "Ol' Dixie"--when an
emergency call is made there, it goes to a thing called a PSAP, public
safety access point. The public safety access point is the one that
is in direct communication on secure lines with the fire, police, and
ambulance.
Under the old 911 system, the old emergency dialing
system, the call would come in, and they would have to trace it back
to the origin in many cases. You have a situation potentially where
someone would call, perhaps a child, and say, "My dad's hurt", and
before the operator could talk to the child, they hang up the phone.
The child, of course, figures, "Well, I called them. I told them y
dad was hurt. They'll e here". So it is, obviously, not that
easy. Under the old 911 system, a complicated tracing procedure had
- 20 -
Cook -- opening statement
to be established. They had to try to find out where the call had
come from, and it's all done in an emergency posture.
Now comes Enhanced 911. You will hear the lady that is
operating that system, or operated it for the balance of time
involved in this case. You will also hear from the man, Richard
Helms, that brought all the pieces together for the bellSouth
region, and put them in one central location so that all the phone
companies supporting the 911 system, the Enhanced 911 system, would
all be on board and be working with the same game plan, never thinking
that that game plan was going to be over over to hackers.
The Enhanced 911 gives you this capability within
three to five seconds of the time that the person picks up an
emergency call and that 911 is entered in, sometimes even before the
person at the public safety access point can pick up the phone. The
computers that drive the 911 system have done this: They have gone,
in this case, to the remote location in Sunrise, Florida, where the
back-up systems and the support systems for the control, the
maintenance and the operation of 911 are kept, and it has pulled up
all kinds of information about the person making the call.
When the person picks up the phone, it's connected wit police,
fire and ambulance. They have a TV monitor in front of them or a
computer monitory, if you will, which has all kinds of information.
It has the name of the caller or the people that the are known to be at the
calling address. It will have location information with respect to
where the closest department is, fire department, police department,
- 21 -
Cook -- opening statement
to that person. It will also contain information in their computer
storage banks about special problems that may exist. If it's a
business, if it's a business involving chemicals, the fact that those
chemicals are explosive will be reflected on that screen. If it is a
private home, if there is a handicapped person there, it will be
reflected on that screen. And it's all done within a matter of three
to five seconds. They have it captured there. That is what
Enhanced 911 is about. That's the system that Robert Riggs stole:
how that all works together, and how the computers at BellSouth
support that kind of capability, consistent with the telephone
company's long history, going back to that first phone call,
"watson, I want you", their tradition of providing emergency services
as the first priority of the phone system.
You will be hearing from essentially three groups of
witnesses. You will be hearing from people at bellSouth that will
tell you about the steps taken to protect the system. They will tell
you about the way the file was defined. They will also tell you that
at the same time that they were having these problems with 911 in
terms of the los of the file, at the same window, they recognized
that there was a larger problem throughout the network as a result
of hacker intrusions, that there were a series of bellSouth
computers along the network that had been attacked or were under
attack. Some of those computers included the ESS switches. They
recognized that the Enhanced 911 theft was a symptom of a disease.
The disease was the hackers into switches, and they took remedial
- 22 -
Cook -- opening statement
steps. They started out slowly to try to identify it, and then they
rapidly expanded, trying to solve the disease along with the problem
of E911. So you will hear from the BellSouth people.
You are also going to be hearing from three members of the
Legion of Doom, three hackers. You're going to be hearing from
Robert Riggs, Frank Darden and Adam Grant. They have hacker
handles. These hacker handles sometimes seem to get to be a little
on the colorful side, a little bit like "CB" handles.
You are going to be hearing the testimony of the hackers.
You're going to be hearing the testimony of Robert Riggs who will
testify that Mr. Neidorf had been after him to give him information
to put into PHRACK, this hacker newsletter. That when Riggs had
broken into the AIMS-X computer in BellSouth, he saw on that AIMX-X
computer at BellSouth the 911 text file. You're going to hear that
he contacted Neidorf in advance, that in that advance conversation or
communication, he advised Neidorf that he had the text file, he was
sending him the text file to put in PHRACK, that he had gotten it
>from an unauthorized account that he had on the BellSouth computer.
Essentially, what he told Neidorf is, "This is a stolen piece of
material you're getting".
He indicated to Neidorf and Neidorf agreed...first, he
agreed to take the stolen property, and he agreed to disguise the
identity of the stolen property to some degree so that it wouldn't
run off on Riggs. Riggs' name wouldn't appear on the file when it was
published in PHRACK. He would try to disguise some of the
- 23 -
Cook -- opening testimony
indiations that it was stolen from the BellSouth area...Neidorf
would. You will hear evidence that that is exactly what Neidorf did
to some degree or another.
You will hear evidence bout Neidorf seeing and noting the
proprietary warnings that made it clear that this was stolen
property belonging to BellSouth. He even made a joke of it. He put a
little, "Whoops"next to it when he sent it back to Riggs because he
didn't want BellSouth to know that he was inside their computers.
You're also going to hear evidence that Riggs was never
satisfied with the final result that Neidorf had because it always
contained too much information even for Riggs. But the E911 system,
the text file and the road map, was published by Neidorf all the
same.
You are going to be hearing from Agent Foley who will
testify that he talked to Neidorf about this at his fraternity house
at the University of Missouri. Neidorf said he has freedom of
expression. That was his response to Foley: Freedom of expression
to publish it in PHRACK.
The First Amendment can't be used as a defense to theft.
When you steal something, you can't claim that coming up the back
door, the First Amendment protected you.
You will be hearing from Agent Foley though that as part
of this discussion with Mr. Neidorf, Mr. Neidorf, in fact, admitted
that he knew the file was stolen, the text file was stolen, and he
published it in PHRACK.
- 24 -
Cook -- opening statement
He also turns over to Foley a hacker tutorial, a hacker
lesson to other hackers on how to break into the ESS switches. He
turns that over.
The evidence will also indicate that in addition to that
stolen information was information about a stolen AT&T source code
document. Here he goes again...source code! The source code program
had a Trojan horse in it. It made it clear right on the face
of it that it was a Trojan horse, a way of stealing passwords from a
computer.
I am going to have to pause here for a second to make
sure that I reassure you again on the descriptions and the items
we'll talk about.
The source code is a type of language. It is kind of a way
human beings write things down as a first step toward communicating
with computers. They write it down in source code, which is
directions. A rough analogy would be if I'm going to give you
directions on how to get to my house. The source code for that kind
of program might be something like:
"Go to the door.
"Open the door.
"Go through the door.
"Go forward to the sidewalk.
"Go the the sidewalk and stop.
"Stop at the sidewalk. Turn left.
"After you turn left, start walking.
- 25 -
Cook -- opening statement
Step by step by step progression along the way. That is kind of what
the source code is about. You will hear, fortunately, a much better
description of this from the witnesses on the stand.
The source code program that was stolen here that
Mr. Neidorf received, again, basically was clear from the face of the
document that it was stolen. And, again, Mr. Neidorf transferred it
out to somebody else. Again, stolen property was received and
distributed in interstate commerce.
The nature of this source code was that it would act a lot
like a false front door to a computer, where you walk up to the
false front door of the computer, you knock on the door, and somebody
inside the door or inside the house says, "Who is it?" The person
knocking on the door uses their secret word, or their name or an
identifier, or it's recognized by the person inside the house:
"My name is Joe Jones."
"My name is Bill Cook."
"My name is Colleen Coughlin."
"My name is Tim Foley."
Except with this door, it was a false door, and what it had the
capability to do is it would record the information. It would
record, "Bill Cook," "Joe Jones," "Colleen Coughlin," "Tim Foley".
Those are the passwords to get into the house that a legitimate user
of the house would use.
But this Trojan horse, what it would do is it would store
those, and after it had stored all that information, it would
- 26 -
Cook -- opening statement
essentially disappear. And the person trying to get in the house would
all of a sudden get a communication from the other side that would
say, "I didn't hear you. Try it again".
It would steal those passwords, and it would then put them
in a private place where the hacker would come back whenever he
wanted to, and just pick up the bucketful of passwords and log-ons,
and use them to break into the same computer systems again and
again, kind of an elaborate piced of scientific perversion but that
is what it is about. That was the document that Mr. Neidorf also
trafficked in as part of this fraud scheme.
The final expert that you will probably hear from on the
government's side is going to be a man from inside the phone
company, a man who was with bell laboratories before he was with the
phone company. His name is Mr. Williamson. Mr. Williamson will talk
to you about the property, the property being the text file, and
the way in which and the reason that the phone company protects
this kind of property, this information.
He will testify, we anticipate, to the obligations of the
phone company, to the significance of the text file, along with
other people, and the fact that the theft was the theft of critical
information for the operation of that system, and that the
proprietary markings made it clear to anyone who took it that that
was stolen and that they didn't have authorization for that document.
No matter what other information floating around about 911
that might be out there, this document was proprietary and contained
the inside information about what this system was all about, and how
an emergency call is driven from the point of someone picking up
the receiver to the time when the help is actually generated from
the fire, police and ambulance stations.
As I've said before, it's that text file that Mr. Neidorf
deliberately compromised into the hacker community. At the
conclusion of this case, we are going to be coming back here and
asing you to find a guilty verdict against Mr. Neidorf for the
interstate transportation of that stolen text file both from the time
he got it from Riggs, and it was sent from Rigs in Georgia to the
bulletin-board in Lockport down to Neidorf at the University of
Missouri, that's one interstate transportation of stolen property,
and the interstate transportation of stolen property, that same
stolen information back from Neidorf to Riggs in Lockport. In this
situation, it was reviewing the stolen property to make sure that
they could disguise themselves. And then the final interstate
transportation of that stolen property when Mr. Neidorf compromised
the text file into the hacker community.
I appreciate your attention. That concludees my remarks.
I ask you to pay as much attention to Mr. Zenner as he makes his
remarks to you this morning.
Thank you.
THE COURT: Thank you, Mr. Cook. Mr. Zenner, are you prepared
to make your opening statement?
<End of Cook -- Opening Comments>

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CRAIG NEIDORF DEFENSE FUND
Most of you know about the PHRACK trial and Craig Neidorf, the
publisher of PHRACK. Craig put his neck on the line to provide
timely, interesting, and helpful information to the phreak/hacker
community. The government decided to put a stop to that flow of
information so last summer they arrested Craig for publishing a
PHRACK article on Bell South's Emergency 911 system, an article
which contained a document which was illegally downloaded from Bell
South's computer system.
The government's case fell apart after it was revealed that the
document, originally valued at $79,449 by Bell South, was
obtainable by dialing an 800 number and paying $13. This, and the
fact that Neidorf was not the one who accessed Bell South's
computer, caused the government to drop the charges and set Craig
Neidorf free.
Good news, right? Well it is and it isn't. While the government
lost its case, Craig Neidorf will no longer be publishing PHRACK,
so the government still wins. The fact is that although Craig won
in court, he must still pay his own attorney's fees. His original
bill reached over $200,000! The law firm that he had retained found
ways to reduce $100,000 off of that amount, but Craig and his
family have still paid $35,000 to one firm, $8,000 to another, and
have roughly $65,000 left to pay off. THIS IS AFTER "WINNING" IN
COURT!
No, he cannot sue the government for this money. He has to pay it
himself. A lot of people seem to think that the Electronic Frontier
Foundation (EFF) is going to help him with his legal bills. No way.
The EFF does not want to be perceived as a "hacker defense fund" so
they are trying to distance themselves from the case. Their only
help in the matter was to pay for court motions filed by the EFF's
law firm on Neidorf's behalf concerning the First Ammendment. THE
EFF HAS NO PLANS AT THIS TIME TO HELP PAY NEIDORF'S ATTORNEY FEES.
What this means is that Craig Neidorf, after being harrassed and
arrested by the government for PUBLISHING A MAGAZINE, will shut his
magazine down and pay approximately $100,000 in attorney fees EVEN
THOUGH HE WON HIS COURT BATTLE.
If you're as outraged by this as I am, I want you to know that you
can do something about it. You can show Neidorf how much you valued
PHRACK and how outraged you are about what happened to him by
sending money to the Neidorf Defense Fund. Every cent that you send
will be used to defray his attorney fees. The address is:
NEIDORF DEFENSE FUND
Attn: Sheldon Zenner
Katten, Muchin & Zavis
525 West Monroe Street #1600
Chicago, Illinois 60606-3693
Checks *MUST* be payable to "Katten, Muchin & Zavis" and have
"Neidorf Defense Fund" written in the memo field.
You can help even more by downloading this message and uploading it
to as many other BBSes as you possibly can. It's available on
&TOTSE, 415/935-5845, as NEIDORFD.ZIP. Also, if you're a caller on
&TOTSE and you send Neidorf a check for $25 or more, send me a
photocopy of the cancelled check and I'll give you 250 file
transfer credits. &TOTSE's mailing address is: Jeff Hunter, & the
Temple of the Screaming Electron, P.O. Box 5378, Walnut Creek, CA,
94596.

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IBM ANNOUNCEMENT OVERVIEW 04-02-(7
IBM Announcement Overview
Today, IBM announces IBM Personal System/2(TM), a family of
systems with enhanced displays and adapters, expanded
communications and network adapters, expanded memory
adapters, new features and input output devices; an enhanced
version of the IBM Disk Operating System, and new software
support for host terminal emulation, networking and
communications. New applications are also being announced.
IBM is also announcing Operating System/2, a new
comprehensive operating system which includes a Presentation
Manager, a Communications Manager, and a Database Manager.
Operating System/2 is backed by a three month warranty, and
one year of service support fbom date of product
availability. DisplayWrite 4 /2 for Operating System/2 is
also being announced.
(TM) Trademark of the International Business Machines
Corporation.
HIGHLIGHTS
The products and associated support elements of this
announcement, address the following key objectives:
o Provide a range of systems to meet user's needs
o Introduce improved levels of price, performance,
capacity, function, and reliability
o Introduce new hardware architectures which enable future
growth without some of the restrictions and limitations
in the existing product line
o Offer enhanced warranty and service for hardware and
software
o Introduce improved graphics functions integrated into the
new systems
o Integrate serial, parallel and diskette adapters into
the new systems
o Provide a compatibility bridge from existing hardware and
software to minimize the impact on end user's investment
o Coexist and interconnect with existing IBM Personal
Computers
o Introduce the 3.5-inch diskette as the primary media for
IBM Personal System/2 systems
o Provide a comprehensive operating system for the new
hardware with support for larger memory, concurrent
processing of applications, high level pbogramming
interfaces, communications and data base management
features
o Move toward consistency with other systems in the IBM
product line by participating in the IBM Systems
Application Architecture with our new offerings
It is our intention that this announcement will establish
new levels of end user satisfaction in the areas of quality,
service, compatibility, graphics, hardware architecture,
software function and programming interfaces, ease of use,
and consistency across a range of product lines.
The Personal System/2 systems units being announced replace
many of the ehisting IBM Personal Computer systems, and are
intended to establish a new level of function, performance,
capacity, and reliability.
DESCRIPTION
There are two groups of Personal Cystem/2 systems units.
Personal System/2 Model 30, is intended to satisfy the
requirements of personal productivity users. This model is
based on the 8086 microprocessor, and can use many of the
same feature cards as the existing product line. This model
introduces as standard function the Multi-Color Graphics
Array (MCGA) graphics, a new level of graphics which is an
enhancement to the Color Graphics Adapter function. The
Model 30 is available as a dual 3.5-inch diskette, or
diskette and fixed disk system. Compared to the IBM PC
XT(TM) 089, the Model 30 provides:
o Twice the diskette capacity
o Improved hard file access time
o Improved integrated graphics
o A clock with calendar
o Integrated adapters for printers, serial devices, and
pointing devices
o Improved throughput
(TM) Trademark of the International Business Machines
//@AGE
Corporation.
If an end user is primarily a "Personal Productivity" user
in small business, large business or in education, then the
Personal System/2 Model 30 is the right choice.
The operating system software for the Personal System/2
Model 30 is the IBM Disk Operating System Version 3.30.
Operating System/2 will not run on Model 30.
Personal System/2 Models 50, 60, and 80 are intended to
satisfy the requirements of systems users who need higher
personal productivity performance, or who require larger,
more complex applications and operation in a multiple
application and/or communications environment.
These models are based on the 80286 and 80386
microprocessors. They introduce a new Micro Channel(TM)
Architecture for feature and input/output data handling.
The new architecture is a significant improvement over
previous existing designs due to its improved interru`t
handling capabilities which permit resolution of most
conflicts present in existing systems, while balancing and
improving the performance of the system.
(TM) Tbademark of the International Business Machines
Corporation
These models also introduce Video Graphics Array (VGA)
graphics, a higher level of graphics function, which is an
enrichment of the Enhanced Graphics Adapter function. VGA
graphics is upward compatible from Mono Graphics, CGA, MCGA,
and EGA and can run on the Personal System/2 Model 30 with
the appropriate feature card.
Compared with the IBM Personal Computer AT(R) 339, the
Personal System/2 Models 50 and 60 provide:
o Increased standard memory
o 20% more diskette capacity
o Improved integrated graphics
o Integrated pointing device adapter
o Improved system throughput
o Advanced Micro Channel(TM) Architecture
(R) Registered trademark of the International Business
Machines Corporation.
(TM) Trademark of the Internadional Business Machines
Corporation.
The Model 50 has a 20MB fixed disk. The Model 60 offers 44
to 185MB fixed disk capacity.
The Personal System/2 Model 80 is based on the 80386
microprocessor. Three models are available:
Standard Fixed
Processor Fixed Disk
Speed Disk Capacity
Model 041 16MHZ 44MB 88MB
Model 071 16MHZ 70MB 185MB
Model 111 20MHZ 115MB 230MB
If an end user currently requires or plans to migrate into a
multi-tasking, multi-communications environment, or has
applications requiring exceptionally high performance
levels, then the Personal System/2 Models 50, 60 and 80,
with new architecture and higher performance application
capability, are the solution.
The operating system for Models 50, 60 and 80 is the IBM
Disk Operating System Version 3.3. When available Operating
System/2 will become the operating system of choice for many
users of these systems.
Operating System/2 is the growth path for the IBM Disk
Operating System. It will run many existing DOS applications
unchanged. It takes advantage of the new hardware
capabilities, provides significant new function, offers
enhanced ease of use, and provides a platfobm for future
application growth.
The Operating System/2:
o Presents a consistent user interface with context
sensitive help
o Supports up to 16MB of main storage with virtual memory
support
o Allows concurrent execution of multiple applications
o Allows communication between applications
o Supports multiple concurrent communications sessions.
Operating System/2 (Standard Edition) also provides a
comprehensive set of high level functions which have not
been needed in the past. It includes the base functions
described above, plus:
o Presentation Manager which su`ports a consistent, easy to
use interface dhat is designed to participate in the IBM
Systems Application Architecture
Operating System/2 (Extended Edition) includes all of the
function of the Standard Edition, plus:
o Communications Manager providing a wide range of
concurrent connectivities and protocols, concurrent
emulation of multiple terminal types, file transfer under
terminal emulation, and communications and systems
management support
o Database Manager which is a Relational Data Base
Management System. It is consistent with IBM's host
based Structured Query Language and Query Management
Facility
Whatever the end-user environment or requirements may be,
IBM is establishing new levels of capability and value. The
entire Personal System/2 family achieves higher levels of:
o Quality and Beliability
o Ease of Use
o Graphics
o Connectivity
o Compatibility and Consistency
These systems, along with IBM's options, including new
monochrome and color monitors, expanded memory adapters,
personal printers, an optical disk drive, tape backup,
connectivity cards, and many more, are designed to meet
computing needs, now and for many years to come.
ans to migrate into a
multi-tasking, mul

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The Night of the Hackers
________________________
. As you are surveying the dark and misty swamp you come across what
appears to be a small cave. You light a torch and enter. You
have walked several hundred feet when you stumble into a bright
blue portal. . . With a sudden burst of light and a loud
explosion you are swept into . . . DRAGONFIRE . . . Press Any Key
if You Dare."
. You have programmed your personal computer to dial into
Dragonfire, a computer bulletin board in Gainesville, Texas. But
before you get any information, Dragonfire demands your name, home
city and phone number. So, for tonight's tour of the electronic
wilderness you become Montana Wildhack of San Francisco.
. Dragonfire, Sherwood Forest (sic), Forbidden Zone,
Blottoland, Plovernet, The Vault, Shadowland, PHBI and scores of
other computer bulletin boards are hangouts of a new generation of
vandals. These precocious teenagers use their electronic skills to
play hide-and-seek with computer and telephone security forces.
Many computer bulletin boards are perfectly legitimate: they
resemble electronic versions of the familiar cork boards in
supermarkets and school corridors, listing services and providing
information someone out there is bound to find useful. But this
is a walk on the wild side, a trip into the world of underground
bulletin boards dedicated to encouraging -- and making --
mischief.
. The phone number for these boards are as closely guarded as a
psychiatrist's home telephone number. Some numbers are posted on
underground boards; others are exchanged over the telephone. A
friendly hacker provided Dragonfire's number. Hook up and you see
a broad choice of topics offered. For Phone Phreaks -- who delight
in stealing service from AT&T and other phone networks .
Phreakenstein's Lair is a potpourri of phone numbers, access codes
and technical information. For computer hackers -- who dial into
other people's computers -- Ranger's Lodge is chock-full of phone
numbers and passwords for government, university and corporate
computers. Moving through Dragonfire's offerings, you can only
marvel at how conversant these teen-agers are with the technical
esoterica of today's electronic age. Obviously they have spent a
great deal of time studying computers, though their grammar and
spelling indicate they haven't been diligent in other subjects.
You are constantly reminded of how young they are.
. "Well it's that time of year again. School is back in session
so let's get those high school computer phone numbers rolling in.
Time to get straight A's, have perfect attendance (except when
you've been up all night hacking school passwords), and messing up
you worst teacher's paycheck."
. Forbidden Zone, in Detroit, is offering ammunition for hacker
civil war -- tips on crashing the most popular bulletin-board
software. There also are plans for building black, red and blue
boxes to mimic operator tones and get free phone service. And he
re are the details for "the safest and best way to make and use
nitroglycerine," compliments of Doctor Hex, who says he got it
"from my chemistry teacher."
. Flip through the "pages." You have to wonder if this
information is accurate. Can this really be the phone number and
password for Taco Bell's computer? Do these kids really have the
dial-up numbers for dozens of university computers? The temptation
is too much. You sign off and have your computer dial the number
for the Yale computer. Bingo -- the words Yale University appear
on your screen. You enter the password. A menu appears. You hang
up in a sweat. You are now a hacker.
. Punch in another number and your modem zips off the touch
tones. Here comes the tedious side of all of this. Bulletin boards
are popular. No vacancy in Bates Motel (named for Anthony Perkin's
creepy motel in the movie "Psycho"); the line is busy. So are 221
B. Baker Street, PHBI, Shadowland and The Vault, Caesar's Palace
rings and connects. This is different breed of board. Caesar's
Palace is a combination Phreak board and computer store in Miami.
This is the place to learn ways to mess up a department store's
anti-shoplifting system, or make free calls on telephones with
locks on the dial. Pure capitalism accompanies such anarchy,
Caesar's Palace is offering good deals on disc drives, software,
computers and all sorts of hardware. Orders are placed through
electronic mail messages.
. 'Tele-Trial': Bored by Caesar's Palace, you enter the number
for Blottoland, the board operated by one of the nation's most
notorious computer phreaks -- King Blotto. This one has been busy
all night, but it's now pretty late in Cleveland. The phone rings
and you connect. To get past the blank screen, type the secondary
password "S-L-I-M-E." King Blotto obliges, listing his rules: he
must have your real name, phone number, address, occupation and
interests. He will call and disclose the primary password, "if you
belong on this board." If admitted, do not reveal the phone number
or the secondary password, lest you face "tele-trial," the King
warns as he dismisses you by hanging up. You expected heavy
security, but this teenager's security is, as they say, awesome.
Computers at the Defense Department and hundreds of businesses let
you know when you've reached them. Here you need a password just
to find out what system answered the phone. Then King Blotto asks
questions -- and hangs up. Professional computer-security experts
could learn something from this kid. He knows that ever since the
414 computer hackers were arrested in August 1982, law-enforcement
officers have been searching for leads on computer bulletin
boards.
. "Do you have any ties to or connections with any law
enforcement agency or any agency which would inform such a law
enforcement agency of this bulletin board?"
. Such is the welcoming message from Plovernet, a Florida board
known for its great hacker/phreak files. There amid a string of
valid VISA and MasterCard numbers are dozens of computer phone
numbers and passwords. Here you also learn what Blotto means by
tele-trial. "As some of you may or may not know, a session of the
conference court was held and the Wizard was found guilty of some
miscellaneous charges, and sentenced to four months without
bulletin boards." If Wizard calls, system operators like King
Blotto disconnect him. Paging through bulletin boards is a test of
your patience. Each board has different commands. Few are easy to
follow, leaving you to hunt and peck your way around. So far you
haven't had the nerve to type "C," which summons the system
operator for a live, computer-to-computer conversation. The time,
however, however has come for you to ask a few questions of the
"sysop." You dial a computer in Boston. It answers and you begin
working your way throughout the menus. You scan a handful of dial-
up numbers, including one for Arpanet, the Defense Department's
research computer. Bravely tap C and in seconds the screen blanks
and your cursor dances across the screen.
. Hello . . . What kind of computer do you have?
. Contact. The sysop is here. You exchange amenities and get
"talking." How much hacking does he do? Not much, too busy. Is he
afraid of being busted, having his computer confiscated like the
Los Angeles man facing criminal changes because his computer
bulletin board contained a stolen telephone-credit-card number?
"Hmmmm . . . No," he replies. Finally, he asks the dreaded
question: "How old are you?" "How old are YOU," you reply,
stalling. "15," he types. Once you confess and he knows you're
old enough to be his father, the conversation gets very serious.
You fear each new question; he probably thinks you're a cop. But
all he wants to know is your choice for president. The chat
continues, until he asks, "What time is it there?" Just past
midnight, you reply. Expletive. "it's 3:08 here," Sysop types. "I
must be going to sleep. I've got school tomorrow." The cursor
dances "*********** Thank you for Calling." The screen goes blank.
Epilog:
. A few weeks after this reporter submitted this article to
Newsweek, he found that his credit had been altered, his drivers'
licence revoked, and EVEN HIS Social Security records changed!
Just in case you all might like to construe this as a 'Victimless'
crime. The next time a computer fouls up your billing on some
matter, and COSTS YOU, think about it!
_______________________________
. This the follow-up to the previous article concerning the
Newsweek reporter. It spells out SOME of the REAL dangers to ALL
of us, due to this type of activity!
_______________________________
The REVENGE of the Hackers
_______________________________
. In the mischievous fraternity of computer hackers, few things
are prized more than the veil of secrecy. As NEWSWEEK San
Francisco correspondent Richard Sandza found out after writing a
story on the electronic underground's (DISPATCHES, Nov. 12, 198\
ability to exact revenge can be unnerving. Also severe....
Sandza's report:
. "Conference!" someone yelled as I put the phone to my ear.
Then came a mind-piercing "beep," and suddenly my kitchen seemed
full of hyperactive 15-year-olds. "You the guy who wrote the
article in NEWSWEEK?" someone shouted from the depths of static,
and giggles. "We're going disconnect your phone," one shrieked.
"We're going to blow up your house," called another. I hung up.
. Some irate readers write letters to the editor. A few call
their lawyers. Hackers, however, use the computer and the
telephone, and for more than simple comment. Within days, computer
"bulletin boards" around the country were lit up with attacks on
NEWSWEEK's "Montana Wildhack" (a name I took from a Kurt Vonnegut
character), questioning everything from my manhood to my prose
style. "Until we get real good revenge," said one message from
Unknown Warrior, "I would like to suggest that everyone with an
auto-l modem call Montana Butthack then hang up when he answers."
Since then the hackers of America have called my home at least
2000 times. My harshest critics communicate on Dragonfire, a
Gainesville, Texas, bulletin board where I am on teletrial, a
video-lynching in which a computer user with grievance dials the
board and presses charges against the offending party. Other
hackers -- including the defendant --post concurrences or
rebuttals. Despite the mealtime interruptions, all this was at
most a minor nuisance; some was amusing, even fun.
. FRAUD: The fun stopped with a call from a man who identified
himself only as Joe. "I'm calling to warn you," he said. When I
barked back, he said, "Wait, I'm on your side. Someone has broken
into TRW and obtained a list of all your credit-card numbers, your
home address, social-security number and wife's name and is
posting it on bulletin boards around the country." He named the
charge cards in my wallet.
. Credit-card numbers are a very hot commodity among some
hackers. To get one from a computer system and post it is the
hacker equivalent of making the team. After hearing from Joe I
visited the local office of the TRW credit bureau and got a copy
of my credit record. Sure enough, it showed a Nov. 13 inquiry by
the Lenox (Mass.) Savings Bank, an institution with no reason
whatever to ask about me. Clearly some hacker had used Lenox's
password to the TRW computers to get to my files (the bank has
since changed the password).
. It wasn't long before I found out what was being done with my
credit-card numbers, thanks to another friendly hacker who tipped
me to Pirate 80, a bulletin board in Charleston, W.Va., where I
found this: "I'm sure you guys have heard about Richard Stza or
Montana Wildhack. He's the guy who wrote the obscene story about
phreaking in NewsWeek Well, my friend did a credit card check on
TRW . . . try this number, it' a VISA . . . Please nail this guy
bad . . . Captain Quieg.
. Captain Quieg may himself be nailed. He has violated the
Credit Card Fraud Act of 1984 signed by President Reagan on Oct.
12. The law provides a $10,000 fine and up to a 15-year prison
term for "trafficking" in illegally obtained credit-card account
numbers. His "friend" has committed a felony violation of the
California computer-crime law. TRW spokeswoman Delia Fernandex
said that TRW would "be more than happy to prosecute" both of
them.
. TRW has good reason for concern. Its computers contain the
credit histories of 120 million people. Last year TRW sold 50
million credit reports on their customers. But these highly
confidential personal records are so poorly guarded that
computerized teenagers can ransack the files and depart
undetected. TRW passwords -- unlike many others -- often print out
when entered by TRW's customers. Hackers then look for discarded
printouts. A good source: the trash of banks and automobile
dealerships, which routinely do credit checks. "Everybody hacks
TRW," says Cleveland hacker King Blotto, whose bulletin board has
security system the Pentagon would envy. "It's the easiest." For
her her part, Fernandez insists that TRW "does everything it can
to keep the system secure.
. In my case, however, that was not enough. My credit limits
would hardly support big-time fraud, but victimization takes many
forms. Another hacker said it was likely that merchandise would be
ordered in my name and shipped to me -- just to harass me. I used
to use credit-card numbers against someone I didn't like," the
hacker said. "I'd call Sears and have a dozen toilets shipped to
his house."
. Meanwhile, back on Dragonfire, my teletrial was going strong.
The charges, as pressed my Unknown Warrior, include "endangering
all phreaks and hacks." The judge in this case is a hacker with
the apt name of Ax Murderer. Possible sentences range from exile
from the entire planet" to "kill the dude." King Blotto has taken
up my defense, using hacker power to make his first pleading: he
dialed up Dragonfire, broke into its operating system and
"crashed" the bulletin board, destroying all of its messages
naming me. The board is back up now, with a retrial in full swing.
But then, exile from the electronic underground looks better all
the time.

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NightHack : A Story about Hackers
The word HACKER has taken on a new meaning recently. It used tomean an avid
computer user. But now it has taken to the likes (baically) of someone who uses
his computer to steal, alter, or misuse online data that is not theirs. Below is
a story obtained from a BBS and no author's name was given. But it is my
inference from reading the story that it was written by Montana Wildhack, the
Newsweek reporter who gained access to a hacking board, and then found himself
being harassed by hackers all over the country. (WE ARE NOT *POSITIVE* AS TO WHO
WROTE THIS. ASSUME IT IS ANONYMOUSLY WRITTEN!). The authors story....
The Night of the Hackers
As you are surveying the dark and misty swamp you come across what appears to be
a small cave. You light a torch and enter. You have walked several hundred
feet when you stumble into a bright blue portal... With a sudden burst of light
and a loud explosion you are swept into . . . DRAGONFIRE . . . Press Any
Key....if You Dare."
You have programmed your personal computer to dial into Dragonfire, a computer
bulletin board in Gainesville, Texas. But before you get any information,
Dragonfire demands your name, home city and phone number. So, for tonight's
tour of the electronic wilderness you become Montana Wildhack of San Francisco.
Dragonfire, Sherwood Forest, Forbidden Zone, Blottoland, Plovernet, The Vault,
Shadowland, PHBI and scores of other computer bulletin boards are hangouts of a
new generation of vandals. These precocious teenagers use their electronic
skills to play hide-and-seek with computer and telephone security forces. Many
computer bulletin boards are perfectly legitimate: they resemble electronic
versions of the familiar cork boards in supermarkets and school corridors,
listing services and providing information someone out there is bound to find
useful. But this is a walk on the wild side, a trip into the world of
underground bulletin boards dedicated to encouraging and making mischief. The
phone number for these boards are as closely guarded as a psychiatrist's home
telephone number.
Some numbers are posted on underground boards; others are exchanged over the
telephone. A friendly hacker provided Dragonfire's number. Hook up and you see
a broad choice of topics offered. For Phone Phreaks -- who delight in stealing
service from AT&T and other phone networks.
Phreakenstein's Lair is a potpourri of phone numbers, access codes and
technical information. For computer hackers -- who dial into other people's
computers -- Ranger's Lodge is chock-full of phone numbers and passwords for
government, university and corporate computers. Moving through Dragonfire's
offerings, you can only marvel at how conversant these teen-agers are with the
technical esoterica of today's electronic age.
Obviously they have spent a great deal of time studying computers, though
their grammar and spelling indicate they haven't been diligent in other
subjects. You are constantly reminded of how young they are. "Well it's that
time of year again. School is back in session so let's get those high school
computer phone numbers rolling in. Time to get straight A's, have perfect
attendance (except when you've been up all night hacking school passwords), and
messing up you worst teacher's paycheck."
Forbidden Zone, in Detroit, is offering ammunition for hacker civil war -- tips
on crashing the most popular bulletin-board software. There also are plans for
building black, red and blue boxes to mimic operator tones and get free phone
service. And here are the details for "the safest and best way to make and use
nitroglycerine," compliments of Doctor Hex, who says he got it "from my
chemistry teacher." Flip through the "pages." You have to wonder if this
information is accurate. Can this really be the phone number and password for
Taco Bell's computer? Do these kids really have the dial-up numbers for dozens
of university computers?
The temptation is too much. You sign off and have your computer dial the number
for the Yale computer. Bingo -- the words Yale University appear on your screen.
You enter the password. A menu appears. You hang up in a sweat. You are now a
hacker.
Punch in another number and your modem zips off the touch tones. Here comes the
tedious side of all of this. Bulletin boards are popular. No vacancy in Bates
Motel (named for Anthony Perkin's creepy motel in the movie "Psycho"); the line
is busy. So are 221 B. Baker Street, PHBI, Shadowland and The Vault, Caesar's
Palace rings and connects. This is different breed of board. Caesar's Palace
is a combination Phreak board and computer store in Miami. This is the place to
learn ways to mess up a department store's anti-shoplifting system, or make free
calls on telephones with locks on the dial. Pure capitalism accompanies such
anarchy, Caesar's Palace is offering good deals on disc drives, software,
computers and all sorts of hardware. Orders are placed through electronic mail
messages.
'Tele-Trial': Bored by Caesar's Palace, you enter the number for Blottoland, the
board operated by one of the nation's most notorious computer phreaks -- King
Blotto. This one has been busy all night, but it's now pretty late in Cleveland.
The phone rings and you connect. To get past the blank screen, type the
secondary password "S-L-I-M-E." King Blotto obliges, listing his rules: he must
have your real name, phone number, address, occupation and interests. He will
call and disclose the primary password, "if you belong on this board." If
admitted, do not reveal the phone number or the secondary password, lest you
face "tele-trial," the King warns as he dismisses you by hanging up.
You expected heavy security, but this teenager's security is, as they say,
awesome. Computers at the Defense Department and hundreds of businesses let you
know when you've reached them. Here you need a password just to find out what
system answered the phone.
Then King Blotto asks questions and hangs up. Professional computer-security
experts could learn something from this kid. He knows that ever since the 414
computer hackers were arrested in August 1982, law-enforcement officers have
been searching for leads on computer bulletin boards. "Do you have any ties to
or connections with any law enforcement agency or any agency which would inform
such a law enforcement agency of this bulletin board?"
Such is the welcoming message from Plovernet, a Florida board known for its
great hacker/phreak files. There amid a string of valid VISA and MasterCard
numbers are dozens of computer phone numbers and passwords. Here you also learn
what Blotto means by tele-trial. "As some of you may or may not know, a session
of the conference court was held and the Wizard was found guilty of some
miscellaneous charges, and sentenced to four months without bulletin boards."
If Wizard calls, system operators like King Blotto disconnect him. Paging
through bulletin boards is a test of your patience. Each board has different
commands. Few are easy to follow, leaving you to hunt and peck your way around.
So far you haven't had the nerve to type "C," which summons the system operator
for a live, computer-to-computer conversation.
The time, however,has come for you to ask a few questions of the "sysop." You
dial a computer in Boston. It answers and you begin working your way
throughout the menus. You scan a handful of dial-up numbers, including one for
Arpanet, the Defense Department's research computer. Bravely tap C and in
seconds the screen blanks and your cursor dances across the screen. Hello . . .
What kind of computer do you have? Contact. The sysop is here. You exchange
amenities and get "talking." How much hacking does he do? Not much, too busy.
Is he afraid of being busted, having his computer confiscated like the Los
Angeles man facing criminal charges because his computer bulletin board
contained a stolen telephone credit card number? "Hmmmm ... No," he replies.
Finally, he asks the dreaded question: "How old are you?" "How old are YOU,"
you reply, stalling. "15," he types. Once you confess and he knows you're old
enough to be his father, the conversation gets very serious. You fear each new
question; he probably thinks you're a cop. But all he wants to know is your
choice for president. The chat continues, until he asks, "What time is it
there?" Just past midnight, you reply. Expletive. "it's 3:08 here," Sysop types.
"I must be going to sleep. I've got school tomorrow." The cursor dances
"*********** Thank you for Calling." The screen goes blank.
Epilog:
A few weeks after this reporter submitted this article to Newsweek, he found
that his credit had been altered, his drivers' licence revoked, and EVEN HIS
Social Security records changed! Just in case you all might like to construe
this as a 'Victimless' crime. The next time a computer fouls up your billing on
some matter, and COSTS YOU, think about it!
This is the follow-up to the previous article concerning the Newsweek reporter.
It spells out SOME of the REAL dangers to ALL of us, due to this type of
activity!
The REVENGE of the Hackers
In the mischievous fraternity of computer hackers, few things are prized more
than the veil of secrecy. As NEWSWEEK San Francisco correspondent Richard Sandza
found out after writing a story on the electronic underground's (DISPATCHES,
Nov. 12, 198\ ability to exact revenge can be unnerving. Also severe....
Sandza's report:
"Conference!" someone yelled as I put the phone to my ear. Then came a
mind-piercing "beep," and suddenly my kitchen seemed full of hyperactive
15-year-olds. "You the guy who wrote the article in NEWSWEEK?" someone shouted
from the depths of static, and giggles. "We're going disconnect your phone," one
shrieked. "We're going to blow up your house," called another. I hung up. Some
irate readers write letters to the editor. A few call their lawyers. Hackers,
however, use the computer and the telephone, and for more than simple comment.
Within days, computer "bulletin boards" around the country were lit up with
attacks on NEWSWEEK's "Montana Wildhack" (a name I took from a Kurt Vonnegut
character), questioning everything from my manhood to my prose style. "Until
we get real good revenge," said one message from Unknown Warrior, "I would like
to suggest that everyone with an auto-l modem call Montana Butthack then hang up
when he answers." Since then the hackers of America have called my home at
least 2000 times. My harshest critics communicate on Dragonfire, a Gainesville,
Texas, bulletin board where I am on teletrial, a video-lynching in which a
computer user with grievance dials the board and presses charges against the
offending party. Other hackers -- including the defendant --post concurrences
or rebuttals. Despite the mealtime interruptions, all this was at most a minor
nuisance; some was amusing, even fun.
FRAUD: The fun stopped with a call from a man who identified himself only as
Joe. "I'm calling to warn you," he said. When I barked back, he said, "Wait,
I'm on your side. Someone has broken into TRW and obtained a list of all your
credit-card numbers, your home address, social-security number and wife's name
and is posting it on bulletin boards around the country." He named the charge
cards in my wallet.
Credit-card numbers are a very hot commodity among some hackers. To get one
from a computer system and post it is the hacker equivalent of making the team.
After hearing from Joe I visited the local office of the TRW credit bureau and
got a copy of my credit record. Sure enough, it showed a Nov. 13 inquiry by
the Lenox (Mass.) Savings Bank, an institution with no reason whatever to ask
about me. Clearly some hacker had used Lenox's password to the TRW computers to
get to my files (the bank has since changed the password). It wasn't long before
I found out what was being done with my credit-card numbers, thanks to another
friendly hacker who tipped me to Pirate 80, a bulletin board in Charleston,
W.Va., where I found this: "I'm sure you guys have heard about Richard Stza or
Montana Wildhack. He's the guy who G

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The Night of the Hackers
As you are surveying the dark and
misty swamp you come across what
appears to be a small cave. You light
a torch and enter. You have walked
several hundred feet when you stumble
into a bright blue portal. . . With
a sudden burst of light and a loud
explosion you are swept into . . .
DRAGONFIRE . . . Press Any Key if
You Dare."
You have programmed your personal
computer to dial into Dragonfire, a
computer bulletin board in
Gainesville, Texas. But before you
get any information, Dragonfire
demands your name, home city and phone
number. So, for tonight's tour of the
electronic wilderness you become
Montana Wildhack of San Francisco.
Dragonfire, Sherwood Forest (sic),
Forbidden Zone, Blottoland, Plovernet,
The Vault, Shadowland, PHBI and scores
of other computer bulletin boards are
hangouts of a new generation of
vandals. These precocious teenagers
use their electronic skills to play
hide-and-seek with computer and
telephone security forces. Many
computer bulletin boards are perfectly
legitimate: they resemble electronic
versions of the familiar cork boards
in supermarkets and school corridors,
listing services and providing
information someone out there is bound
to find useful. But this is a walk on
the wild side, a trip into the world
of underground bulletin boards
dedicated to encouraging -- and making
-- mischief.
The phone number for these boards are
as closely guarded as a psychiatrist's
home telephone number. Some numbers
are posted on underground boards;
others are exchanged over the
telephone. A friendly hacker provided
Dragonfire's number. Hook up and you
see a broad choice of topics offered.
For Phone Phreaks -- who delight in
stealing service from AT&T and other
phone networks . Phreakenstein's Lair
is a potpourri of phone numbers,
access codes and technical
information. For computer hackers --
who dial into other people's computers
-- Ranger's Lodge is chock-full of
phone numbers and passwords for
government, university and corporate
computers. Moving through
Dragonfire's offerings, you can only
marvel at how conversant these
teen-agers are with the technical
esoterica of today's electronic age.
Obviously they have spent a great deal
of time studying computers, though
their grammar and spelling indicate
they haven't been diligent in other
subjects. You are constantly reminded
of how young they are.
"Well it's that time of year again.
School is back in session so let's get
those high school computer phone
numbers rolling in. Time to get
straight A's, have perfect attendance
(except when you've been up all night
hacking school passwords), and messing
up you worst teacher's paycheck."
Forbidden Zone, in Detroit, is
offering ammunition for hacker civil
war -- tips on crashing the most
popular bulletin-board software.
There also are plans for building
black, red and blue boxes to mimic
operator tones and get free phone
service. And here are the details for
"the safest and best way to make and
use nitroglycerine," compliments of
Doctor Hex, who says he got it "from
my chemistry teacher."
Flip through the "pages." You have to
wonder if this information is
accurate. Can this really be the
phone number and password for Taco
Bell's computer? Do these kids really
have the dial-up numbers for dozens of
university computers? The temptation
is too much. You sign off and have
your computer dial the number for the
Yale computer. Bingo -- the words
Yale University appear on your screen.
You enter the password. A menu
appears. You hang up in a sweat. You
are now a hacker.
Punch in another number and your modem
zips off the touch tones. Here comes
the tedious side of all of this.
Bulletin boards are popular. No
vacancy in Bates Motel (named for
Anthony Perkin's creepy motel in the
movie "Psycho"); the line is busy. So
are 221 B. Baker Street, PHBI,
Shadowland and The Vault, Caesar's
Palace rings and connects. This is
different breed of board. Caesar's
Palace is a combination Phreak board
and computer store in Miami. This is
the place to learn ways to mess up a
department store's anti-shoplifting
system, or make free calls on
telephones with locks on the dial.
Pure capitalism accompanies such
anarchy, Caesar's Palace is offering
good deals on disc drives, software,
computers and all sorts of hardware.
Orders are placed through electronic
mail messages.
'Tele-Trial': Bored by Caesar's
Palace, you enter the number for
Blottoland, the board operated by one
of the nation's most notorious
computer phreaks -- King Blotto. This
one has been busy all night, but it's
now pretty late in Cleveland. The
phone rings and you connect. To get
past the blank screen, type the
secondary password "S-L-I-M-E." King
Blotto obliges, listing his rules: he
must have your real name, phone
number, address, occupation and
interests. He will call and disclose
the primary password, "if you belong
on this board." If admitted, do not
reveal the phone number or the
secondary password, lest you face
"tele-trial," the King warns as he
dismisses you by hanging up. You
expected heavy security, but this
teenager's security is, as they say,
awesome. Computers at the Defense
Department and hundreds of businesses
let you know when you've reached them.
Here you need a password just to find
out what system answered the phone.
Then King Blotto asks questions -- and
hangs up. Professional
computer-security experts could learn
something from this kid. He knows that
ever since the 414 computer hackers
were arrested in August 1982,
law-enforcement officers have been
searching for leads on computer
bulletin boards.
"Do you have any ties to or
connections with any law enforcement
agency or any agency which would
inform such a law enforcement agency
of this bulletin board?"
Such is the welcoming message from
Plovernet, a Florida board known for
its great hacker/phreak files. There
amid a string of valid VISA and
MasterCard numbers are dozens of
computer phone numbers and passwords.
Here you also learn what Blotto means
by tele-trial. "As some of you may or
may not know, a session of the
conference court was held and the
Wizard was found guilty of some
miscellaneous charges, and sentenced
to four months without bulletin
boards." If Wizard calls, system
operators like King Blotto disconnect
him. Paging through bulletin boards
is a test of your patience. Each
board has different commands. Few are
easy to follow, leaving you to hunt
and peck your way around. So far you
haven't had the nerve to type "C,"
which summons the system operator for
a live, computer-to-computer
conversation. The time, however has
come for you to ask a few questions of
the "sysop." You dial a computer in
Boston. It answers and you begin
working your way throughout the menus.
You scan a handful of dial- up
numbers, including one for Arpanet,
the Defense Department's research
computer. Bravely tap C and in
seconds the screen blanks and your
cursor dances across the screen.
Hello . . . What kind of computer
do you have?
Contact. The sysop is here. You
exchange amenities and get "talking."
How much hacking does he do? Not
much, too busy. Is he afraid of being
busted, having his computer
confiscated like the Los Angeles man
facing criminal changes because his
computer bulletin board contained a
stolen telephone-credit-card number?
"Hmmmm . . . No," he replies.
Finally, he asks the dreaded question:
"How old are you?" "How old are YOU,"
you reply, stalling. "15," he types.
Once you confess and he knows you're
old enough to be his father, the
conversation gets very serious. You
fear each new question; he probably
thinks you're a cop. But all he wants
to know is your choice for president.
The chat continues, until he asks,
"What time is it there?" Just past
midnight, you reply. Expletive.
"it's 3:08 here," Sysop types. "I
must be going to sleep. I've got
school tomorrow." The cursor dances
"*********** Thank you for Calling."
The screen goes blank.
Epilog:
A few weeks after this reporter
submitted this article to Newsweek, he
found that his credit had been
altered, his drivers' licence revoked,
and EVEN HIS Social Security records
changed! Just in case you all might
like to construe this as a
'Victimless' crime. The next time a
computer fouls up your billing on some
matter, and COSTS YOU, think about it!
-----------------------------------
This the follow-up to the previous
article concerning the Newsweek
reporter. It spells out SOME of the
REAL dangers to ALL of us, due to this
type of activity!
The REVENGE of the Hackers
In the mischievous fraternity of
computer hackers, few things are
prized more than the veil of secrecy.
As NEWSWEEK San Francisco
correspondent Richard Sandza found out
after writing a story on the
electronic underground's (DISPATCHES,
Nov. 12, 198 ability to exact
revenge can be unnerving. Also
severe.... Sandza's report:
"Conference!" someone yelled as I put
the phone to my ear. Then came a
mind-piercing "beep," and suddenly my
kitchen seemed full of hyperactive
15-year-olds. "You the guy who wrote
the article in NEWSWEEK?" someone
shouted from the depths of static, and
giggles. "We're going disconnect your
phone," one shrieked. "We're going to
blow up your house," called another.
I hung up.
Some irate readers write letters to
the editor. A few call their lawyers.
Hackers, however, use the computer and
the telephone, and for more than
simple comment. Within days, computer
"bulletin boards" around the country
were lit up with attacks on NEWSWEEK's
"Montana Wildhack" (a name I took from
a Kurt Vonnegut character),
questioning everything from my manhood
to my prose style. "Until we get real
good revenge," said one message from
Unknown Warrior, "I would like to
suggest that everyone with an
auto-dial modem call Montana Butthack
then hang up when he answers." Since
then the hackers of America have
called my home at least 2000 times.
My harshest critics communicate on
Dragonfire, a Gainesville, Texas,
bulletin board where I am on
teletrial, a video-lynching in which a
computer user with grievance dials the
board and presses charges against the
offending party. Other hackers --
including the defendant --post
concurrences or rebuttals. Despite the
mealtime interruptions, all this was
at most a minor nuisance; some was
amusing, even fun.
FRAUD: The fun stopped with a call
from a man who identified himself only
as Joe. "I'm calling to warn you," he
said. When I barked back, he said,
"Wait, I'm on your side. Someone has
broken into TRW and obtained a list of
all your credit-card numbers, your
home address, social-security number
and wife's name and is posting it on
bulletin boards around the country."
He named the charge cards in my
wallet.
Credit-card numbers are a very hot
commodity among some hackers. To get
one from a computer system and post it
is the hacker equivalent of making the
team. After hearing from Joe I
visited the local office of the TRW
credit bureau and got a copy of my
credit record. Sure enough, it showed
a Nov. 13 inquiry by the Lenox
(Mass.) Savings Bank, an institution
with no reason whatever to ask about
me. Clearly some hacker had used
Lenox's password to the TRW computers
to get to my files (the bank has since
changed the password).
It wasn't long before I found out what
was being done with my credit-card
numbers, thanks to another friendly
hacker who tipped me to Pirate 80, a
bulletin board in Charleston, W.Va.,
where I found this: "I'm sure you
guys have heard about Richard Stza or
Montana Wildhack. He's the guy who
wrote the obscene story about
phreaking in NewsWeek. Well, my
friend did a credit card check on TRW
. . . try this number, it' a VISA .
. . Please nail this guy bad . . .
Captain Quieg.
Captain Quieg may himself be nailed.
He has violated the Credit Card Fraud
Act of 1984 signed by President Reagan
on Oct. 12. The law provides a
$10,000 fine and up to a 15-year
prison term for "trafficking" in
illegally obtained credit-card account
numbers. His "friend" has committed a
felony violation of the California
computer-crime law. TRW spokeswoman
Delia Fernandex said that TRW would
"be more than happy to prosecute" both
of them.
TRW has good reason for concern. Its
computers contain the credit histories
of 120 million people. Last year TRW
sold 50 million credit reports on
their customers. But these highly
confidential personal records are so
poorly guarded that computerized
teenagers can ransack the files and
depart undetected. TRW passwords --
unlike many others -- often print out
when entered by TRW's customers.
Hackers then look for discarded
printouts. A good source: the trash
of banks and automobile dealerships,
which routinely do credit checks.
"Everybody hacks TRW," says Cleveland
hacker King Blotto, whose bulletin
board has security system the Pentagon
would envy. "It's the easiest." For
her part, Fernandez insists that TRW
"does everything it can to keep the
system secure
In my case, however, that was not
enough. My credit limits would hardly
support big-time fraud, but
victimization takes many forms.
Another hacker said it was likely that
merchandise would be ordered in my
name and shipped to me -- just to
harass me. I used to use credit-card
numbers against someone I didn't
like," the hacker said. "I'd call
Sears and have a dozen toilets shipped
to his house."
Meanwhile, back on Dragonfire, my
teletrial was going strong. The
charges, as pressed my Unknown
Warrior, include "endangering all
phreaks and hacks." The judge in this
case is a hacker with the apt name of
Ax Murderer. Possible sentences range
from exile from the entire planet" to
"kill the dude." King Blotto has taken
up my defense, using hacker power to
make his first pleading: he dialed up
Dragonfire, broke into its operating
system and "crashed" the bulletin
board, destroying all of its messages
naming me. The board is back up now,
with a retrial in full swing. But
then, exile from the electronic
underground looks better all the time.
+-------------------------------------
+ END of COLOSSUS NEWSLETTER Issue 3,
Volume 1. Please upload to MANY
boards!
+-------------------------------------
+
(Chuck: Whew!) (Ed: My fingers cramped
again!)

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NIGHTLINE: FBI, PRIVACY, AND PROPOSED WIRE-TAPPING LEGISLATION
(Friday, May 22, 1992)
Main Participants:
Ted Koppel (TK - Moderator)
Marc Rotenberg (MR - Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility)
William Sessions (WS - Director, FBI)
TK: In these days of encroaching technology, when every transaction,
from the purchase of a tie to the withdrawal of twenty dollars from a
cash machine, is a matter of record, it may be surprising to learn
that technology has given us some added privacy. To find this new
boon, look at your telephone. It used to be fair game for wiretapping.
Done legally, that requires a court order. But that was the hard part.
For the price of a few pieces of wires and clips, human voices were
there for the eavesdropping. That's changing now. The advent of phiber
optics, of digital communication and encryption devices all mean that
what we say, what we transmit over the telephone lines, can't easily
be spied upon. Even if you could single out the one phone call among
thousands passing in a phiber optic cable, what you would hear would
be a hiss. Voices being transmitted in computer code. That's good
news for businesses, who fear industrial spies, and it's welcomed by
telephone users anywhere, who want to think that what they say into a
receiver is protected. But, it's bad news for those whose business it
is sometimes to eavesdrop. That includes law enforcement. As Dave
Marek reports, it's getting tougher to reach out and wiretap someone.
DM: The explosion of new communications technology, e-mail upstaging
airmail, fax machines pushing prose into offices, homes, and even
automobiles, celluar phones that keep us in touch from anywhere to
everywhere, has created a confusing competition of services and
counter-services.
(Unseen female voice answering telephone): Who is this please.
(Heavy breathing unseen male caller): Why don't you guess?
DM: Take that new telephone service called "caller ID." Already most
phone companies now offer a counter-service which blocks caller ID.
This is bad news if you're fighting off creep callers. But it's good
news if you want to block some 900 number service from capturing your
number on their caller ID screen, and the selling it off to some
direct marketing outfit. But today's biggest communications
controversy is about interception services. Tapping telephones used to
be so simple.
(Film clips from commercial for adult 900 number and film clips of
wiretapping from film "Three Days of the Condor") with reporter's
voice-over.
A snooper needed only a couple of alligator clips and a set of
earphones to hear what was being said. Today's telephones digitalize
chatter into computer code. Bundle all those infinitesimal ones and
zeros into flashes of light and don't reconstruct them into sound
again until just before the call reaches your ear. This has made phone
tapping much tougher. But still, according to Bell Atlantic executive
Ken Pitt (??): There's never yet been an FBI surveillance request a
phone company couldn't handle.
KP: We have been able to satisfy every single request that they've
made, not only here at Bell Atlantic, but all across the country.
DM: Still, when the FBI looks into the future, it sees trouble. It
sees criminals like John Gotti becoming able to shield their
incriminating conversations from surveillance and thereby becoming
able to defeat law enforcements best evidence.
Clifford Fishman:: When you're going after organized crime, and the
Gotti case is a perfect example, the traditional techniques, visual
surveillance, the paper trail, trying to turn the people who are on
the inside, trying to infiltrate someone into the, uh, organization,
they all have built-in difficulties. Witnesses can be killed, they can
be bribed, they can be threatened. Ah, the most effective evidence
quite often that a prosecutor can have, the only evidence that can't
be discredited, that can't be frightened off, are tape recordings of
the suspects talking to each other, discussing their crimes together,
planning their crimes together, committing their crimes together.
DM: As FBI Director William Sessions told a Congressional Hearing late
last month:
WS: The technology must allow us access, and it must allow us to stay
even with what we now have. Else, we are denied the ability to carry
out the responsibility which the Congress of the United States has
given us.
KP: One of the solutions they've asked for is the simple software
solution.
DM: This would involve not tapping into individual phone lines, but
planting decoding software into:
KP: ....The central offices where the telephone switching's done,
where the wires are connected to ((bad audio cut)) ...the computers,
and someone, the FBI is saying, "Let's do the switching, let's do the
wiretaps with the software."
DM: This software solution is already in use. But communications
expert Marc Rotenberg says it could lead to future abuses of privacy
by creating a surveillance capability:
Marc Rotenburg: ...which would allow the agent from a remote keyboard,
not in the phone system, not at the target's location, to punch in a
phone number and begin recording the contents of the communication.
That also's never been done in this country before. It's not too
different from what the STAZI (??) attempted to do in East Germany.
But the ((one word garbled)) for abuse there would be very hard.
DM: Protecting the privacy of ordinary conversation isn't the only
issue at stake here.
Janlori Goldman (ACLU): The privacy rights of ordinary citizens will
be put at risk if the FBI's proposal goes forward. Right now, all
kinds of very sensitive information is flowing through the
telecommunications network. A lot of routine banking transactions,
people are sending information over computer lines. ((One word
garbled)) will be communicating more over the network. And what is
happening is that as the private sector is trying to make systems less
vulnerable, to make them more secure, to develop encryption so that
these people don't have to worry about sending information through, if
the FBI's proposal goes forward, those systems will be at great risk.
DM: Encryption, or putting communications into unbreakable code,
frightens the FBI and the super-secret National Security Agency, which
monitors communications of all kinds all around the globe. Like the
FBI, the NSA wants total access. And to assure it, the NSA wants to
limit all American companies to a communications' code system it can
break. Some people call that "turning back the clock."
JG: What we're seeing is an FBI effort to require US industries to
basically reverse progress, and there's no way that international
companies will be following the U.S. trends in this area. If anything,
they will surpass us, they will go beyond us, and we will be out of
competiveness in the information market.
DM: The competition to control and surveil communications spreads
across all the boarders on the planet and squeezes inside the flickers
that activate a computer's brain. But what makes both the big picture
and the little one so hard to focus is that the rules of the
surveillance game are always changing. Every time, a new
technological explosion makes new ways of snooping possible. I'm Dave
Marek for Nightline in Washington.
TK: When we come back, we'll be joined by the Director of the FBI,
William Sessions, and by an expert in privacy law, Marc Rotenburg.
((COMMERCIAL))
TK: As Director of the FBI, William Sessions is the point man in the
lobbying effort to adjust new technologies so that his agency can
continue to use telephone wiretaps. Judge Sessions joins us in our
Washington studios. Also joining us in Washington is Marc Rotenburg,
the Director of the Washington Office of Computer Professionals for
Social Responsibility. Mr. Rotenburg, who teaches privacy law at
Georgetown University, says that the FBI proposal would invite use of
wiretaps.
Judge Sessions, I'd like to begin on a more fundamental point. As you
understand better than most, the very underpinning of our system of
jurisprudence is that it's better to let a hundred guilty men go free
than to wrongfully convict one innocent man, so why should the privacy
of millions of innocents be in anyway jeopardized by your need to have
access to our telephone system?
WS: Ted, I think that that question has been fundamentally answered by
the Congress back in 1968 with the Organized Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act, when it decided that it's absolutely essential for law
enforcement to have court ordered and court authorized access to ((two
words garbled)) privacy information normally private conversations, if
they involve criminal conduct. And the point is that unless you have
that access to criminal conversations, you cannot deal with it in a
law enforcement technique or a law enforcement method. Therefore,
it's essential that you have the ability to tap into those
conversations. So, privacy of that kind is not an issue. Criminality
is.
TK: Although, what is currently the case, is that you would be
required on a case-by-case basis, to get a judge to give you
permission to do that.
WS: That is absolutely correct. The United States District Judge, who
is the person authorized to actually give that consent, must be
convinced that it is absolutely necessary, and that the technique will
be properly used under the law.
TK: If you have, therefore, the centralized capacity to do that, let's
say from FBI headquarters, doesn't that invite abuse?
WS: There has been no suggestion that that would ever be contemplated
under any system. There are necessities of tapping phones that, in
connection with various criminal cases around the country, have many
different jurisdictions, from the east to the west. The point is that
a court would authorize the FBI, or other law enforcement agencies, to
have that access.
TK: All right. Mr. Rotenburg, what then is the problem? What then is
different from the modality that the FBI uses these days?
MR: Well, Mr. Koppel, I think the critical point, that the 1968 law
which Judge Sessions referred to, set down very strict procedures for
the conduct of wire surveillance. And the methods that come from
reading that history, the Congress was very much concerned about this
type of investigative method. They described it as an investigative
method of last resort. And it's for that reason that the wire
surveillance statute creates so many requirements. Now, the FBI has
put forward a proposal that would permit them to engage in a type of
remote surveillance, in other words, to permit an agent, with a
warrant, to presumably type in the telephone number to begin to record
a telephone conversation. That capability has not previously existed
in the United States, and I think that's the reason the proposal is so
troubling.
TK: But, if this happens, still, under control of the judge, the
technical means of doing it may be somewhat changing, but as long as
the legality has not been changed, and the means by which the FBI gets
permission to do this kind of thing, why should that trouble us in
anyway?
MR: Well, the two are closely related. Communications privacy is very
much about network security. It's about sealed pipes, and showing
that information can move through the network and not be intercepted
unlawfully by anyone who shouldn't have access to it. When you talk
about designing the network to facilitate wire surveillance, in a
sense to replace walls with doors that can be opened, you create new
opportunities for abuse, and I see this as a problem.
TK: Judge Sessions, again, there is the argument that is made, and I
guess Mr. Rotenburg is one of the most eloquent proponents of this
argument, that the FBI doesn't want this particular breakthrough in
technology, that the FBI is taking a sort of Luddite philosophy here,
and saying if indeed communications can be so safeguarded against
intrusion, well that's just too darn bad.
WS: Well, of course, as you noted, it is absolutely essential, the
essential ingredient is that there be a court authorization to kick
out that particular conversation that is authorized to be overheard,
authorized to be intercepted. And, so, the spectre that Mr. Rotenburg
raises does not exist in any shape or form in what we're proposing.
All we are proposing is that with the digital telephony capability,
that we be able to maintain the same capability that we've always had
under the Organized Crime Control and Safe Streets Act. That is, to
have access to that particular digital bit, or that particular
conversation, always under a court authorization with (two words
garbled). And as Mr. Rotenburg noted, very, very meticulously and
carefully followed by the courts with an insistence upon total
compliance with the law. That's all we seek. That is, to stay even and
to be able to have that necessary access under the law.
TK: Has the FBI, in the past, Mr. Rotenburg, ever requested any kind
of technological assistance? I mean, they've always had to go to the
telephone company anyway, and say, "Help us get in."
MR: Well, yes. And that's appropriate to an extent. The FBI, when
they're in possession of a lawful warrant, I think, can expect
assistance in execution of the warrant. The difference in the FBI
proposal that's now before the Congress is that the communications
service providers are going to need to design their systems with wire
surveillance in mind. And that's not been previously done. The
Congress of 1968 that Judge Sessions referred to purposely created an
"arms-length" relationship between the Bureau and the telephone
companies, and I don't think they wanted a situation to develop where
this system was being designed to facilitate wiretapping.
TK: All right. We have to take a break, gentlemen, but when we come
back, let's discuss where it is in Congress right now, and where it is
likely to go next. We'll continue our discussion in a moment.
((COMMERCIAL))
TK: And we're back once again with Marc Rotenburg and FBI Director
William Sessions. Judge Sessions, what is it you're asking Congress?
WS: What we want to be able to do is to maintain our capabilities to
actually access the digital bitstream that is in the digital telephony
capability. We're asking the Congress to give us a mechanism whereby
we can actually do that. I believe it will now be proposed that rather
than being through the Federal Communications System, it will be
actually through the Department of Justice, that it will, in fact,
allow that oversight to ensure that those companies that do in fact,
under that guidance, prepare us the capability, or give us the
capability, to access that digital stream in the digital telephonic
process.
TK: Which you could access independently, without turning to the
telephone company.
WS: We would be able to do it under a court order, and always under a
court order.....
TK: ...I understand that. I'm just talking about, technologically
speaking, you would have the capacity to access it on your own without
assistance from the telephone company.
WS: I would think that that would not be so, Mr. Koppel, because what
will happen is that it would be, normally the court would order the
telephone company to provide the access.
TK: Again, Mr. Rotenburg, I don't quite understand what the difference
is. If the telephone company has the capacity to do that, then even
though...under the current law, presumably, the FBI would be able to
go to the telephone company if it has the right court order in hand
and say, "Give us access."
MR: The difference, Mr. Koppel, is that currently agents either go to
the site where the target is and conduct a physical wiretap or they go
to the central exchange office of the telephone company and conduct a
tap there. There are other ways to do it as well, but for the most
part it involves physical access to the networks. The new proposal
speaks specifically about designing a remote surveillance or
monitoring capability. Now, that's a change.
WS: That's because of the nature of the technology. The technology now
allows us simply to do exactly what he says....
MR: ....But that's not maintaining the status quo. That is a new
capability that you would get if the proposal goes forward.
TK: Why should I, as an individual consumer of telephone, fax,
whatever the technology may be, why should I be concerned about that,
Mr. Rotenburg?
MR: As I've said before, I think that this is the type of proposal
that's likely to invite abuse. It makes the network less secure. And
the other aspect of the proposal, which has also raised concerns, is
that it give the Department of Justice new authority to set standards
for communications of all kinds in this country.
TK: May I turn it around for a moment? If I may, I think that what
you're suggesting is not that it makes it less secure, but that the
new technology makes it more secure than it has been in the past, and
the FBI wants to stay even. Would you argue with that?
MR: It may make it more secure in the future. It's not clear what the
outcome will be, frankly, if you go forward with these changes that
the Bureau has proposed.
WS: What I think you must remember is that when you're talking about
illegal access, you're talking about illegal conduct. That is, conduct
for which a crime can be charged. Therefore, if you had illegal
conduct anywhere, now or then, illegal use of the system, improper use
of the system, that is the basis of a criminal charge.
TK: The easier the access, the easier the abuse, and the more
difficult it is to approve that abuse. Would you agree with that,
Director?
WS: Well, the easier the access, it is still a matter of having access
under the law, under court-authorized permission, and that access,
whether it's on digital, or whether it's on, presently, analogue, that
access is what we seek to maintain.
TK: I guess what I'm saying, Judge Sessions, is that there have been
enough instances of abuse over the past 25 or 30 years that people
become concerned about making it too easy for their law enforcement
operatives.
WS: One of the things you see, Mr. Koppel, is when there is abuse or
failure to follow the techniques, it plays out in the courtroom. You
see it in the courtroom with the testimony that goes on that stand,
under oath, that describes a failure, if there is a failure, to carry
out the procedures under Title Three. So it's all in the court
processes. It is not hidden. And if there is an abuse, either the
wiretap evidence would not be allowed, or it would be weakened to that
extent, or, criminal charges would be brought if there's actually
illegal conduct.
TK: Unless, of course, the wiretap evidence is used to acquire other
evidence, and the defense attorneys are not aware of the fact that the
wiretap evidence was used in the first place.
WS: Well, there's always the "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree" philosophy.
That is, if you've illegally acquired at some point, done something
illegal, it may thereafter change that, it's not acceptable....
TK: ...I understand the philosophy Judge. What I'm saying is that if
you don't know that that has happened, if you don't know that the
other information has been acquired through the wiretap, and if the
wiretap is too easily controlled by the FBI, with or without, I mean,
if you have the physical capability of doing it, do you at least
concede the potential for abuse is greater than it would have been
before?
WS: No, I really don't concede that at all, because now, if you have
endless numbers of ways that you could actually tap into the analogue,
it will be a much more secure system that you actually have, because
it will require special ways again. A special computer program that
will allow you to do that, that is designed to let you in, that is
court-authorized, court-approved, and specifically for that line,
specifically for that conversation, specifically for that purpose
and no other.
TK: All right. Closing argument again, Mr. Rotenburg.
MR: Well, it is simply the replacement of fixed walls with doors that
can be opened, and while it may be the case that some agents operating
operating with warrants will use that facility as it should be used,
it's clear the opportunities for abuse will increase. And I think all
these new problems for the Bureau as well.
TK: New problems in the sense that, when Judge Sessions says you can't
bring it to court if it hasn't been done through proper procedures,
he's quite right obviously.
MR: But it may not be the Bureau that we would be concerned about. It
may be people acting outside of any type of authority. For the last
several years, we've seen that the telephone network is increasingly
vulnerable, and this vulnerability plays out as new weaknesses are
introduced.
WS: Well, I'd have to interject that with the new systems, with the
new technology, it would be far more secure and far less likely that
could happen, and if it does happen, again, the recourse is the
criminal charge for the improper criminal conduct in accessing that
information.
TK: Judge Sessions. Mr. Rotenburg. Thank you both very much for being
with us.
WS: Thank you Mr. Koppel.
MR: Thank you, Mr. Koppel.
** END **

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From an article in the Herald, 16.8.90.
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<EFBFBD> The following text was from an article in the <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>
<EFBFBD> New Zealand Herald on Thursday, August 16 1990 <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>
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FORGET HOMEWORK, COMPUTER KIDS DISCOVER ELECTRO-PORN
-======================================================-
By BEN HILLS writing in the
Sydney Morning Herald
It is getting on for midnight and the crack of light under young Danny's
bedroom door shows he is still up. You walk in, and there he is still
tapping away on his Amiga computer. Instead of watching television or
hanging out in the streets, he is hard at work on...
The screen blacks out, then lights up with a spreadsheet of Australian
agricultural exports. Danny swings around on his chair, his finger still on
the dump button, and gives an innocent smile:"Sorry, mum,just got carried
away with this interesting homework..."
"All right, just another 10 minutes." You shut the door, and give an
indulgent smile to your spouse. "It's just the best thing we ever bought
him."
Back in the Bedroom, young Danny reboots his system and the image he was
really interested in coalesces on the screen. It is a naked couple - the real
thing, not a line drawing or cartoon animation.
He takes his computer joystick in hand and manouvers the matching parts
into place, watching as his score clicks up for the number of
successful penetrations.
AD 2001? No way. This is just a sample - and one of the more inoffensive
samples at that - of the sort of electronic pornography that is available to
now to any half-literate home computer hacker in Sydney.
Welcome to lovebytes - the censor's ultimate nightmare.
Sale of X-rated videos might be banned everywhere outside the Northern
Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. Imported films without a
Censorship Board classification might be illegal. States might have
restrictions on the display of explicit material, or its sale to under-18s.
But for the cost of a local phone call, anyone with a home computer and a
modem can log into any one of hundreds of electronic bulletin boards -
preferably one which taps into an overseas network - and obtain a
memory-bank-full of material, some of which would bring a blush to the
cheek of the Marquis de Sade.
Forget about Dungeons and Dragons, Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtles - the hottest games on the Sydney home computer hit parade this
winter have names like Party Games, McPlaymate, and Animal House.
Twenty years ago, Marshall McLuhan said television would make the world a
village. Cheap, user-friendly computers have created the global brothel.
Without much trouble, I arranged a meeting with a young man who preferred
to be known by his nom-de-modem of Crudd. I was shown a selection
which ranged from soft-core shots of Penthouse centrefolds to the latest La
Cicciolina movie (The Rise and Fallof a Roman Empress) to Animal House,
which features various unspeakable acts with dogs, donkeys and chickens,
to "interactive party games" in which the player(s) can compete.
Most of the material is taken from an overseas network of bulletin boards
- there is much demand for the output of military installation in the
American Mid-West where bored computer operators create much of the
raunchier electro-porn.
But, thanks to a $750 gadget known as a digitiser, a local cottage
industry has sprung up in do-it-yourself dirty discs.
"There's no control over it at all," says Crudd, who admits to having
embarrassed a girlfriend by using computer technology to graft her head on
to an explicit Penthouse chassis and transmit it to friends.
The technology explosion that made this possible has left regulators
floundering in its wake. Most of the state vice squads contacted had not
heard of love-bytes - or (when it was explained) did not know whether they
were breaking any law.
The first move to ban computer porn has come from a member of the ACT
Legislative Assembly, a self-styled broadminded former policecman named
Dennis Stevenson, leader (and sole member) of the Abolish Self Government
Party.
Two weeks ago he tried, and failed by one vote, to legislate to ban the
booming trade in X-rated videos in Canberra, the national capital's biggest
export industry.
Mr Stevenson says he was shocked at the material which his staff were
able to obtain with a cheap Amiga computer from bulletin boards around
Australia and overseas.
"I have a couple of printouts on my desk right now, and even though the
quality is not that good, you can see they are explicit ... not the sort of
stuff you'd want in the hands of 14 or 15-year-olds."
He says computer pornography is worse than X-rated videos because:"The
kids don't need to use the family video. They can do it in the privacy of
their bedrooms ... anyone who knows how to use a computer and a modem can
obtain this stuff, and the parents wouldn't have a clue."
But the matter of enforcement is, understandably, vague. Police raids on
home computers? Tapping the billions of bytes that flow down the
phone-lines? Restricting PC sales to those over 18?
"The first stept is obviously to make it illegal to sell or distribute
this material, and I intend to do this by reintroducingmy bill to ban
X-rated videos with a section including computer material. We will just
have to see where we go from there," he said.


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From Computerworld, 1 April 1991. Typed in by The Bear...
I have spoken with Randall Jackson of Computerworld's Wellington office,
this story is NOT a hoax.
PM'S TEAM GETS SET TO MOVE ON ID CARDS
by Clive Mathew-Wilson
The Government plans to introduce a National Identity Number scheme for
all New Zealanders by the end of next year, Computerworld sources say.
The numbering system is likely to involve the use of a "smart" ID card.
A team working on the project with the Prime Minister's office has yet
to announce its findings to Parliament, but it is understood it is the
format of the ID scheme, not the scheme itself, that is being debated.
Usually reliable sources within Parliament suggest the ID scheme -
originally proposed by the International Monetary Fund - was already
part of Treasury's economic reform plans before the election, and that
it is being implemented virtually without change by the new Government.
The first stage of implementation - data sharing between the Social
Welfare department and the IRD - is expected to take place shortly.
It is understood that in place of any new common identity numbering
scheme, the issuing and control of IRD numbers will be tightened, and an
IRD number used in all relevant transactions throughout various
government departments.
More than 1.7 million ID numbers are currently allocated to wage and
salary earners, and recent changes to tax laws require every bank
account to be tagged with an IRD number by 1992.
This would, in effect, give every New Zealander a unique, computerised
serial number.
It is believed the only real problems facing the ID card scheme are
those of computer power.
Doubts have been raised over the ability of existing systems to cope
with the information-handling and storage needs of a National ID Card.
The most likely scenario at present, entails a gradual phasing-in of
both the card and the information-matching based around it, starting
with data-matching between the huge Social Welfare and IRD computer
systems, which operate out of the same GCS installation at Trentham.
One key target of the ID card is understood to be the public health
system. The computerised "smart" card, with its instant reference to a
person's income details, is to be used to target healthcare as the
public health system is wound down.
If Computerworld's source is correct, a number of politicians and civil
servants appear to have been economical with the truth.
Prime Minister Jim Bolger, while he was in opposition, undertook not to
introduce a common identification number system, despite a confirmation
by the IRD at the time that the IRD number was, in fact, such a system
already.
Similarly, shortly before the elections last year Inland Revenue
Commissioner Dave Henry denied the IRD had plans to link its computer
systems with those of Customs, Births, Deaths and Marriages, Social
Welfare, Housing Corporation and ACC. Shortly after the election, plans
to link the Social Welfare and IRD computers were announced.
The Australian Government, which failed dismally in its plans to launch
a national ID card, is understood to be watching the New Zealand
experiment with interest, pending a possible re-introduction of the
scheme in Australia in a somewhat different form.
Civil liberties spokesperson Barry Wilson attacks what he terms a
"conspiracy of silence" over the issue.
"When has there been any informed public debate over whether New
Zealanders need or want ID cards? The public, by and large, has been
completely ignored," he says.
"New Zealanders voted against the ID card scheme when they dumped
Labour."
Computerworld sought ministerial and IRD response on the issues, but
neither had answered our calls by press time.
EOF
KIWICARD AND YOU
----------------
New Zealand Privacy Foundation
PO BOX 3385
AUCKLAND, NZ
Phone (011649) 298-8651, (011649) 674-429
MEMBERSHIP $10 WAGED, $5 UNWAGED
KIWICARD AND YOU...
In a pre-election speech Ruth Richardson said, "ID cards have got
all the trappings of Big Brother - I am a freedom loving New
Zealander." Jim Bolger said "National absolutely rejected any
proposal for a common numbering system between the two departments
[Inland Revenue and Social Welfare] or for identity cards."
BROKEN PROMISES!
Soon the data matching between these departments is to commence, and
the first Kiwicards, or Community Services Cards, as we are supposed
to call them, are to be sent to beneficiaries.
THE GOVERNMENT TELLS US THE CARDS ARE VOLUNTARY, yet they are
automatically to be sent out to beneficiaries and pensioners. They
are needed to obtain free or subsidised health care and many
families are so hard pressed by job losses and benefit cuts that the
card will be a necessity. Each card has the CARDHOLDER'S NAME AND
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. So much for that promise.
THE CARDS HAVE A MAGNETIC STRIPE which Mrs Shipley states is never
to be read by a machine. If that is the case, why is it on the card?
THEY ESTABLISH ENTITLEMENT TO SUBSIDISED HEALTH CARE BUT ARE NOT
SUFFICIENTLY SOPHISTICATED TO DO THIS ON THEIR OWN. The Minister of
Health has said that "up to five cards may be involved." The
obvious next step is to make the card "smart". How long do you
think it will take for the Government to break its promise not to
make it a "smart" card? Maybe they will keep that promise and give
the "smart" card another name. "Dumb" or "smart", and whatever it
is called, the Kiwicard still stinks.
QUESTIONS WE NEED TO ASK
- Why are new cards being devised for health care when we already
have adequate existing systems?
- Why was the legislation for the Kiwicard rushed through without
consultation with the public or a Parliamentary Select Committee
hearing?
- Why are enormous amounts of money being spent on computer system
when these funds could be targeted to health care users?
- If the Kiwicard is not to be extended to other fields, why is the
legislation authorising it worded to allow much more extensive use?
- Why are there no safeguards against the misuse of the card by
Government agencies, such as the police, or by private enterprise?
- There has been no formal cost-benefit analysis to assess a need
for data matching. It is likely to cost well in excess of half a
billion dollars and will bring unproven and unknown financial
return. How can this sort of expense be justified?
- Although the card has been presented as a health entitlement card
for low income earners, it has been stated to be inadequate for
the task. A member of the Government "Change Team" told TV3 that
a "smart" national ID card is being planned for all New
Zealanders. The New Zealand Privacy Foundation believes that the
Kiwicard is the thin end of the wedge, paving the way for the
"smart" card.
AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE NEW ZEALND PRIVACY FOUNDATION
- To act as a watchdog on privacy issues.
- To put a stop to the Kiwicard (now known as Community Services
Card) and related erosions of personal privacy, including
information swapping between Government departments and proposals
to introduce "unique personal identifiers."
- To oppose the development of surveillance systems that intrude
upon the rights and privacy of the indiviual, especially systems
of data matching, identification cards and unique numbering
systems.
- To campaign and lobby for the protection of the individual against
privacy intrusion.
- To educate New Zealanders and increase public awareness in
relation to the right of personal privacy and privacy issues.
- To conduct research into privacy related issues and technologies.
JOIN THE NEW ZEALAND PRIVACY FOUNDATION:
Send to : The Trustees
NEW ZEALAND PRIVACY FOUNDATION
PO BOX 3385
AUCKLAND
CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS : (09) 298-8651, (09) 674-429
...............................................................................
MEMBERSHIP FORM
Please enrol me as a member of the New Zealand Privacy Foundation.
Name ..........................................................
Address ..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................
Phone ...................................
I enclose $ .......................... annual membership/donation
(MEMBERSHIP $10 WAGED, $5 UNWAGED)

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PORTUGUESE PIRATES BUSTED BY POLICE
Two young guys were busted last friday by the portuguese police.
The investigation ended after a week. The police done domiciliary inves-
tigations in four houses and informatic material was captured by them, that
the experts investigated.
The two guys are acused of carding, entering in a european network,
and capturing credit cards and then, and magnetizing the credit cards,
with one machine that they carded from the usa. The method they used was
deleting their credit cards and introducing the victims informations, that
they got from the european networks.
The phraud was discovered in the initial phase when a envolved 10/20 of
citizens that noticed strange debits in their bancary accounts.
Those young guys were the first to be busted by carding in Portugal.
They are acused too of steel and then sell confidential information.
The informatic 'experts' of the police investigated the computers, but
those guys teached them how to use their engine, and maybe something else.
The police says that millions of escudos were phrauded.
Signed: Dr.Kaos & Traderfox
PS: This text is true, you can consult Diario De Noticias of 14th of July.

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Printed in Popular Communications November 1992 issue.
Page 4
By Tom Kneitel, K2AES
You say that someone overheard your cordless telephone and
learned your bank account number? Ho boy!
You claim that despite a federal privacy law your cellular
phone was monitored but someone who told your boss you said he
was a skinflint? Whoa, but who cares?
You tell me that some 16 year old got your company computer's
security password from a BBS, then used it to open a $5000
credit line charge account for himself? Hey, I'm all choked up.
Every couple of years a few computer hackers get caught and
are written up in the newspapers. That triggers yet another round
of astonished revelations on the tabloid TV shows. the indignant
show hosts act mortified at learning some of the computer files
that hackers have been able to invade. This invariably includes
financial and educational records, court
and police information, scientific data, and national defense
data.
This ritual of hacker discovery takes place regularly every
two or three years. Each time it's as if none of these
practices had ever before been made known to the public.
We are asked to have limitless pity for those poor owners of
those computers whose private and sacred data has been
ruthlessly violated at the hands of marauding cyberpunks
with their evil computers.
Another round of this drivel appears to be in progress now. I
recently saw a replay of the entire scenario right down to
Geraldo Rivera on TV discussing computer hackers. With a face
of stony seriousness, it was as if he had personally
discovered the first young hacker ever captured alive and
forced to confess his many sins in front of a TV camera.
Personally, I thought the hacker came across a lot better than
did Geraldo.
Despite this continuing negative public relations campaign to keep
the world living in dread fear of hackers, I'm still not
sold on the need to immediately sign up for the tar and
feather brigade. In fact, methinks I smell a red herring.
I'm beginning to suspect that all of this medial coverage
consists of nothing mote than the chintziest possible way of
finding convenient scapegoats to blame for the failure of the
nation's data security systems.
Somewhere along the line someone forgot that it's the
responsibility of those wanting security to sufficiently
upgrade their own technology to the point where it works. The
Primary responsibility for providing computer security can't
be relegated to third parties on the basis of expecting they
will offer security simply by ignoring the tempting and easily
accessible data because they are told it's "illegal" to
access, and because they should realize that it's not nice to
snoop.
That logic doesn't wash. That system of security can't work.
Why should it work for those seeking security for their
computerized data?
In the July '92 issue of U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings,
there was a feature on C4I by Robert David Steele, Assistant
Chief of Staff (in charge of C4I- command , control,
communications, computer, and intelligence) at Headquarters,
U.S. Marine Corps. He stated "The inherent danger in a
necessary but risky strategy of reliance on commercial
communications and computer equipment-to transmit much of our
operational logistics, personnel, and even intelligence
information. around the globe- exacerbates the targeting-data
and mapping shortfalls. The Marine Corps is off the limb and
out in free fall when it comes to vulnerability to our C4I
links...Our reliance on commercial satellites and ground
switching stations leaves us wide open to total shutdown of
our communications, and complete penetration of our
administrative and logistics computer systems by any skilled
hacker." He noted that this was the weakest and most
neglected, C4I link in the Marine Corps.
The man spelled it out very well. If commercial
telecommunications landlines, satellites and other facilities
are to be relied upon, then they can be penetrated by skilled
hackers.
And have you noticed that the majority of skilled hackers you
learn about from the media are young adults or even teen age
hobbyists using home computers? Some of these hackers are
benign and merely curious, others just like the challenge of
seeing how many systems they can invade. Sure, there are also
pranksters, plus a sprinkling of those who are truly
malicious. The media seldom mentions the really dangerous
professional computer security violators-those involved in
industrial espionage , or who work for foreign governments,
international drug cartels, terrorist groups, and organized
crime. Nevertheless, benign or malevolent, hobbyist or
professional, all who snoop through presumed secure computers
have the potential to steal, modify, or destroy all kinds of
data. That this can still so easily be accomplished seems rather
astonishing at this point.
Underground BBS's offering information on these techniques are
popular and known to all who wish to seek out the information.
The data in the computers that hackers are accused of
accessing is just sitting there. It's tempting, tantalizing,
juicy, ripe and practically crying out to be called up. To
some amateurs and computer hobbyists, this is what amounts
to an "attractive nuisance", similar to a swimming pool of a
high tension electric tower. Attractive nuisances are
potentially dangerous, but desirable and easily accessible
things that require a fence or other security measures, lest
the owner be declared negligent. Every individual, industry,
and government entity is responsible when they create and
maintain an attractive nuisance. They can post all of the "No
Trespassing" signs they want, but they still must have
safeguards such as fences. If their safeguards are violated,
the owner of the attractive nuisance can still be considered
to have been less than diligent in keeping out intruders. The
intruder may be only minimally held responsible for getting
through.
Somehow, though, the communications industry is unique in that
it gets off the hook with being responsible for its many
attractive nuisances. A "No Trespassing" sign is hung up, and
intruders are considered to be in the wrong after that.
Common sense dictates that those wanting or needing real
security have no right to fall back upon low tech public
access telecommunications systems, then cry "foul" when the
security systems don't work for them. This includes all
categories of governmental users, including the military.
Maybe they'll have to hang up and use circuits closed to the
public.
Those business firms, universities, government entities, and
others who demand tight security but need to or elect to
remain connected to the public access telecommunications
system are going to have to get better security advice, and
more efficient programs. Don't want to? Then they can and
will continue to have their data exploited by outsiders. They
must tolerate it without complaining.
It's hard for me to have very much pity for multi-million
dollar companies, or the federal government when I hear about
their broached computer security. Not when I learn that it
can be zapped by a hobbyist with a personal computer and a
program that was downloaded from a BBS. I don't quite go so
far as those hackers who claim that they're performing a
public service by pointing out the security loopholes in
computer security systems. The main service they are
performing is in embarrassing those folks in charge of
computer security. This is a service that is hardly
appreciated, and is undoubtedly what has sparked their
hilarious and hysterical media diversionary blitz and
smokescreen on the evils of hackers
My own policy on cellular and other comms has been that if you
want privacy, it's solely your responsibility to assure that
you take whatever steps are required to cause your system to
be secure from outside interception. The responsibility can't
be effectively dumped onto third parties either by
legislation or by appeals to public ethics and good-will. So
let it also be with the data stored in computers.
I'm not an advocate for computer hackers, or for hacking-
quite obviously some of it has resulted in damage to and theft
of data. But let's be at least a little fair bout this
ridiculous media overkill relating to amateur hackers. How
about sharing some of the blame by shifting the complete focus
off the hackers? Let's also see groups of these inept and
impotent computer security experts dragged out in front of the
tabloid TV cameras to own up to the public about their total
inability to protect data about you and I, and on national
defense, stored in and exchanged between public access
computers.
How about asking financial institutions, business, and
governmental agencies to explain why the data they are
supposed to be holding in trust? And, forgetting about the
hobbyists, let them admit to the potential threat to their
stored data from terrorist groups, foreign governments,
organized crime, and other high powered professional operations.
Nobody wants to talk about any of these things. If the public
ever learned the real threats to stored data, they would no
longer be too worried about amateur and hobbyist hackers.
Hobbyist hackers have been around for more than a decade.
It's really time now to stop the crocodile tears for the
government and big companies that get their data rifled by an
image of *Billy Whizbang* and his souped up *Commodore 64*.
If companies and agencies are so stupid and lazy that they
still can't protect important and vital data, then what they
deserve is our anger and derision, not public pity. The
public, in turn, needs some real answers instead a of a lot of
garbage blaming it all on teenage hackers.
Fifty years ago, young people reacted to attractive nuisances
by swimming in a neighbors's pool while the people were on
vacation. Or they stole the bell from the town church.
Today, maybe they are into computer hacking instead. These
are bright and creative people-let's not forget that. One the
one hand, people complain young people wrecking their brains
on drugs and loud rock music. Hobbyist hackers are young
people who aren't spending money on drugs and rock CD's
(typist's note...I have a LOT of rock CD's). Take your choice.
We aren't condoning computer hacking. Certainly the practice
must be monitored and discouraged until the computer industry
can find some people intelligent enough to devise valid
security systems. But we should be mindful that in a few
years, these young hackers are the bright people who will be
on the cutting edge of developing future technologies.
Instead of getting bent all out of shape about their
undirected curiosity, let's think about trying to channel
their talents and interests into more constructive
directions! In all fairness, we can't allow the inept
computer security industry make them sound too evil when,
after all, hackers are (at worst) no more than a small part of
the computer security problem.
Retyped for your pleasure by BMO (scanners? BAH!)

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MISSOURI MAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO
CHARGES OF CRACKING 911 SYSTEM
(Feb. 17)
A 19-year-old University of Missouri
has pleaded not guilty to federal
charges he invaded the 911 emergency
phone network for nine states, then
passed along stolen information in an
electronic publication.
Craig Neidorf was indicted earlier
this month along with Robert J. Riggs,
20, of Decatur, Ga. They are charged
with interstate transportation of stolen
property, wire fraud and violations of
the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
of 1986.
As reported earlier, prosecutors
allege the two used computers to enter
the 911 system of Atlanta's Bell South
and copied the program that controls and
maintains the system. The stolen
material then allegedly was published on
a computer bulletin board system
operating in the Chicago suburb of
Lockport. Authorities contend Neidorf
edited the data for an electronic
publication known as "Phrack."
Associated Press writer Sarah Nordgren
reports that at a hearing Thursday,
assistant US Attorney William Cook was
granted a motion to prevent the 911
program from becoming part of the public
record during the trial. US District
Judge Nicholas Bua set April 16 as the
trial date.
The 911 system in question controls
emergency calls to police, fire,
ambulance and emergency services in
cities in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, North
Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.
Downloaded From P-80 Systems 304-744-2253

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THE SOUTH POLE..........[312] 677-7140
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
-DATELINE MAY 14, 1983
-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
"PUBLISHER PIRATES PUBLISHER?"
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
AVANT-GARDE, THE EUGENE, OREGON-BASED PUBLISHER OF SOMETIMES OFFBEAT APPLE
SOFTWARE, WAS EMBARRASSED RECENTLY BY THE DISCOVERY THAT THEIR MOST RECENT
CREATION, "TRIPLE ARCADE INSANITY", CONTAINS CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT THE PROGRAMS
WERE WRITTEN USING PIRATED SOFTWARE. THE DISK CONSISTS OF THREE ARCADE-STYLE
GAMES WRITTEN WITH A COPYRIGHTED GAME-WRITING UTILITY PROGRAM CALLED "THE
ARCADE MACHINE" FROM BR0DERBUND SOFTWARE INC, OF SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA.
ALTHOUGH AVANT-GARDE'S PRODUCT PACKAGING STATES THAT THE PROGRAMS WERE DESIGNED
USING BR0DERBUND'S UTILITY, EACH OF THE THREE GAMES CONTAINS A MENU WHICH IS
PART OF AN ALTERED VERSION WIDELY CIRCULATED AMONG APPLE "PIRATES".
THE UTILITY'S NORMAL MENU CONTAINS EIGHT OPERATIONS TO BE PERFORMED ON THE
GAME UNDER DEVELOPMENT. APPARENTLY DISSATISFIED WITH THE RESTRICTED MENU,
WHICH ALLOWS THE GAME TO BE SAVED ONLY ON A DISK WITH A COPY-PROTECTED FORMAT,
A WELL-KNOWN EXPERT IN SOFTWARE "UNPROTECTION" (OR "KRACKIST", AS THEY PREFER
TO BE CALLED) MADE SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATIONS TO THE PROGRAM. NOT ONLY WAS THE
COPY PROTECTION REMOVED FROM THE DISK, BUT A NINTH MENU ENTRY WAS ADDED WHICH
ALLOWS THE DEVELOPED GAME TO BE STORED AS AN APPLE DOS BINARY FILE ON A
NORMALLY-FORMATTED DISK.
WHAT THE GAMES' AUTHOR, BRAD POSEN, APPARENTLY DID NOT KNOW WAS THAT WHEN A
GAME IS STORED, OR "SAVED", WITH THE ADDED FEATURE, THE INCRIMINATING
NINE-CHOICE MENU IS SAVED WITH IT. THUS, EACH COPY OF THE DISK DISTRIBUTED BY
AVANT-GARDE ADVERTISES THE ILLICIT SOURCE OF ITS GENERATION. PROBABLY EQUALLY
EMBARRASSING IS THE PRESENCE OF AN APPLE II "SCREEN" IN ONE OF THE PROGRAMS
WHICH CONTAINS A CATALOG LISTING OF SEVERAL "BROKEN" AND PIRATED APPLE PROGRAMS
SUCH AS GEBELLI SOFTWARE'S "HORIZON V", SIERRA ON-LINE'S "CANNONBALL BLITZ",
AMONG OTHERS.
IT WOULD APPEAR THAT AVANT-GARDE, IN A RUSH TO CASH IN ON SOME RELATIVELY
UNIMAGINATIVE ARCADE GAMES, COPIED AND DISTRIBUTED THE ENTIRE DISK SUBMITTED BY
WHAT MUST BE A YOUNG, NAIVE AUTHOR. IN SO DOING, THEY HAVE INADVERTANTLY
EXPOSED AN AMUSING IRONY--ONE PUBLISHER GAINING VIA THE ILLEGAL USE OF ANOTHER
PUBLISHER'S COPYRIGHTED PRODUCT. IT IS WIDELY KNOWN BY MAJOR SOFTWARE
PUBLISHERS THAT PIRATED COPIES OF SUCH DEVELOPMENT UTILITIES ARE WIDELY
DISTRIBUTED, AND PROBABLY FREQUENTLY USED FOR THE GENERATION OF COMMERCIAL
SOFTWARE, BUT THIS EPISODE MARKS THE FIRST PUBLIC CONFIRMATION OF THE FACT.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Call The Works BBS - 1600+ Textfiles! - [914]/238-8195 - 300/1200 - Always Open


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File: MERRY PRANKSTERS-WOZNIAK&JOBS
Read 11 times
-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-
- MERRY PRANKSTERS -
= InfoWorld -- October 1, 1984 =
- By Allan Lundell & Geneen Marie Haugen -
= Word Processed for SF][ by BIOC Agent 003 =
-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-
-------------------------------------------------------
Jobs and Wozniak unearth the secrets of phone phreaking
-------------------------------------------------------
The year was 1971. Two silent figures were observing the entrances to SLAC,
the complex that housed the Stanford Linear Accelerator. With one of the
newest, shiniest atom smashers in the world, the SLAC facility at Stanford
University was a physicist's dream -- a center for investigation into the most
basic elements of reality.
But the two observers were not interested in the nature of reality. Racing
to a side entrance, they snuck past the SLAC security patrols and entered the
high-technology library. They knew their way around, having visited the SLAC
facility several times before. It was always exciting to break in; there was
no limit to the information they could absorb.
This time, however, they were on a specific mission. Thumbing through a
document on multifrequency telecommunications systems, Steve Wozniak whispered
to his friend, Steve Jobs.
"This is it! This matches the frequencies in Esquire exactly! With this
information, we can build one!"
The future creators of the Apple II computer pulled out their pens and
notebooks, scribbling data almost faster than a high-speed line printer. This
was no minor treasure. They had unearthed some of the secrets of the little
blue box, topic of the infamous Esquire article on phone phreaks by Ron
Rosenbaum. [Esquire article on-line -- parts I - VI - SF Phreak L2 (9)]
The blue box was the magical device needed to enter and exercise control
over the world's phone system -- the world's electronic nervous system. And
now the two Steves had the access codes.
Days of intensive effort followed, until they held their first model, with
wires and coils spilling out, to the phone and punched the secret codes. After
many exasperating failures, the phone rang a long-distance number. Someone
answered....
Jobs yelled out to the person on the line: "Hello! We've got a blue box,
and we are calling you from California! Where are you located?"
A little confused, their first planetary contact yelled back: "I'm in Los
Angeles!"
The boys needed help. Now that they knew the Esquire story was truth and
not fiction, they imagined its hero, Cap'n Crunch, must be real, too. The two
Steves put out the word through the underground that they wanted to meet him.
It was some meeting. The infamous Cap'n had named himself after Cap'n
Crunch breakfast cereal when he'd discovered that their free bos'n whistle
produced a fundamental tone for long-distance calls. He also found out other
phone intelligence information he needed from Bell System publications and by
making himself obnoxious at the Bell switching offices. Cap'n Crunch was
charting the unkown seas of the phone system with the true "Star Trek" spirit
of seeing what there was, going where no man has gone before, and having fun
doing it.
Woz had imagined Crunch to be a superengineer, a consultant to the computer
industry, an ultragenius driving a van equipped to do everything but fly -- a
hybrid version of James Bond, the Man from U.N.C.L.E., and the professor on
"Gilligan's Island." but at this first meeting in the Berkeley dorms ol' Woz
did a double take. Standing before him was, well, a madman. With long frizzy
hair, the Crunch was wild-eyed and almost toothless, to boot, like a pirate
from the seven seas.
Cap'n Crunch launched immediately into his discoveries. After many hours
had passed, Wozniak and Jobs knew how to access different countries, overseas
information operators, satellites, and transoceanic cables.
Woz and Jobs were handed an opportunity to test out their newfound knowledge
late that night. On their way to Jobs' house in Silicon Valley, the car died
out near a phone booth in the town of Hayward. They tried to beep their way
back to Berkeley with their trusty blue box, but Woz had trouble making the
connection. He was getting very nervous trying to "explain" to the operator
what he was doing, when a police car pulled up and slammed on the brakes,
lights flashing. The office sauntered over to the phone booth, and the two
Steves knew they had been tricked by the operator. The officer, trained in the
ways of criminals caught in the act, shifted his attention to some nearby
bushes -- thinking the boys had thrown something in them. In this instant,
Jobs passed the blue box to Woz, who quickly shoved it in his coat pocket.
Brave move. But to no avail: The officer routinely searched both and
liberated them of their new tool. The officer randomly pushed buttons, and the
blue box responded: bleep, bleep, blup, bloop!
"What's this?" he demanded.
Woz took a chance: "I-it's a m-m-music synthesizer, officer."
Another police officer arrived and started trying to figure the thing out.
He grilled them: "What's the orange button?"
"That's for calibration," Jobs said. "It's designed to interface with a
computer."
The two boys were escorted into the back of the patrol cruiser. Feeling
doomed, they were beginning to realize that being a pioneer and a prankster had
its risks. Then the cop with the box turned around from the front seat and
handed them the blue box, saying, "A good idea, but a guy named Moog beat you
to it...."
There is probably no one in the computer industry who has not heard of Steve
Wozniak and Steve Jobs. A lot of people in the industry have heard of John
Draper, alias Cap'n Crunch, and a lot of people haven't. But probably everyone
in the industry -- probably everyone in Western society -- knows someone like
them: The guy with the ham radio next door. The kid down the street who
crashed his school's computer from home. The hacker in the office across the
hall who's always tampering with everyone else's files. They all seem to be
propelled by some inborn drive to do what few -- if any -- can do or have done.
These are the brethren of the high-tech frontier, the would-be merry
pranksters of computerdom. The brethren break new ground, thinking the
unthinkable, charting the unknown. Wherever their minds go, we will all go --
eventually. No one holds the future so much in their hands as the pioneers of
today's supertechnology. Thank God, they've got a sense of humor.
In the formative years of the brethren, before they'd settled on a field of
specialization, when they were young and unconsciously adventurous, they were
unaware of the strength of the cultural rules. for some of them, a
prankstering spirit could mean disaster, but Woz and Jobs seemed to live an
almost magical existence beyond the law and trouble. After mastering the blue
box, they organized blue-box parties at the Berkeley dorms. Once a week, with
an audience of 20 or 30 people, they held demonstrations. They'd call
operators in other countries and go around the world by switching from an
operator in one country to an operator in another. Finally a phone would ring
in the dorm room next door. Someone would pick up and hear Woz's voice coming
from around the world.
They'd call Dial-A-Joke in New York (Woz subsequently started his own
dial-a-joke service), weather numbers in Australia, phone booths in Cape Town,
bars in Ireland, all amplified so the entire audience could hear. Before the
night was through, everyone in the room would talk to some friend or relative
in another country -- all for free, all for fun. Woz was always thinking
up fantastic feats for the Berkeley Blue Box Show. Everyone loved him, and he
loved being the star. Before long he was calling himself Berkeley Blue and had
an almost professional routine. When whe was finished blowing away the
audience, Blue's partner Jobs, code-named "Oct Tobor," would step in and offer
shiny new blue boxes for sale -- guaranteed at a low, low price of $80. Shades
of things to come....
Woz and Jobs didn't just hand-wire their boxes. Woz created them with
state-of-the-art technology and laid them out on personally designed printed
circuit boards. This was a professional operation, a miniature high-technology
company, complete with product, sales, service, and support. Woz immersed
himself in the tech, Jobs collected the money. Those boys sold more than two
hundred boxes and lived off the revenues for an entire school year.
A charmed life, some might say. But then the blue-box luck ran out. One
night Woz and Jobs stopped at a pizza parlor practically next door to Woz'a
elementary school in the Silicon Valley town of Sunnyvale. They were on their
way to Berkeley to sell a blue box, but they need some money right away and
thoght they might save themselves the trip by selling it in Sunnyvale. Almost
eeryone feels safe in a familiar haunt in his hometown, and Jobs and Woz were
no exception. Chewing their pizza, they surveyed the customers at the other
tables. The families were out of the question. So were the tables full of
teenagers.
But there were some really disreputable-looking characters at another table
who looked as if they might be able to put the blue box to good use. Feeling
confident, Wozniak and Jobs approached the table and had a low conversation
about the merits of the box. Were they interested? They were interested all
right. And they were hooked after they watched the demonstration. They didn't
have the money right then, so they took Woz and Jobs out to their car under the
pretext of giving them their business card.
The only problem was that the business card was a gun. That blue box
changed ownership pretty fast, and the shady characters drove off. They had
the box -- but they didn't know how to use it, and Woz and Jobs never told
them. The secrets of Cap'n Crunch were safe.
In 1974, Cap'n Crunch, aka John Draper, was busted for blue-boxing. For the
second time. By federal, state, and local authorities. Fraud by wire was the
charge. He had already spent six months in a federal penitentiary in
Pennsylvania. The second time, he was sent to Lompoc -- a federal pen in
California.
The likable yet unfortunate Cap'n. How could he have know when he learned
how to make free long-distance calls from blind kids who whistled their
frequencies into the phone, that he'd do time? How could he have know that the
Cap'n Crunch cereal that inspired the blue box would lead to this? How could
he have know when he blue-boxed his way to Nixon's bedside to inform the
president of the nation's toilet paper crisis that he might end up in the
slammer?
In Lompoc an inside informer for the Mafia broke [the Cap'n's] back when he
refused to impart the secrets of the blue box. That was the end of Cap'n
Crunch but not of John Draper -- a man described by Wozniak as being wanted by
the FBI because he was "too intelligent." If Draper hadn't been made such a
folk hero by the press, it might not have gone badly for him. Then again, his
final stay in jail led him to computer fame and fortune. It was while he was
in a work program that he wrote Easy Writer, the first professional-style word
processing program for the Apple.
A couple of years later, IBM was looking around for software to bundle with
its PC. By that time, there were better packages than Easy Writer, but someone
at IBM had a sense of humor. IBM asked Draper and his new software company,
Cap'n Software, to design and program this now classic word processing package
for its first entry into the personal computer market -- an irony not lost on
those familiar with his bouts with AT&T.
After their brushes with the dark side of the force, John Draper, Stephen
Wozniak, and Steve Jobs got a whole lot smarter. They wised up to some of the
mysterious workings of the power structures. They lost their innocence, but
they gained something else.
Wozniak and Jobs struck it rich early in the Silicon Rush. They made
history with their Volkswagen-like Apple II. John Draper became wealthy enough
to drive a Mercedes-Benz through the streets of Berkeley with his first release
of Easy Writer for the Apple II.
New fortunes are still being made regularly in Silicon Valley, if not as
often as they once were. And empires that once were, already are no longer.
A new crop of microcomputer genius-pranksters is making headlines. Their
exploits have inspired movies and a television show. As technology's first
wave of pranksters comes of age, they are shifting their curiosity to things
that are, as Wozniak explains, "creative and useful." But they're still doing
things that few -- if any -- have done. Wozniak sponsored live satellite
linkups with the Soviet Union at his outdoor musical US Festivals. Draper is
masterminding a vast artificial intelligence network. Some of the others early
pioneers are funding private space programs. Some are pursuing medical
applications such as life extension. Others are entering the arena of
politics.
In the realm of genius-pranksters and supertechnology, just about anything
is still possible.
Putting the most powerful tools into the hands of individuals with
creativity, integrity, and courage is bound to have awesome consequences. When
the real whiz kids get together to conspire, they create not simply pranks, but
miracles... <>
[Courtesy of Sherwood Forest ][ -- (914) 359-1517]
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How To Talk To The Press by Johnny Mnemonic
Excerpt from Computer underground Digest 4.45 (23-Sep-92)
((It was rumored that, immediately after his appearance on
an NBC news show, that John (Cap'n Crunch) Draper was
released from his job for reasons of fiscal expediency.
Whether true or not, this seems like a good time to reprint
Mike Godwin's advice on "How to Talk to the Press" for those
who are in the rolodexes of media folk)).
This is a file I posted to an Austin BBS back when I gave the SJG
story to the local papers.
104: Talking to Media, part 1
By: Johnny Mnemonic [54]
Date: 11:07 3/18/90
As I've promised on another message base, here's the beginning of
discussion of how to bring stories to the media.
Since I keep thinking of different things people ought to know about
how to take a story to the media, I'm going to make this a multi-post
discussion.
1) TRY TO THINK LIKE THE REPORTER YOU'RE TALKING TO.
One of the things that happens when people know about an event or
series of events that may make a good news story is that they assume
the importance of the story will be obvious to anyone.
Sometimes this is true (when the tipster knows about a murder, for
example). Often it's not.
So, when I tell a reporter about a story I think she should want to
cover, I make sure to stress the aspects of the story that are likely
to interest that reporter and/or the readers of her publication. For
example, when I spoke to Kyle Pope about the Illuminati seizure, I
stressed the following:
a) Steve Jackson Games is an Austin business that may end up being
damaged by the seizure.
b) Nobody has given this story anything like major coverage in the
national media, or (so far as I knew) in other geographic areas. (I
was telling him he had a major "scoop" opportunity.)
c) There are some very dramatic aspects to this story. (I told him
about the 20-year-old LoD member who woke up on the morning of March 1
with a gun pointed at him by a Secret Service agent.)
2) IF YOU'RE GOING TO MEET THE REPORTER IN PERSON, TRY TO BRING
SOMETHING ON PAPER.
There are lots of good reasons to follow this rule:
a) Believe it or not, but people take stuff on paper a little more
seriously than the spoken word. It's nice to give the reporter
something that lends substance to what you're saying, even if the
substance is printouts from your own computer.
b) It makes life easier for the reporter, who doesn't have to write
down every single thing you tell her. Reporters like to have materials
they can use for reference as they research and write their stories.
c) It helps you remember to say everything you want to say. Nothing is
more frustrating than trying to get a reporter interested in your
story, getting inconclusive results, and then realizing later that you
should have told the reporter about something. (E.g., "Damn! I forgot
to tell him what 'cyberpunk' means, so he won't know how the federal
agents misinterpreted the manual.")
When I went to the Statesman, I took edited printouts of discussions
from Flight, from SMOF, and from comp.dcom.telecom on Usenet. I also
took some private Email I had received, with the names of the senders
deleted. And I took my copy of the WHOLE EARTH REVIEW with the article
on Usenet. My object was to convey to him the scale of concern about
the seizures, plus give him enough background to be able to ask
reasonably informed questions of the people he talked to.
3) GIVE THE REPORTER OTHER PEOPLE TO TALK TO, IF POSSIBLE.
Two basic justifications for this rule: First, it'll help your
credibility (especially if you don't already know the reporter
personally). Second, multiple sources or witnesses usually enable the
reporter to filter out what is mere opinion or speculation from what
everybody actually knows for a fact.
4) DON'T ASSUME THAT THE REPORTER WILL COVER THE STORY THE WAY YOU'D
LIKE HER TO.
Reporters' accuracy and focus in a story are constrained by several
factors:
a) The amount of available time. Reporters have to be quick studies,
and often have to assimilate a complex story in a hurry. This
necessarily increases the risk of inaccuracy in a story, and gives you
an even greater reason to follow Rules 1 through 3.
2) The reporters' obligation to be fair. This means they have to talk
to people on the other side of the issues from you. This in turn means
that you're unlikely to get a story that represents or promotes your
point of view at the expense of those who oppose you.
<More on this topic as I think of things. Please feel free to comment.>
------------------------------
-/Vuarnet International/-
617/527.oo91
24oo-16.8k HST/V32bis

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(NEWS)(GOVERNMENT)(NYC)(00001)
Computer Access Arrests In NY 11/03/92
GREENBURGH, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 3 (NB) -- The
Greenburgh, New York Police Department has announced the arrest of
three individuals, Randy P. Sigman, 40; Ronald G. Pinz, Jr, 21; and Byron
J. Woodard, 18 for the alleged crimes of Unauthorized Use Of A computer
and Attempted Computer Trespass, both misdemeanors. Also arrested was
Jason A. Brittain, 22 in satisfaction of a State of Arizona Fugitive From
Justice warrant.
The arrests took place in the midst of an "OctoberCon" or "PumpCon"
party billed as a "hacker get-together" at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel in
Greenburgh. . The arrests were made at approximately 4:00 AM on
Sunday morning, November 1st. The three defendants arrested for
computer crimes were granted $1,000 bail and will be arraigned on
Friday, November 6th.
Newsbytes sources said that the get together, which had attracted up to
sixty people, had dwindled to approximately twenty-five when, at 10:00
Saturday night, the police, in response to noise complaints arrived and
allegedly found computers in use accessing systems over telephone lines.
The police held the twenty-five for questioning and called in Westchester
County Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Citarella, a prosecutor versed
in computer crime, for assistance. During the questioning period, the
information on Brittain as a fugitive from Arizona was obtained and at
4:00 the three alleged criminal trespassers and Brittain were charged.
Both Lt. DeCarlo of the Greenburgh police and Citarella told Newsbytes
that the investigation is continuing and that no further information is
available at this time.
(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19921103)

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.FBI raids major Ohio computer bulletin board; action follows joint
investigation with SPA
The Federation Bureau of Investigation on Saturday, Jan. 30, 1993, raided
"Rusty & Edie's," a computer bulletin board located in Boardman, Ohio,
which has allegedly been illegally distributing copyrighted software
programs. Seized in the raid on the Rusty & Edie's bulletin board were
computers, hard disk drives and telecommunications equipment, as well as
financial and subscriber records. For the past several months, the Software
Publishers Association ("SPA") has been working with the FBI in
investigating the Rusty & Edie's bulletin board, and as part of that
investigation has downloaded numerous copyrighted business and
entertainment programs from the board.
The SPA investigation was initiated following the receipt of complaints
from a number of SPA members that their software was being illegally
distributed on the Rusty & Edie's BBS. The Rusty & Edie's bulletin board
was one of the largest private bulletin boards in the country. It had 124
nodes available to callers and over 14,000 subscribers throughout the
United States and several foreign countries. To date, the board has logged
in excess of 3.4 million phone calls, with new calls coming in at the rate
of over 4,000 per day. It was established in 1987 and had expanded to
include over 19 gigabytes of storage housing over 100,000 files available
to subscribers for downloading. It had paid subscribers throughout the
United States and several foreign countries, including Canada, Luxembourg,
France, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United
Kingdom.
A computer bulletin board allows personal computer users to access a host
computer by a modem-equipped telephone to exchange information, including
messages, files, and computer programs. The systems operator (Sysop) is
generally responsible for the operation of the bulletin board and
determines who is allowed to access the bulletin board and under what
conditions. For a fee of $89.00 per year, subscribers to the Rusty & Edie's
bulletin board were given access to the board's contents including many
popular copyrighted business and entertainment packages. Subscribers could
"download" or receive these files for use on their own computers without
having to pay the copyrighted owner anything for them.
"The SPA applauds the FBI's action today," said Ilene Rosenthal, general
counsel for the SPA. "This shows that the FBI recognizes the harm that
theft of intellectual property causes to one of the U.S.'s most vibrant
industries. It clearly demonstrates a trend that the government understands
the seriousness of software piracy." The SPA is actively working with the
FBI in the investigation of computer bulletin boards, and similar raids on
other boards are expected shortly. Whether it's copied from a program
purchased at a neighborhood computer store or downloaded from a bulletin
board thousands of miles away, pirated software adds to the cost of
computing. According to the SPA, in 1991, the software industry lost $1.2
billion in the U.S. alone. Losses internationally are several billion
dollars more.
"Many people may not realize that software pirates cause prices to be
higher, in part, to make up for publisher losses from piracy," says Ken
Wasch, executive director of the SPA. In addition, they ruin the
reputation of the hundreds of legitimate bulletin boards that serve an
important function for computer users." The Software Publishers Association
is the principal trade association of the personal computer software
industry. It's over 1,000 members represent the leading publishers in the
business, consumer and education software markets. The SPA has offices in
Washington DC, and Paris, France.
CONTACT: Software Publishers Association, Washington
Ilene Rosenthal, 202/452-1600 Ext. 318
Terri Childs, 202/452-1600 Ext. 320

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Prof Pilloried for race theory
By Jeffrey Ulbright in Toronto
Professor Philippe Rushton has been confined to lecturing into a video
camera at Western Ontario University, where his theories on race and
intelligence have made him a discomforting presence. Since the academic year
began, students taking Dr Rushton's undergraduate course - Theories of
Personality - have been obliged to pick up his 90-minute taped lectures, view
each one alone and in seclusion, and telephone the psychology professor with
any questions. Dr Rushton gained notoriety throughout North America by
announcing that his research showed whites were more intelligent than blacks,
Orientals were more intelligent than whites and the reasons were genetic and
evolutionary. University officials say the special treatment of Dr Rushton's
lectures is necessary to avoid disturbances, even violence, by some elements
on the campus at London, Ontario. Dr Rushton responded in an interview: "In
my view, it's an infringement of my academic freedom because I cannot discuss
my views with the students and the students are not allowed to challenge me.
The whole normal student-teacher relationship is gone." His performance
evaluation also has been dropped from a consistent "very good" or "excellent"
to "unsatisfactory." That could have been the first step in an administration
attempt to sack him, but the university senate grievance committee has
overturned the psychology department evaluation. "That means I get a pay
increase," Dr Rushton said, "and most importantly, it removes any possibility
of the university initiating dismissal proceedings against me on those
grounds." Administration officials deny the university is trying to muzzle or
harass Dr Rushton or interfere with his academic freedom. "No one involved
thinks videotaping lectures is the best solution to the problem, but it's the
only one we could come up with that we think is viable," said Dr Tom Collins,
vice-president for academics. "A lot of people are critical of that
situation." Dr Rushton, aged 46, has been at Western Ontario for 13 years
and, until January 1989, laboured in relative obscurity. He was known in
academia as co-author of the best-selling textbook Introduction to Psychology
and won a Guggenheim research fellowship in 1988, but burst into public view
only with a 20-minute speech to the American Association for the Advancement
of Science. Many scientists stormed out of the hall in San Fransisco when Dr
Rushton set out his thoughts on genetic and evolutionary differences between
the races. "My conclusions are totally unpopular," he admitted. "I conclude
that, on 50 or 60 different measures, Orientals and blacks are at opposite
ends of a continuum with whites, or caucasoids, falling consistently
somewhere in the middle. These measures include intelligence, sexual
behaviour, brain size, law abidingness, social organization skills,
personality and speed of physical maturation." Dr Rushton also teaches a
graduate course called Human Life History, covering the evolutionary basis of
personality. Only two students are enrolled and he teaches it "more or less
normally", he said. "We meet once a week in a location that is kept secret
from everybody but me and the two students." For the twelve undergraduates in
his theories of Personality course, he goes to a different classroom each
week to tape a lecture. "Normally there would be up to 60 students in this
class," he said. The students are allowed to telephone him during one hour a
week to ask him questions or make appointments. An appeal of the ruling that
he must teach by videotape is still before the university senate. "This is
consuming an enormous amount of my time," Dr Rushton complained. Dr Collins,
the university vice-president, said when asked whether the university was
embarrassed by the professor: "In the university in general, some people are
embarrassed by his work. The official stance is he has academic freedom and
will be judged by his peers." Dr Rushton says racial difference is a
fascinating question on which he has worked since 1981 and published since
1984, "even getting ratings of excellent from the university for my race
work. It was when it began to be public that the axe began to come down on my
head." Race was a taboo, he said, but that "only goes back to the Second
World War as a result of Hitler's so-called racial policy." In the aftermath
of the war, there had been a virtual self-imposed taboo on the scientific
study of race differences from a genetic perspective. No known environmental
cause explained the differences between races, said Dr Rushton. "Things like
white racism and poverty just don't do it." "If I had said either that the
differences do not exist and it's all due to white racism, then I would not
have run into trouble. But once you suggest genetics or evolution in the
context of race, you're in for trouble, and I knew I would be." Dr Rushton
says he does not like being unpopular and that he wants to make a
contribution to science and be rewarded with approval for doing so. "I do
not like to have my views totally unpopular as they are," he said, "but I do
believe I'm right. I feel that this is something that is going to be
recognized."
Typed in by Mark Norman, for The Pinnacle Club BBS Library. 

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From werner Thu Oct 27 14:06:34 1988
Flags: 000000000001
From: funny@looking.UUCP (Funny Guy)
Subject: KW Record Article on Joke Debate
Keywords: administrivia
Date: 30 Nov 88 20:20:15 GMT
Organization: Looking Glass Software, Waterloo Ont.
The following article appears today on the *Front Page* of the Kitchener-
Waterloo Record, the major daily in the town in which I live.
It is reproduced *with* permission. (How often do you see that?)
It may not be reproduced for commercial purposes.
[ In my opinion this is a gross misrepresentation which will possibly
result in not just the downfall of rec.humor.funny, but many other
groups as well. Further comment follows. Don't reply to me, yet.]
The Kitchener-Waterloo Record
225 Fairway Rd.
Kitchener, Ont.
N2G 4E5
1-519-894-2231
Wayne MacDonald, Managing Editor
Story Byline: Luisa D'Amato
===========
Editor's note: As a matter of general policy, the Record does not
publish material judged to be racially offensive. We have made an
exception in this article because the actual jokes and comments
contained within represent the central issue and are the key
elements in aid of full reader understanding and appreciation.
By Luisa D'Amato
Record Staff
Controversial racial jokes are being sent by computer from Waterloo to
about 20,000 people world-wide, using the University of Waterloo
mathematics computer systems as part of the chain of communication.
>From California to Massachusetts to Isreal, computer users are bitterly
arguing about Brad Templeton of Waterloo adn whether he ought to be
transmitting jokes that some see as offensive and racist.
Templeton, who owns Looking Glass Software in Waterloo, is the editor
of a computer joke exchange that is part of the USENET computer network.
One recent joke depicts a black man, who is dating a gorilla and isn't
allowed to buy it a drink in a bar. He dresses, shaves and puts
makeup on the animal, which is then let into the bar and
is mistaken for an Italian woman.
Another joke describes a Jew who is murdered after he tricks a Scotsman
into buying him dinner.
Officials at UW say they are discussing what to do about the fact the
institution carries Usenet -- including the joke exchange.
Templeton said in an interview that he's edited the joke exchange without
pay, as a hobby, since August of 1987. He said only about 10 per cent
[No, I said 5%] of the jokes he sends out are racially, sexually or
otherwise offensive.
His usual practice with offensive jokes is to put them in code. Then,
the people who want to read it press a couple of keys to decode it.
He receives dozens of jokes each day from readers and sends out about
two a day. He said he doesn't judge the jokes based on their content,
but only their comic value.
"Jokes which offend some people do come through," Templeton said.
"It's my belief that it is better to have a world in which we can
laugh at the evil things that are in the world, than a world where we
must carefully consider whether or not anything can offend someone."
[I doubt my grammar was that bad.]
But others don't agree.
"This sort of thing just enhances stereotypes," said Abyd Karmali, who
graduated this year from UW with a chemical engineering degree. "It
legitimizes having these feelings and sharing them with people. That
can only be damaging."
Karmali now studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He
shares an appartment there with another student, Jonathan Richmond, one
of several people who sent messages objecting to Templeton's judgement.
After lengthy debate on this, Templeton sent a joke, in code, entitled,
"Top 10 reasons not to replace Brad as moderator."
Among the 10 reasons: "Kill six million of 'em, and the rest lose their
sense of humor. Jeez."
Asked about that line, Templeton said, "Mostly I was just making fun there.
That line was sarcasm... A lot of people wrote back to say that line was
tremendously funny.
"The idea is what you're laughing at is the absurdity of the line; the
absurdity of suggesting that killing six million Jews was something to be
taken lightly. That's why the 'Jeez' is there. And so I feel that's
definitely an example of a line where you're laughing at the racist
attitude rather than the race.
Richmond said he sees the joke as an "act of violence" which "defames
the memory" of the Holocaust victims.
"One racist joke disseminates over a network of thousands of people.
It's the promotion of an underground network of bigots," he said.
"People feel that have a different relationship with computers than with
other people," he said. "They feel that can type on to a keyboard what
they might not say to someone's face."
Meanwhile, Karmali, who was a student residence don and president of the
chemical engineering society while at UW, says his alma mater is
"acting as an accessory" in the matter.
UW gets USENET because many of the network's hundreds of different groups
offer "valuable information" on computer software, said Lyn Williams,
executive assistant to the dean of mathematics.
The university sees itself as a "common carrier" of information, with
no mandate to review information passing through its computer system,
she said.
But she said it would be possible for UW to discard the so-called
recreational services in USENET, such as the joke exchange and tips
on sports and leisure activities.
Alan George, UW vice-president academic and provost, said Tuesday that
he hasn't heard about the controversy, but "I'm certainly going to
ask a lot of questions."
"In some way, the university is facilitating this... and I think, as
such, we'll certainly look into it," he said.
"The university generally would be opposed to any ethnic or racially
offensive jokes."
About 180 people at UW regularly read the joke exchange, Templeton said.
And "no one from Waterloo that has contacted me has expressed anything
but support," said Templeton, who was a UW student in the late 1970s and
early 1980s.
Templeton said he believes the controversy arose because the joke about
the Jew and the Scotsman was transmitted close to the 50th anniversary of
Kristallnacht, Nov 9-10, 1938, when Jewish businesses were gutted and
synagogues burned in Germany.
After richmond complained, Templeton apologized for having neglected to
put the joke in code.
However, Richmond said that doesn't answer his concerns. "It's still
there... He ahs sent it out with the (descriptive) keyword, 'racist'...
He is an editor. He should not include jokes which are racially offensive.
Richmond, who is Jewish, sent a message to other computer users. He said
he worked in Watts, the black ghetto of Los Angeles, and "I have
many eyewitness accounts of the hurt caused by racial stereotyping and
by the jokes which promote it."
But many users disagreed with him. One message from Tel Aviv University
in Israel asked Richmond: "Maybe you should ask yourself why do you
take it so badly; maybe there is something wrong with your sense of
self-identity?"
Another wrote: "My ultimate goal -- to reply to Jonathan Richmond -- is
the elimination of Jonathan Richmond."
--30--
--
The rec.humor.funny fascist. (Thanks to whoever gave me that title!)
From werner Thu Oct 27 14:06:34 1988
Flags: 000000000001
From: funny@looking.UUCP (Funny Guy)
Subject: You can Reply to the K-W Record Article by electronic mail
Summary: Information on how to reply to the record article
Keywords: administrivia
Date: 30 Nov 88 22:40:44 GMT
Followup-To: news.misc
Organization: Looking Glass Software Ltd.
As you can see, Johnathan Richmond took the RHF debate to the press.
His attempt to do so caused the article you just saw, which among other
things, will put pressure on the University of Waterloo administration
to cut not just rec.humor.funny but all the non-technical groups from
this region of the net. This would include many groups Mr. Richmond
did not intend, such as soc.culture.jewish!
What the University does is of course, up to them.
If you wish to express an opinion, you can mail one, phone one, fax
one or, though a mailbox I have set up, EMAIL one. Email will of course
be easiest for you, but I suspect that the other media might be more
impressive. It's up to you. I will forward the contents of the
mailbox record@looking.UUCP to their editors. You MUST follow certain
rules if you wish your letter to be considered an official letter to the
editor, as it will not be signed.
I would ask people in K-W to use regular postal mail if they can.
PLEASE BE MODERATE IN YOUR OPINIONS, AND DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO ENSURE
THAT THE FLAMES ARE NOT FANNED FURTHER THAN THEY HAVE TO BE ON THIS MATTER,
PARTICULARLY IN THE GENERAL PRESS. We can solve these problems by ourselves.
===================================
Title the letter "LETTER TO THE EDITOR"
Mark the letter "c/o Ross Weichel"
Make the salutation: "To the Editor:"
Keep the letter short, and to the point. And, to be honest, don't write
like most people do to the net. :-)
Sign your letter with your full name, and give your address and some
phone numbers where you can be reached. They will want to verify what
they print as authentic.
You can reply to this message, and it will go to record@looking.UUCP, not
to me. Be warned, however, that the mail you send will not be private.
(As a letter to the editor, that's not surprising.)
While I'm an honest man, I can understand if you don't wish to use this
method of mail considering my bias on the issue. I vow to retransmit
as is.
=====================================
If you wish to FAX a letter, the FAX number is: 1-519-894-3912
If you wish to telephone, the number is 1-519-894-2231. I am not sure
how phone calls are counted.
If you wish to write with regular mail, use:
The Editor
c/o Ross Weichel
Kitchener-Waterloo Record
255 Fairway Rd.
Kitchener, ON
N2G 4E5
Canada
======================================
I can't tell you what to say, or whether to support me or not.
What I want is to show them that they have seriously misrepresented
the nature of the affair, and the level of public opinion amongst those
who have seen the full context of the matter.
Don't be abusive -- be reasoned, whether for or against me.
They are a medium sized large paper, with circulation of about 90,000.
(That's actually fairly big for a daily.)
My own detailed comments will follow when I'm a tad calmer.
Don't reply to me right away, or rush to offer me a feed. I am sure
that these sort of things can be dealt with if they arise. I still
believe they will not.
***Remember, replies to this message go to record@looking.UUCP.***
PLEASE, TRY TO KEEP THINGS CALM, he shouted.
Looking talks to math.waterloo.edu (watmath) and "att", but they will
only forward from within AT&T.
--
The rec.humor.funny fascist. (Thanks to whoever gave me that title!)


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Disc jockeys who were suspended by a radio station
for concocting an elaborate on-air murder confession apologized to listeners
Friday.
Morning radio personalities Kevin Ryder, Gene ``Bean'' Baxter and former
Arizona radio personality Doug Robert - who now works at the Southern
California station - were suspended for the incident at KROQ-FM. The duration
of the suspension wasn't disclosed.
Ryder and Baxter were heard on a pre-recorded apology aired Friday.
The disc jockeys were in a meeting with KROQ executives Friday afternoon and
couldn't be reached. A receptionist who refused to give her name said none of
the executives was available.
Officials at the parent company, New York City-based Infinity Broadcasting
likewise were unavailable, said a secretary for Mel Karmazian, Infinity
president and chief executive officer.
The trio was suspended a week after KROQ acknowledged the stunt to the Los
Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which spent 10 months investigating
hundreds of called-in leads.
In Washington, the head of the Federal Communications Commission's
enforcement division said Friday that similar hoaxes have led to FCC license
revocations. The KROQ incident was being investigated by the FCC.
``We are evaluating what action, if any, we should take,'' said Charles E.
Kelley, adding the station ``could lose its license for this type of incident
if it was judged by the commission that the incident showed an abdication or a
loss of control by the station.''
The Sheriff's Department plans to bill the Burbank station for time spent
investigating last June's hoax, said sheriff's spokesman Bob Stoneman.
``I don't even want to guess'' the amount of the bill, Stoneman said.
KROQ officials were considering further disciplinary action against the disc
jockeys based upon listeners' responses, the Los Angeles Times reported.
On Thursday, the station was deluged with hundreds of calls from angry
listeners and at least one advertiser was threatening to pull its ads.
The bogus confession was made June 13 during a ``Confess Your Crime'' skit
in which Ryder and Baxter encouraged listeners to call in and reveal their
transgressions on the air.
The caller, who refused to give his name, said:
``I heard you guys talking. I really need to tell somebody about this.
``I had this girlfriend for like about six years and we were right on the
verge of getting married and all of this stuff. And I came home and caught her
with somebody ... a good friend of mine, as a matter of fact.''
After some prodding by the disc jockeys, the caller admitted that be had
badly beaten his girlfriend:
One disc jockey asked: ``Is there a chance, seriously, that you killed
her?''
The caller responded: ``Yeah, I know I did.''
More than 60 calls and faxes flooded the station shortly after the
confession aired. Hundreds more phoned authorities after the local news
agencies and the TV series, ``Unsolved Mysteries'' reported the confession.
Among the most persistent callers were a mother and father in Northern
California who are trying to solve the mystery of their daughter's death.
X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X
Another file downloaded from: The NIRVANAnet(tm) Seven
& the Temple of the Screaming Electron Taipan Enigma 510/935-5845
Burn This Flag Zardoz 408/363-9766
realitycheck Poindexter Fortran 510/527-1662
Lies Unlimited Mick Freen 801/278-2699
The New Dork Sublime Biffnix 415/864-DORK
The Shrine Rif Raf 206/794-6674
Planet Mirth Simon Jester 510/786-6560
"Raw Data for Raw Nerves"
X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X

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Date: 06-25-91 00:37
From: James Hartman
The following is in the original text as it printed in Roswell
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roswell Daily Record for Tuesday, July 8, 1947.
RAAF Captures Flying Saucer On Ranch in Roswell Region
No Details of Flying Disk Are Revealed
Roswell Hardware
Man and Wife
Report Disk Seen
The intelligence office of the 509th Bombardment group at Ros- well Army
Field announced at noon today, that the field has come into possession of a
flying saucer.
According to information released by the department, over authority of Maj.
J. A. Marcel, intelligence officer, the disk was recovered on a ranch in the
Roswell vicinity, after an unidentified rancher had notified Sheriff Geo.
Wilcox, here, that he had found the instrument on his premises.
Major Marcel and a detail from his department went to the ranch and
recovered the disk, it was stated.
After the intelligence officer here had inspected the instrument it was
flown to "higher headquarters.
The intelligence office stated that no details of the saucer's construction
or its appearance had been revealed.
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Wilmot apparently were the only persons in Roswell who seen
what they thought was a flying disk.
They were sitting on their porch at 105 South Penn. last Wednesday night at
about ten o'clock when a large glowing object zoomed out of the sky from the
southeast, going in a northwesterly direction at a high rate of speed.
Wilmot called Mrs. Wilmot's attention to it and both ran down into the yard
to watch. It was in sight less then a minute, perhaps 40 or 50 seconds,
Wilmot estimated.
Wilmot said that it appeared to him to be about 1,500 feet high and going
fast. He estimated between 400 and 500 miles per hour.
In appearance it looked oval in shape like two inverted saucers, faced mouth
to mouth, or like two old type washbowls placed, together in the same
fashion. The entire body glowed as though light were showing through from
inside, though not like it would inside, though not like it would be if a
light were merely underneath.
From where he stood Wilmot said that the object looked to be about 5 feet in
size, and making allowance for the distance it was from town he figured that
it must have been 15 to 20 feet in diameter, though this was just a guess.
Wilmot said that he heard no sound but that Mrs. Wilmot said she heard a
swishing sound for a very short time.
The object came into view from the southeast and disappeared over the
treetops in the general vicinity of six mile hill.
Wilmot, who is one of the most respected and reliable citizens in town, kept
the story to himself hoping that someone else would come out and tell about
having seen one, but finally today decided that he would go ahead and tell
about it. The announcement that the RAAF was in possession of one came only a
few minutes after he decided to release the details of what he had seen.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I gather from this record account that it was real flying saucer and could
not have been a weather related object or condition.

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Requiem for a Sysop
SUBMITTED BY: Jim Anderson - SysOp MSB - Billings, MT
REQUIEM FOR A SYSOP
-------------------
Excerpt from an article in "PC WEEK", Nov. 20, 1984:
There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is an ample supply
of free software that's yours for the asking. All you have to do is dial up,
make a connection, browse through a couple of menus, check over long lists of
available software, make your choices and start downloading.
- + - + - + -
Exchange of E-Mail between sysop and BBS user:
Well, John, the good news is that the faulty file has been fixed but the
bad news is that your downloading privileges have been revoked. I just went
through the last two months of logs and came up with some interesting
statistics. During that time you have logged on 23 times, downloaded 66 files
and uploaded NONE. You have called for chat twice, and left a total of two
messages on the board, one requesting a specific program and the other
informing me of a disk error in a download file. I can only draw the
conclusion that you are interested in this board for ONE REASON ONLY -- to
rape hell out of the download menus. I've left plenty of messages regarding
PARTICIPATION in the BBS and the Message Base, but you either haven't read
them or else you ignored them. Sorry, but one-way streets just don't hack it
around here. Jim.
Jim, I have been taking part in the BBS. Every time I log on I read all
the new messages. John.
John, I just can't help but feel that in all that time you could have at
least said "Hi" or "Thanks for the downloads" or SOMETHING to acknowledge that
there's a real live human being on this end. Jim.
- + - + - + -
Except for power failures, my computer has been continually running since
Nov. 11, 1982, and has fielded over 12,000 telephone calls operating as a BBS.
Back then, it was a joy to be a part of the realm of computer
telecommunications -- now it's a drag. It seems to me that a "GIMMEE"
attitude has pervaded the whole arena of BBSing, with callers interested in
nothing more than material gains in the way of software. My board is far from
the busiest, being isolated in the "foreign country" of Montana, but an
average day will see about 20 or 25 calls to the system. An average day will
also see about three or four messages (of ALL types, including E-Mail) being
posted. The typical log entry shows so-and-so logging on, going to the file
transfer area, downloading several files and then ,ogging off. Thanks, that's
why I started up a BBS, to supply people with free programs. Really makes my
day to see that I've spent all this time and money just to watch pigs at the
trough.
Whatever happened to the COMMUNICATIONS in telecommunications? Is this
the result of the Computer Age, that people don't talk or communicate with
each other? Are we getting so totally in tune with our equipment that we're
excluding PEOPLE? If so, then Orwell's predictions are tame in comparison with
the reality. Who took the BULLETIN BOARD out of Bulletin Board System? The
file transfer section of my board is shiny from daily use, but the bulletin
section is obscured by cobwebs. The thought has crossed my mind more than once
just to load up a host program and let people grab whatever programs look
interesting.
"Do you have a logon code for this system (Y/N) ==> Y <=="
"What is your account number? 775"
"What is your logon code? PASSWORD"
"INVALID LOGON CODE"
"Do you have a logon code for this system (Y/N) ==> Y <=="
"What is your account number? 305"
"What is your logon code? PASSWORD"
et cetera, ad infinitum et ad nauseam.
Hackers. Or so they'd like to believe. Vandals, pests, yes. Hackers? They
should be so talented, devoted and lucky. Why do these computerized
delinquents find such delight in trying to break into bulletin boards? Don't
they realize that sysops are ordinary people just like themselves trying to
find a little enjoyment in their hobby? Why pick on me? I'm spending a lot of
time and money trying to provide people a service for free, and they want to
go and spoil it for everyone. Heck, if they want onto the system, all they
have to do is apply for a logon. Why make life difficult for everyone? Leave
me alone. Go pick on CompuServe.
Caller logs on. Leaves E-Mail to a friend. Lines only fill half the
screen, so he's probably using a Commodore 64. Goes to file transfer section,
and selects UltraTerm protocol. Chooses a file that indicates it's a TRS-80
program. BBS goes to send, he figures out that he's somewhere he doesn't want
to be and drops carrier.
Another caller logs on four times in a row, but keeps losing carrier
before he can do anything. Probably phreaking on a cheapie phone service.
Another caller successfully downloads a file. Sit. Wait. Wait some more.
System eventually times out and drops him.
I'm not the most polite person in the world and I'm certainly not one to
stand on ceremony, but I am old enough to remember what manners were. They
also went down the tubes with "communications" and "bulletin boards." Whoops!
Dropped carrier! So what? If it's a halfway decent system, it'll reboot. Well,
I'll just go to bed while downloading this long file, the system will
eventually throw me off and reboot. Never mind that there's other people
wanting to call into the board. Who cares that the sysop climbs the walls when
he sees someone drop carrier or time-out on the system? Lately I've gotten
into the habit of dropping carrier ON MY END for the worst offenders. One good
hang-up deserves another.
Along with all the other goodies that have bitten the dust, there's good
old APPRECIATION. As I mentioned before, my BBS has fielded over 12,000 calls.
Out of all of them, I have gotten maybe a dozen messages saying "Thanks for
running your BBS." That's about one "Thank You" per THOUSAND calls!
Unfortunately, it seems that people think they have all this automatically
coming to them. It's their right! Sorry to disillusion anyone, but that just
ain't so. The master switch for this system is two feet away, and I'm not so
decrepit that I can't hit it in a flash. Alternatively, I can ban anyone I
wish from my system. Callers use this BBS at my forbearance only, and it's not
a God-given right. It's a sysop-given privilege! I sincerely feel that we
should proclaim a "Sysop Appreciation Day." We certainly don't get any on a
day-to-day basis!
Don't get me wrong. There ARE joys and benefits in running a BBS, although
sometimes in my nether moods I'm hard pressed to enumerate them. But the fact
is, there have been many occasions when I've rested my finger on the switch
with the idea of going offline forever.
Now for the moral of the story. I'm only one sysop among many, and I'm not
trying to evoke sympathy for myself through this article. The point is that
almost every sysop around has these feelings to some extent or another. And
further, most of these sysops (especially the best and most devoted ones) are
going to reach a saturation point and wind up depriving the general public of
their services. I foresee a day coming, and very soon at that, when the high
quality BBS's will be all gone. So all this is really a plea for everyone to
shape up their acts before it's too late. If nothing else, when you're on a
bulletin board, leave a little message to the sysop. "Thanks for the use of
your system" or "Fine BBS you have here." Let them know they're appreciated.
When I see a message like that, I say to myself, "THAT's why I'm doing all
this!" Sysops are real, live human beings with feelings and emotions. Let's
start treating them as such!
- + - + - + -
EPILOGUE: Twelve hours after the above was written, I find out that one of
my best friends (with higher than normal access to the system) has allowed a
third party to use her logon. That's forbidden for anyone on my BBS to do, but
it hurts even more because a valued and trusted friend who should have known
better went and did it. That's the final straw. The Most Significant Byte BBS
is no longer in existence.
Jim Anderson, Ex-Sysop
The Most Significant Byte BBS
Billings, Montana
January 13, 1985
NOTE: I agree completely with Jim in his above comments, if not his action. I
find it difficult to comprehend the mind of individuals, who take those of us
who, through our generosity and good nature, are supplying them
this service. Please note, this attitude of SysOps is spreading and
BBS's around the country are disappearing or getting more difficult to access.
I certainly hope this action in tiny Billings, Montana has some effect on the
community of computerists. Don't abuse a good thing!
Dave Williams, still SysOp
Magic City RBBS
Billings, MT
January 13, 1985
NOTE: Even we here in faroff New Zealand are not immune to the above problems.
Most SysOps try hard to provide a good service. We're all human, though, so
expect the occasional problem. Let's hear it for the things we do right, for
a change. And PARTICIPATE. That's the key to making it work. The file may be
old, but its still relevant.
Jeff Whiteside, Sysop
The PORTAL
Christchurch, New Zealand.
NOTE: OK, so I'm not an experienced SysOp of a large BBS, but I second that.
PARTICIPATION and COMMUNICATION are what it's all about.
Bernadette Mooney, new SysOp
The Pinnacle Club
Auckland, New Zealand.
12 November 1989.
rong. There ARE joys and benefits in running a BBS, although
sometimes in my nether moods I'm hard pressed to enumerate them. But the fact
is, there have been many occasions when I've rested my finger on the switch
with the idea of going offline forever.
Now for the moral of the story. I'm only one sysop among many, and I'm not
trying to evoke sympathy for myself through this article. The point is that
almost every sysop around has these 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A Case for Mistaken Identity... Who's Privacy was Really Invaded?
By Jim Bigeloww
SLO Bytes PCUG
According to the San Luis Obispo County (California) Telegram-Tribune, dated
Saturday, March 23, 1991, the San Luis Obispo Police raided the homes of two
Cal Poly students and two other residents including one in Santa Margarita for
alleged computer crimes, "hacking." The suspects had, through their computer
modems, unknowingly tried to access a computer owned by a group of local
dermatologists. That same number had previously belonged to a popular local
bulletin board, Cygnus XI. The police were alerted by the dermatologists and
their computer technician who was afraid someone was trying to access their
patient records. The police put a phone tap on the computer line for 10 days
which showed over 200 calls placed to that number in one 24 hour period.
Armed with a search warrant, police went to the house of the first suspect who
later said he only called that number 3 times in a 24 hour period (I wonder who
made the other 197 calls?). Unfortunately he was not home... this cost him two
broken doors as the police had to enter the house some way. All computer
equipment, disks and computer related equipment was "seized" and taken to
police headquarters. Follow-up articles reveal that the individual had not
committed local crimes, that no charges would be filed and that the computers .
would be returned. Disks which were determined to contain illegally copied
commercial software were to be turned over to Federal authorities.
Like most personal home computer users I have interviewed, I didn't think much .
of this matter at first, but I am now becoming alarmed. I am a 64<36>year old
senior citizen, perhaps a paranoid senior. I think most seniors are a bit
paranoid. I am a strong supporter of law enforcement, an ex-peace officer, a
retired parole agent, and as a senior I want law enforcement protection.
.
In this situation, according to the Tribune report, the police "had legitimate
concern." But, apparently they didn't know what they were doing as the officer
in charge stated "We are learning as we go."
Accessing a modem is not easy. I, with five years of computer experience, find ?
it difficult and frustrating to set up a computer and keep it operating, to
understand a manual well enough to get the software to operate, to set the )
switches and jumpers on a modem, and then contact a BBS, and in the midst of
their endless questions, coupled with my excitability and fumbling, answer them
and get on line. I have many times tried to connect to BBS's only to be
disconnected because I typed my name or code incorrectly. I have dialed wrong
numbers and gotten a private phone.
I do not want to be considered an enemy of law enforcement merely because I own
a computer. I do not like to be called a "hacker," and especially because I
contacted a BBS 3 times. The word, "hacker" originally applied to a computer
user, now has become a dirty word. It implies criminality, a spy, double
agents, espionage, stealing government secrets, stealing business codes, etc.
Certainly, not that of a law abiding and law supporting, voting senior citizen,
who has found a new hobby, a toy and a tool to occupy his mind. Computers are
educational and can and do assist in providing community functions. I hope that
the name "personal computer user" doesn't become a dirty word.
The "hacker" problem seems to be viewed by law enforcement as one in which "we
learn as we go." This is an extremely costly method as we blunder into a
completely new era, that of computerization. It causes conflicts between
citizens and law enforcement. It is costly to citizens in that it causes great
distress to us, to find ourselves possible enemies of the law, the loss of our
computers and equipment, telephones and reputation by being publicly called
hackers and criminals. It causes more problems when we attempt to regain our
reputation and losses by suing the very agencies we have been so diligently
supporting, for false arrest, confiscation of our most coveted possession and
uninvited and forced entrance into our homes, causing great emotional
disturbances (and older people are easily upset).
I have a legal question I would like answered. Who is obligated in this
incident: the owners and operators of Cygnus XI for failure to make a public
announcement of the discontinuance of their services? or the phone company for
issuing the number to a private corporation with a modem? the police for not
knowing what they are doing? the computer user? It is not a problem of being
more cautious, ethical, moral, law<61>abiding. It is a matter of citizen rights.
The "hacker" problem now applies not only to code breakers, secret and document
stealers, but to me, even in my first attempts to connect with a BBS. Had I
tried to contact Cygnus XI my attempts would have put me under suspicion of the
police and made me liable for arrest, confiscation of my computer, equipment,
disks, and subsequent prosecution. I am more than a little bewildered.
And, am I becoming a paranoid senior citizen, not only because of criminals,
but of the police also? Am I running a clandestine operation by merely owning a
computer and a modem, or am I a solid senior citizen, which may well imply that
I don't own "one of those computers?" Frankly, I don't know. Even though my
computer is returned, and I am not arrested or prosecuted, I wonder what
condition it now is in after all the rough handling. (Police who break down
doors do not seem to be overly gentle, and computers and their hard disk drives
are very fragile instruments). Just who and how many have scrutinized my
computer? its contents? and why? my personal home business transactions? and
perhaps I supplement my income with the aid of my computer (I am a writer)? my
daily journal? my most private and innermost thoughts? my letters? my daily
activities? (This is exactly why personal computers and their programs were
designed, for personal use. My personal computer is an extension of my self, my
mind, and my personal affairs.)
Can the police confiscate all my software claiming it is stolen, merely because
they don't find the originals? (I, at the suggestion of the software companies,
make backup copies of the original disks, and then place the originals
elsewhere for safekeeping.) Do I need to keep all receipts to "prove" to the
police that I am innocent of holding bootleg software? Is there a new twist in
the laws that applies to personal computer users?
Also any encoding of my documents or safeguarding them with a password, such as
my daily journal, my diary, I have read in other cases, is viewed by law
enforcement as an attempt to evade prosecution and virtually incriminates me.
("If it wasn't criminal why did the "suspect" encode it?")
This recent incident arouses complex emotions for me. What will the future
bring for the home and personal computer user? I do not care to fear the
police. I do not want to have to register my computer with the government. Will
it come to that in our country? I do not want to have to maintain an impeccable
record of all of my computer usages and activities, imports and exports, or to
be connected to a state police monitoring facility, that at all times monitors
my computer usage. The year "1984" is behind us. Let's keep it that way.
This matter is a most serious problem and demands the attention of all
citizens. As for myself, I wasn't the one involved, but I find it disturbing
enough to cause me to learn of it and do something about it.
###

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Transcript of _Now_It_Can_Be_Told_: "Mad Hackers' Key Party"
Hosted by Geraldo Rivera (Sept. 30, 1991)
Geraldo: I'm Geraldo rivera. And now, It can be told.
<Flashy intro featuring various bleeps and sounds and what is supposed
to look like a computer screen>
Geraldo: You're watching life imitate art.
<home video of hackers hacking. Room is in disarray, with a few
computers scattered around among various wires and cables and
telephones, and other equipment.>
Geraldo: Exclusive video of teenagers playing a dangerous and
mind-boggling version of War Games.
<video focuses on what appears to be 3 teenagers typing on computer
keyboards.>
<video focuses on one of the screens.>
Geraldo: If you think it's kid stuff, just watch this.
<screen shows:
| quit
| 221 Goodbye.
| rugrcx>
| telnet tracer.army.mil
| Trying 192.33.5.135....
| Connected to tracer.army.mil
| Escape character is '^]'.
|
|
|
| Xenix K3-4 (tracer.army.mil)
|
|
|
| login:
| dquayle
| Password:_
>
<screams of joy from kids>
<screen shows: Warning (banner)...This terminal is not secure...Do not
process classified information...Protect user IDs, passwords...Control
access to your system....Destroy classified and sensitive
material....>
Geraldo: Straight into the US Army computer. In the name of the vice
president!! Straight out with America-s counter-terrorist strategies
in the Persian Gulf war. <video of bombings during Gulf War.)
Cliff Stoll: These guys in the army, they didn't do their homework.
They screwed up. <shows Cliff Stoll sitting in chair, terminal on
behind him.>
Geraldo: You bet they did. And they're not the only ones.
<more video of hackers hacking, Emmanuel Goldstein talking on a
telephone>
Geraldo: Try the Pentagon, NASA, the White House.
<video showing guy next to payphone, Japanese Kanji characters fill
the screen>
Geraldo: ...the IRS, the Department of Justice, and the stock
exchange.
<Japanese video now shows hacker typing on laptop in front of pay
phone - It is dark out.>
Phiber Optik (guy next to pay phone, typing on laptop): I find it
very thrilling. It's quite interesting.
Some guy in a suit speaking in a microphone: Tomorrow's terrorists
may be able to more damage with a keyboard, than with a bomb.
<more video of a hacker hacking>
Geraldo: Now it can be told. A terrifying expose on Malice In
Wonderland. The Mad Hacker's Key Party.
<screen displays that title over hacker typing on keyboard>
<Intro to the show>
Geraldo: Welcome everybody. Up front today, a new kind of warfare.
This kind of combat won't be fought with bombs and bullets, but with
bits and bytes, RAMs, and ROMs. I'm talking about computer terrorism.
Imagine this nightmare: Saddam Hussein breaking into our Pentagon
computers. Well, as your about to see, we have discovered that this
is frightningly possible, given a combination of floppy disks and
sloppy security. Before you meet a mad hacker, live, right here in
our studio, watch as our correspondant Krista Bradford discovers just
how vulnerable our national defense system really is.
<screen switches to Krista Bradford in corner office, in front of terminal>
Krista: Thanks Geraldo. Computers: they are absolutely essential to
our national defense. Our military depends on them to win wars and to
save lives. So you'd think they'd do everything possible to protect
these computers, but, think again. This exclusive video proves
otherwise. <she hits play button on VCR, hacker home video pops up
again>
Krista: This video looks like a home video, but its implications are
astounding.
<video passes over computer (IBM compat.) - notable is an issue of
2600 propped up against the keyboard>
Krista: These kids are in Amsterdam; they are not the enemy, they are
not spies. They are computer hackers and they are about to break into
a US Army computer.
Emmanuel: This is about as blatant a violation as you can possibly
get.
<screen shows Emmanuel Goldstein>
Krista: Emmanuel Goldstein is the editor of 2600, The Hacker Quarterly.
<screen switches to Emmanuel typing at keyboard, focuses on pile of 2600's
stacked nearby>
<screen switches back to hacker home video, Emmanuel on the phone>
Krista: He was with the hackers as thy gained unauthorized access to
the Army computer.
<list of *.MIL sites scrolls across a computer screen>
Krista: Although it wasn't classified, what the hackers found was
alarming.
<long e-mail message scrolls across a screen>
Krista: A sensitive memo which details a counter-terrorist plan.
<screen shows bomb going off> The date: January 15th - Saddam
Hussein's deadline to withdraw his forces from Kuwait. <more footage
from the Gulf War>
<screen switches to Emmanuel being interviewed again>
Emmanuel: It was incredible how easy it was. Because, literally they
picked a machine at random out of a thousand machines that they had a
listing of. And used various means just to get in.
<screen switches to the screen I typed above, except the first login
is guest [Login incorrect]..Second login, sync, password prompt
appears?
Krista: In order to get into a computer, you need to be an authorized
user, and have a password. So the hackers had to create one. Using a
well-known bug in the system, they managed to copy the password file
and do just that.
<list of /etc/passwd floats by>
Emmanuel: <sitting at terminal> The idea was to create a user named
Dan Quayle, and give him superuser privileges, as well he deserves.
Krista: Now here's the trick: because they didn't know any
legitimate passwords, they left the space for Dan Quayle's password
blank.
<screen focuses on dquayle record of /etc/passwd, highlights the
colons after 'dquayle'>
Emmanuel: Everything between those two colon's is the encrypted
password, but there's nothing between those two colons, so there's no
password.
Krista: Next, the hacker's call back as Dan Quayle, and now they
don't need a password to get in.
<screen shows login as dquayle, null password...Hackers cheer as
WARNING banner and logon screen (summarized above) appears.>
Krista: At this point, all of about 5 minutes have passed. A few
seconds later, and they have gained complete control.
Emmanuel: That means they have access to the entire system, they
control the entire system. They can take it down, they can change
every file. They can read anybody's mail.
Krista: <walking along outside> So just how serious was this
violation? Well, the Army, the Justice Department, and the FBI
wouldn't tell us. They all refused to comment. But this we do know:
the US Army computer that was accessed was designed for "Authorized
Use By Official Personnel Only". You wouldn't want just anybody using
this computer, especially during a time of war.
<screen shows jet taking off...screen switches to guy ( Winn Schwartau
[Information Security Consultant]) sitting in front of terminal set
up with some other electronic devices attached.
Winn: The military knows better. They should be protective of their
computers a lot better than they are.
<helicopter shown...screen switches to Emmanuel>
Emmanuel: Obviously, there's a problem. Obviously people can get
into anything and see anything.
<screen switches to Cliff Stoll>
Cliff: These guys in the Army, they didn't do their homework. They
screwed up.
<switches back to video of hackers>
Krista: They sure did. This isn't the first time Dutch hackers have
infiltrated government computers.
<video of space shuttle taking off>
Krista: Just this April, another group made its way into the
computers at NASA, the Pentagon, and other sensitive locations.
<screen shows newspaper headline of said event>.
<screen shows the Pentagon>
Emmanuel: If our own military doesn't know enough to look for these
bugs and make it hard for people to get into their systems, what can
we say about non-classified computers or computers run by schools and
various other institutions?
<screen zooms in on hardback copy of _The_Cuckoo's_Egg>
Krista: Cliff Stoll, author of The CUckoo's Egg: How he tracked down
a hacker selling secrets to the KGB. Stoll opposes hacking, likening
it to breaking into someone's house.
<screen shows cliff sitting in front of a Mac LC showing familiar
'Flying Toasters'....Cliff appears more sedate than as seen before on
other programs>
Cliff: Is there good that can come from someone breaking into my
house? If someone sneaks in through my window over there, comes in
and starts looking at things, is there any good that can come from
that?
<screen switches back to Emmanuel>
Emmanuel <with hand raised, looking mad at Cliff's comment>: I don't
like that analogy. Hackers are not interested in personal files of
individual people. They're interested in huge databases and computer
systems.
<screen switches to Japanese TV, Kanji characters spread all
over...It's night...Guy is standing in front of lighted-up pay phone>
Phiber: My handle's Phiber Optik. I'm a computer hacker from the
east coast.
<screen shows Phiber taking acoustic coupler from a bag...[This scene looks
extremely modern-day Cyberpunk-ish]>
Krista: The Dutch aren't the only ones breaking into US computers.
Phiber: I find it actually very, very thrilling. It's quite
interesting.
<screen shows laptop set on some cement stool....Screen moves to show
other people milling around...Gee, is that Mr. Goldstein?!? And a
g-man looking type in sunglasses [
Krista: It is nighttime in the meat packing district of New York
City. A Japanese camera crew is documenting the work of one of
America's most notorious hackers.
<Phiber connects the coupler to the pay phone>
Phiber: I enjoy this...Just know as much as you can about technology
and about, uh, computer networking. <he's busy getting the pay phone
set up>
Krista: They watch him hook up his computer to a payphone, so the
call can't be traced to his home.
Phiber: <typing on the laptop> Hacker's goal is basically to become
one with the machine. [in a Socratic-dialogue tone of
voice]
Krista: Unlike Holland, hacking in the US is a crime, so this hacker
prefers to remain anonymous.
<screen switches to dark bookstore where A. Hacker [Phiber] sits
across from Krista>
Krista: So what gives you the right to access other people's
computers?
A. Hacker: To tell you the truth, I really don't care hat someone
keeps on their computers. Me, myself personally, and my close friends
are mainly interested in programming the machines.
Krista: But if the machines are owned by somebody else, they're not
your machines!
A. Hacker: Well, sure, but we'd just be coexisting with the people
that normally use the machine.
Krista: Have you ever gotten into the White House computers?
A. Hacker: Well, I can't personally say whether I have or not. I
know it's certainly possible, there's nothing stopping anyone from it.
<shot of White House>
Krista: Did you ever see anything interesting when you were there?
A. Hacker: Well, I'm not gonna say I was ever there...bu...uhh...No
comment...
<screen switches back to the studio>
Geraldo: Joining me now is Craig Neidorf. Craig is one of the
country's most notorious hackers. He has the dubious distinction of
being one of the first people prosecuted under the Computer Abuse and
Fraud Act. Although the charges against him were eventually dropped.
Geraldo: Do you think it's fun what the Dutch kids did? Get any
kicks out of it?
Craig [KL]: I'm sure they probably thought it was fun. I was a bit
disturbed by it when I heard about it.
Geraldo: Yeah. And you'll see why, after this.
<cut away to commercial, but first a message from Winn Schwartau and
Geraldo...>
Winn: We do, potentially face an electronic Pearl Harbor.
<shot of Pearl Harbor>
Geraldo: Is the United States vulnerable to a computer invasion by
the enemy? We'll be back in a moment with some of the scenarios for
terror, as we continue our report on the Mad Hacker's Key Party.
<Commercial>
Geraldo: We'll be hearing more from our hacker friend here in a
moment, as well as from somebody who prosecutes guys just like Craig.
Geraldo: In their own defense Craig and the other hackers say they
demonstrate graphically just how vulnerable are to sabotage. Another
word for sabotage in the high-tech 90's is terrorism. Here's Krista
Bradford with the second part of her alarming report.
Krista: Thanks Geraldo. For years the US government has known about
the threat of computer terrorism, but it has done little to protect
itself. Computer security is routinely cut from the budget. So now
we are in the precarious position of life possibly imitating art.
That according to a recent Congressional subcommitee, when the
subcomittee roled a clip from the movie Die Hard.
<actually it's Die Hard II...Clip shows scene where head hancho at
Dullus Airport realizes someone else has control of their computer
system>
<scene switches to that Winn guy...An Information Security Consultant>
Winn: A dedicated, motivated group of individuals with proper funding
and a little bit of knowledge of technology.....
<another clip from Die Hard II...Workers scrambling around the control
tower..Chaos...>
Winn: ....has the capability to effectively invade the United States
via his computers and communication systems, shut those systems down
that they wish to shut down, and do it invisibly by remote control.
<screen shows plane taking off>
Krista: The FAA's computerized air traffic control system holds the
lives of tens of thousands of travellers in the balance every second.
<screen shows fictional computer graphic of air traffic over map of
the country>
Krista: The federal reserve system moves $250 trillion through it's
computer networks every year. The more computers we have the more
vulnerable we become to computer terrorism.
<shot of terrorists hijacking TWA plane>
Guy in suit in front of microphone: A recent national research
council report says that the modern thief can steal more with a
computer, than with a gun. Tomorrow's terrorists may be able to do
more damage with a keyboard, than with a bomb. That's frightening.
Krista: Dan Glickman (sp?) sits on the House Science, Space, and
Technology Committee and recently chaired a hearing on computer
security. Winn Schartau, a leading authority on information security
and author of the novel _Terminal_Compromise_ testified at this
hearing.
Winn: Terrorism is not necessarily implied by bombs and bullets. You
can affect massive amounts of people by attacking the right computers.
And that's terrorism.
<switch back to Emmanuel>
Emmanuel: The computer is a tool. And any tool can be used as a
weapon.
<switch back to A. Hacker - now we see he's with another person (B.
hacker?)>
A. Hacker: I wouldn't as much call it a weapon as I would call it an
extension of one's own mind.
<switch back to Winn. He's setting up some sort of satellite receiver
next to his terminal and equipment>
Krista: For the first time on television we can see just how
vulnerable computers are to attack. There are four ways the computer
can be used as a weapon. Number one, viruses: programs that copy
themselves over and over again. In January, there were 480 viruses
In June, 921. At the current rate there will be 100,000 viruses by
the year 1995.
<shows fictional graphic of computers all over the map of the US,
apparently supposed to be infected>
Winn: There are a new breed of viruses coming out that actually can
cause physical damage to the computer. Either cause the monitor
itself to blow up, or cause the hard disk to physically crash, thus
rendering all the information unusable.
Krista: Number 2, interception. Terrorists can intercept phone lines
used by computers and faxes. HIgh-tech phone taps.
<shows fictional graphic of guy at keyboard intercepting signals
transmitted between two computers>
Winn: There are very, very simple, off-the-shelf, products and
techniques that are available to listen in on all your digital
communications.
Krista: Number 3, electromagnetic eavesdropping. Something our own
government has allegedly kept under wraps for 40 years, so it can
protect its military computers while spying on other unprotected
systems.
Winn: You have to view the computer as a miniature radio transmitter.
All the information that is being processed on it, and is being
displayed on the terminal, your video display terminal, is being
broadcast into the air just like a radio transmitter.
Krista: In an exclusive demonstration of just how easy it is while
someone is typing at a computer terminal we can see someone up else to
a mile and a half away tune in the radiation with an antenna and read
exactly what is being typed.
<screen shows one person typing in fictional credit card information,
then switches back to Winn's setup, where he tunes in to the frequency
19.9217 and is able to see on his terminal the information that was
being typed on the other terminal>
Krista: And finally number 4, computer guns. These guns are not
loaded with bullets but transmit high frequencies or electromagnetic
pulses, which, when fired, can cause an entire computer system to
crash.
<shows fictional graphic of satellite transmitting signal which causes
computer to blow up>
Winn: What if I shot your computer with my hertz (sp? unclear word)
gun every hour on the hour, forcing your computers down every hour?
It takes approximately a half-hour to forty-five minutes to bring one
back up, how long can your company sustain that before you cry uncle?
<shows hacker home video again>
Krista: Just how real is the threat of computer terrorism? Real
enough, according to a GAO report on computer security at the
Department of Justice. The report identified many disturbing computer
flaws which have life and death implications.
<shows report>
Krista: Real enough according to another GAO report on computer
security at the stock market. Six of our nation's stock market
computers are at risk, which handle 1.8 trillion dollars every year.
<shows stock market report>
Krista: Real enough that according to a report just this September
which revealed that top secret bomb designs for every nuclear weapon
in the country were left unprotected in the computer system at the
Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant.
Winn: The current state of affairs is such that we do potentially
face an electronic Pearl Harbor.
<bomb exploding footage>
Krista <in front of statue of statue in Washington, apparently>: Just
how many acts of computer terrorism there have been is impossible to
say since our own government refuses to comment. But, the manifesto
for the terrorist group The Red Brigade vows that one of its main
goals is to target and destroy computer systems.
<shot of Die Hard II again., where Bruce Willis says "This is just the
beginning">
<back to the studio...>
Geraldo: Joining us now via satellite from Oakland, CA is the
Assistant District Attorney Don Ingraham ... for Alameda County and he
has been prosecuting computer hackers for years.
<Don is in the TV box, between Geraldo and Craig [KL]>
Geraldo: Don, how do you respond to the feeling common among so many
hackers that what they're doing is a public service; they're exposing
the flaws in our security systems?
Don: Right, and just like the people who rape a coed on campus are
exposing the flaws in our nation's higher education security. It's
absolute nonsense. They are doing nothing more than showing off to
each other, and satisfying their own appetite to know something that
is not theirs to know.
Geraldo: Don, you stand by, Craig as well. And when we come back
we'll hear more from prosecutor Ingraham and from, I guess his
archrival here, the Mad Hacker Craig Neidorf.
<Commercial>
Geraldo: We're back with Craig Neidorf, a former University of
Missouri student who ran a widely distributed electronic newsletter
[Phrack, duh] for computer hackers. He is so proud of being America's
Most Wanted computer hacker that he has put together this very
impressive scrapbook.
<Geraldo holds up a colorful scrapbook..On the left page shows a
lightning bolt hitting what looks to be a crown [Knight Lightning]
...And on the right it looks like a graphic saying "Knight Lightning"
and below that is a black circle with a white lightning bolt, and
next to that is a triangle that looks very similar to the triangle
with an eye that appeared on the cover of _GURPS_Cyberpunk_ [which
said in it, the book that was seized by the Secret Service! see page
4...- but the one on KL is illegible]>
Geraldo: Knight Lightning I guess that was your code?
KL: It was my editor handle.
Geraldo: That's your handle. OK. And from Oakland, CA we are
talking with the Assistant District Attorney Don Ingraham, who is hard
driven, you might say, to put people like Craig behind bars. Don, do
you think Craig's lucky that he's not behind bars right now?
Don: Yes, I think he's extraordinarily lucky. He was part of a
conspiracy, in my opinion, to take property that wasn't his and share
it with others. They charged him with interstate transport of stolen
property - couldn't make the threshold -and it came out that it had
been compromised by, unfortunately, released by another Bellcore
subsidiary. But was certainly not through any doing of HIS that he is
a free man.
Geraldo: So you think that his activities stink, then.
Don: Absolutely. No Question about it.
Geraldo: Craig, you wanna respond? Are you doing something for the
greater good of society?
KL: Well I was merely publishing a newsletter. I didn't go out and
find this document. Rather it was sent to me. In many ways it could
be compared to Daniel Ellsberg sending the Pentagon Papers to the New
York Times.
Geraldo: Do you figure it that way Don? Is he like Daniel Ellsberg?
Don: No, Ellsberg went to court to deal with it. Daniel Ellsberg's
release of the Pentagon Papers is the subject of a published court
decision to point out it was a matter of national security and
national interest. The E911 codes, which is the citizen's link to the
police department are not a matter of national security. They're a
matter of the central service to the community.......
Geraldo: You broke into the 911 system? He broke into the 911
system!
KL: No, that's not correct. I never entered any 911 telephone
system.
Don: I didn't say he entered into it. What I said was that he and
Riggs conspired together to take a code that they knew was necessary
to 911 and to take it apart to see how it worked. They never had the
owner's permission, they never asked for it.
Geraldo: Alright, lemme ask you this....
KL: The court found that there was no conspiracy here.
Geraldo: You were acquitted. You were vindicated at least from
criminal responsibility. Lemme just quickly ask you this: hackers
have been inside the White House computer.
KL: Yes they have.
Geraldo: And they've been inside the Pentagon computer.
KL: Yes.
Geraldo: And if Saddam Hussein hired some hackers whether they're
from Holland or any other place, he could've gotten into these
computers, presumably.
KL: Presumably, he could've.
Geraldo: And gotten some valuable information.
KL: It's definitely possible.
Geraldo: And you still think hackers are performing a public service?
KL: That's not what I said. I think that those kind of activities
are wrong. But by the same token, the teenagers, or some of the
people here that are not performing malicious acts, while they should
be punished should not be published as extreme as the law currently
provides.
Geraldo: You're response to that Don?
Don: I don't think they're being punished very much at all. We're
having trouble even taking away their gear. I don't know one of them
has done hard time in a prison. The book, Hafner's book on
_Cyberpunk_, points out that even Mitnick who is a real electronic
Hannibal Lecter ... did not get near any of the punishment that what
he was doing entitled him to.
Geraldo: <laughing> An electronic Hannibal Lecter. OK, stand by,
we'll be back with more of this debate in a moment...
<Commercials>
Geraldo: Back with Craig Neidorf and prosecutor Don Ingraham. Craig,
do you think hackers are voyeurs or are they potentially terrorists?
KL: I think they resemble voyeurs more than terrorists. They are
often times looking at places where they don't belong, but most
hackers do not intend to cause any damage.
Geraldo: Do you buy that Don?
Don: If they stopped at voyeurism they would be basically
sociopathic, but not doing near the harm they do now. But they don't
stop at looking, that's the point. They take things out and share
them with others, and they are not being accountable and being
responsible as to whom they are sharing this information. That is the
risk.
Geraldo: Can they find out my credit rating? I know that's not a
national security issue, but I'm concerned about it.
Don: Piece of cake.
Geraldo: No problem.
Don: Assuming....
Geraldo: Go ahead. Assuming I have a credit rating...hahahah....
Don: Assume that the credit is not carried by someone who is using
adequate security.
Geraldo: But you think Craig it's not problem.
KL: I think it's no problem.
Geraldo: Give me quickly the worst case scenario. Say Abu Nidal had
you working for him.
KL: I'm sorry?
Geraldo: Abu Nidal, notorious .....
KL: As far as your credit rating?
Geraldo: No, not as far as my credit rating.. The world, national
security.
KL: Well, hackers have gotten into computer systems owned by the
government before. At this point they've never acknowledged that it
was anything that was ever classified. But even some unclassified
information could be used to the detriment of our country.
Geraldo: Like the counter-terrorist strategy on January 15th, the day
of the deadline expired in the Persian Gulf.
KL: Perhaps if Saddam Hussein had somehow known for sure that we were
going to launch an attack, it might have benefited him in some way,
but I'm really not sure.
Geraldo: Don, worst case scenario, 30 seconds?
Don: They wipe out our communications system. Rather easily done.
Nobody talks to anyone else, nothing moves, patients don't get their
medicine. We're on our knees.
Geraldo: What do you think of Craig, quickly, and people like him?
Don: What do I think of Craig? I have a lot of respect for Craig, I
think he's probably going to be an outstanding lawyer someday. But he
is contributing to a disease, and a lack of understanding ethically,
that is causing a lot of trouble.
Geraldo: One word answer. As the computer proliferate won't hackers
also proliferate? Won't there be more and more people like you to
deal with?
Knight Lightning: I think we're seeing a new breed of hacker. And
some of them will be malicious.
Geraldo: Some of them will be malicious. Yes, well, that's it...for
now. I'm Geraldo Rivera.
[End of Program]

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(*> The Great Satellite Caper <*)
(*> Reprinted without permission from TIME Magazine <*)
(*> Typed by ZiGGY <*)
Hacker's arrests point up the growing problem of system security
It started innocuously enough: a credit card costomer in Conneticutt opened
his monthly statement and noticed a charge for a peice of electronic equipment
that he had never purchased. By last week that apparent billing error had
blossomed int a full-fledged hacker scandal and led to the arrest of seven New
Jersey teenagers who were charged with conspiracy and using their home
computers and telephone hookups to commit computer theft.
According to police, who confiscated $30,000 worth of computer equipment and
hundreds of floppy disks, the youths had exchanged stolen credit card numbers,
bypasses long-distance telephone fees, traded supposedly secret fone numbers
(including those of Pentagon [Gasp!] officials), and published instructions on
how to build a letter bomb. But most remarkable of all, the first reports
said, the youngsters had even managed to shift the orbit of one or more
comunication satellites. That feat, the New York Post decided, was worth a
front page head line: WHIZ KIDS ZAP U.S. SATELLITES.
It was the latest real-life version of War Games, in which an ingenious
teenager penetrates a sensitive military computer system and nearly sets off
World War III. Two years sgo, for instance, the story was re-enacted by the
so-called 414 Gang, a group of Milwaukee-area youths who managed to break into
various computer systems all over the US.
The new Jersey episode assumed heroic proportions when Middlesex County
Prosecuter Alan Rockoff that the youths, in addition to carrying on other
mischief, had been "Changing the positions of the satellites up in the blue
heavens." That achievment, if true, could have disrupted the telefone an telex
communications on two continents. Officials from AT&T and Comsat hastily
denied that anything of the sort had taken place. In fact, the computers that
control the satelites cannot be reached by the lines of public fones. By
week's end the prosecuter's office was quietly backing away from its most
startling assertion, but to most Americans, the satellite caper remained real,
a dramatic reminder for a bright youngster steeped inthe secret arts of the
computer age, anything is possible. Says Stephen Levey, author of Hackers:
"It's an immensley seductive myth, that a kid with a computer can bring a
powerful institution to it's knees."
Last spring postal authorities traced the Conneticut credit card purchase and
a string of other fraudulent transactions to a post office box in Soutn
Plainfield New Jersey. Someone was using the box to take delivery of sterio
and radar-detection equipment ordered through a computerized mail order
catalog. The trail led to a young New jersey enthusiast who used the alias
"New Jersey Hack Sack" and communicated regularly with other computer owners in
a loosley organized network of electronic bulletin boards. A computer search
of the contents of those boards by detective GEORGE GREEN and patrolman MICHAEL
GRENNIER, who is something of a hacker himself, yeilded a flood of gossip,
advice, tall tales, and hard information, including excerpts from an AT&T
satellite manual, dozens of secret telephone numbers, and lists of stolen
credit card numbers.
The odd mix was not unique to the suspect bulliten boards. Explains DONN
PARKER, a computer crime expert at SRI International in Menlo Park, California:
"Hacking is a meritocracy. You rise in the culture depending on the
information you can supply to other hackers. It's like trading bubble gum
cards." ( <- Whatta ass!)
Some of the information posted by the New Jersey hackers may have been
gleaned by cracking supposedly secure systems. Other data, like the access
numbers of remote computers, were probably gatheres automatically by so called
"demon dialers", programs that search the phone system for online computers by
dialing every number within an area code. "In some cases penetrating a
computer system is extremely difficult and requires a great deal of knowledge
and luck" says PARKER. "In others it's as simple as dialing into a bulletin
board and finding the passwords that other kids have left." And sometimes it's
even simpler than that. Two of the New Jersey youths admitted that at least
one of the credit card numbers they used had not come from a computer but from
a slip of carbon paper retreived from a trash can.
No matter how mundane, the actions of the New jersey hackers have again
focused national attention on a real and growing problem: how to safeguard the
information that is stored inside of computers. Americans now carry more than
600 million credit and charge cards, many of them allowing at least partial
access to a computerized banking system that moves over $400 billion every day.
Corporate data blanks hold consumer records and business plans worth untold
billions more.
Alerted to the threat by earlier break-ins, corporations and government
agencies have been moving to shore up their systems. Many have issued multiple
layers of password protection, imposing strict dicipline on the security of
passwords and requiring users to change their passwords frequently. Others
have installed scrambling devices that encode sensitive data before they are
sent over the wires. Audit trails make crime detection easier by keeping
permanent record of who did what within a system. Dialback services help keep
out unauthorized users by recording each callers ID number, disconnecting the
call and then re-dialing only that telefone number authorized to the holder of
the ID.
All told, U.S. business spent $600 million on security equipment and
software. By 1993, according to DataPro research, security systems should
exceed $2 billion annually. in addition to the cost, these measures tend to
make the systems less "friendly," in the jargon of the trade. But computer
operators who keep their systems casual may be courting trouble. Says SRI's
PARKER: "These are sush reasonable, cost-effective steps that managers who
don't use them pretty much deserve what they get."


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Historians and politicians continue to debate who
won the Gulf War, but anyone glued round-the-
clock to their TV set will tell you the v-inner vvas
CNN. With its live, raw, and riveting coverage, Ted
Turner's 24-hour Cable News Network became the
information source for an international audience that
included everyone from competing news organizations
to Saddam Hussein.
For many of its live visual reports, CNN relied on on~
of its four mobile satellite communications systems,
also called transportable earth stations, or "flyaways."
The flyaways accept signals from standard video cam-
eras and include video and audio processing equip-
ment, a dish antenna for transmitting the signals via
satellite, alld amplifiers for powering the system.
~lobile satellite technology has been in use at CNN
since 1984, according to Dick Tauber,
director of satellites and circuits for
CNN. But the recent de~Telopment of
more compact earth stations, with
smaller antennas that broadcast on th~
higher-frequency Ku-band rather than
C-band, has increased the systems'
mobility and has cut the amount of
time it takes news crews to set up and
link up with a satellite. What once too]
nearly a day now takes a few hours,
he said.
"The C-band transportable earth sta-
tions took up a lot of cargo space - you
needed a large truck, an 18-wheeler,
because of the great big antenna," Tauber said.
With Ku-band flyaway systems, antenna sizes have
shrunk to about six to eight feet, compared with the
more than 100 feet needed for C-band communications.
The 13 components of the S-l Flyaway weigh less than
100 pounds each and fit into crates approved by the
Federal Aviation Administration.
FAA approval is a major selling point for the technol-
ogy - instead of sending the flyaways as freight using
cargo services, "we can ship the vv-hole thing as excess
baggage on a commercial flight," Tauber said. "NOVV
everything hits the ground at the same time: crew,
reporters and a dozen or two boxes."
The flyaways sell for between $200,000 to $340,000
and are approved by the Washington, D.C.-based
International Telecommunications Organization
(Intelsat), a 25-year-old cooperative of more than 120
member countries who ovvn and operate a global com-
munications satellite system. "It's the concept of the
global village," said Arnold .~leyers, manager of broad-
cast services for Intelsat. "If anything happens in a
country, there's more interest in seeing pictures live. "
During the Gulf War and the tense period preceding
it, CNN found itself competing with news organizations
that also had deployed earth stations for live broadcasts.
It had to move quickly to contract for satellite access
time with the Iraqi, E~uwaiti and Saudi Arabian govern-
ment ministries responsible for handling Intelsat com-
munications services - a logistical nightmare Tauber
described in one word: "Maalox."
Today, three of CNN's flyaways are based in Atlanta
and a fourth is stationed in London. "Before the war,
there vvere 30 to 40 licensed transportable flyaways
around the world," Tauber said. "But by the time the
vvar was over, there were 130."
Along with the flyaways, CNN has been issuing
portable satellite phones to its news teams, Tauber said.
With these phones, CNN reporters and crews in the
field are virtually guaranteed an open channel of com-
munication with more than l 5 foreign bureaus and
CNN's Atlanta headquarters.
But no matter how successful its satellite communi-
cations solutions have been, CNN continues to explore
even better ways to provide live coverage from news
scenes around the vvorld. Tauber's group is watching
the development of new digital video technologies,
including video compression, that will make it possible
to send live video over the telephone.
One of the most promising of these technologies is
Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG), a video and
audio compression standard expected to be finalized
later this year. C-Cube Microsystems, a San Jose, Calif.-
based compression systems developer, and Bell Atlantic
have already demonstrated a prototype MPEG-based
system capable of transmitting high-quality video from
a central video file server to subscriber homes via stan-
dard copper telephone lines.
Tauber believes it will be three to five years before
digital video technology will be cost-effective and
capable of handling the netv--ork's broadcast-quality
requirements. But he's not worried about the wait.
"Time flies when you're doing bench tests," he
said with a laugh. - - -

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"As you are surveying a dark and misty swamp you come across
what appears to be a small cave. You light a torch and enter.
You have walked several hundred feet when you stumble into a
bright blue portal...with a sudden burst of light and a loud
explosion you are swept into...DragonFire... Press any key,
if you dare..."
__________________
| red menace |
| -&- |
| mephisto madware |
| textfile systems |
| present: |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[#][#][#][#][#][#][#][#][#][#][#][#][#][#][#]
[#] [#]
[#] "Night of the Hackers" [#]
[#] by Richard Sandza [#]
[#] From "Newsweek" November 12th, 1984 [#]
[#] [#]
[#][#][#][#][#][#][#][#][#][#][#][#][#][#][#]
Edited from a badly-done version to this
lovely one (HAH!) by the one, the only,
Mr. Pez.
(What a guy.)
You have programmed your personal computer to dial into Dragonfire, a
computer bulletin board in Gainsville, Texas. But before you get any
information, Dragonfire demands your name, home city, and phone number. So,
for tonight's tour of the electronic wilderness you become "Montana Wildhack"
of San Francisco.
Dragonfire, Sherwood Forrest(sic), Forbidden Zone, Blottoland,
Plovernet, The Vault, Shadowland, PhBI, and scores of other computer bulletin
boards are hangouts of a new generation of vandals. These precocious teen
agers use their electronic skills to play hide and seek with computer and
telephone security forces. Many computer bulletin boards are completely
legitimate: they resemble electronic versions of the familiar cork boards in
supermarkets and school corridors, listing services and providing imformation
some one out there is bound to find useful. But this is a walk on the wild
side, a trip into the world of underground computer bulletin boards dedicated
to encouraging -- and making -- mischief. The phone numbers for these boards
are closely guarded as a psychiatrist's home telephone number. Some numbers
are posted on underground boards, others are exchanged over the telephone. A
friendly hacker provided Dragonfire's number. Hook up and you see a choice
of topics offered. For phone phreaks -- who delight in stealing service from
AT&T and other phone networks -- Phreakenstein's Lair is a potpourri of phone
numbers, access codes, and technical information. For computer hackers --
who dial into other people's computers -- Ranger's Lodge is chock-full of
numbers and passwords for government, university, and corporate computers.
Moving through Dragonfire's offerings, you can only marvel at how
conversant these teen-agers are with the technical esoterica of today's
electronic age. Obviously,they have spent a great deal of time studying
computers, though their grammar and spelling indicate they haven't been as
diligent in other subjects. You are constantly reminded of how young they
are. "Well, it's that time of year again. School is back in session so
let's get those high school phone numbers rolling in. Time to get straight
A's, have perfect attendance (except when you've been up all night hacking
school passwords), and messing up your worst teacher's paycheck."
Moving through Dragonfire's offerings, you can only marvel at how
conversant these teen-agers are with the technical esoterica of today's
electronic age. Obviously,they have spent a great deal of time studying
computers, though their grammar and spelling indicate they haven't been as
diligent in other subjects. You are constantly reminded of how young they
are. "Well, it's that time of year again. School is back in session so
let's get those high school phone numbers rolling in. Time to get straight
A's, have perfect attendance (except when you've been up all night hacking
school passwords), and messing up your worst teacher's paycheck."
Forbidden Zone, in Detroit, is offering ammunition for a hacker civil war
...tips on crashing the most popular bulletin board software. There are also
plans for building red, black, and blue boxes to mimic operator tones and get
free service. And here are the details for "the safest and best way to make
and use nitroglycerin," compliments of Dr. Hex, who says he got it from "my
chemistry teacher."
Flip through the "pages." You have to wonder if this information is
accurate. Can this really be the phone number and password to Taco Bell's
computer? Do these kids really have the dialup numbers to dozens of
universtiy computers? The temptation is too much. You sign off and have
your computer dial the number to Yale University Computer. Bingo -- the
words Yale University appear on your screen. You enter a password. A menu
appears. You hang up in a sweat. You are now a hacker.
Punch in another number and your modem zips off touch tones. Here comes
the tedious side of all this. Bulletin boards are popular. No vacancy at
Bates Motel (named for Anthony Perkins' creepy motel in the movie "Psycho");
the line is busy. So are 221 B. Baker Street, PhBI, Shadowland, and The
Vault. Caesar's Palace rings and connects. This is a different breed of
board. Caesar's palace is a combination phreak board and computer store in
Miami. This is the place to learn ways to mess up a department store's
antishoplifting system, or make free calls on telephones with locks on the
dials. Pure capitalism accompanies such anarchy. Caesar's Palace is
offering good deals on disk drives, software, computers, and all sorts of
hardware. Orders are taken through electronic mail messages.
"Tele Trial": Bored by Caesar's Palace, you enter the number to
Blottoland, the board operated by one of the nation's most notorious computer
phreaks -- King Blotto. This one had been busy all night, but it is pretty
late in Cleveland. The phone rings and you connect. To get past the blank
screen, type the secondary password, "S-L-I-M-E." King Blotto obliges,
listing his rules: you must leave your real name, telephone number, address,
occupation and interests. He will call and disclose the primary password,
"if you belong on this board." If admitted, do not reveal the phone number
or the secondary password, lest you face "Tele-Trial," the King warns and
dismisses you by hanging up.
You expexted heavy security,but this teen-ager's security is, as they
say, awesome. Computers at the defense department and hundreds of businesses
let you know when you've reached them. Here you need a password just to find
out what system answered the phone. Then King Blotto asks questions, and
hangs up. Professional security experts could learn something from this kid.
He knows that ever since the 414 computer hackers were arrested in August
1982, law enforcement officers have been searching for leads on bulletin
boards.
"Do you have any ties to or connections with any law enforcement agency
or any agency which would inform such a law inforcement agency of this
bulletin board?"
Such is the welcomig message to Plovernet, a Florida board known for its
great hacker/phreak files. There amid a string of valid Visa/MasterCard
numbers are dozens of computer phone numbers and passwords. Here, you also
learn what Blotto means by tele trial. "As some of you may or may not know,
a session of the conference court was held and The Wizard was found guilty of
miscellaneous charges, and sentenced to four months off bulletin boards." If
The Wizard calls, system operators like Blotto will disconnect him.
Paging through the bulletin boards is a test of your patience. Each
board has different commands to follow, leaving you to hunt and peck your way
around. So far you haven't had the nerve to type "C" which summons the
system operator for a live, computer to computer conversation.
The time, however, has come for you to ask a few questions to the
"sysop". You dial a computer in boston. It answers & you begin working
through the menus. You scan through a handful of dial-up numbers, including
one for Arpanet, the Defense Department's research computer. You bravely tap
"C", and in seconds, the screeen blanks and your cursor dances across the
screen.
"Hello... What kind of computer do you have?"
Contact. The sysop is here. You exchange amenities and get "talking." How
much hacking does he do? Not much, too busy. Is he afraid of having his
computer confiscated like the Los Angeles man facing criminal charges because
his computer bulletin board contained a stolen telephone credit card number?
"No," he replies. Finally, he asks the dreaded question, "How old are you?"
"How old are you?" you reply, stalling. "15." he types. Once you confess
that you are old enough to be his father, the conversation gets very serious.
You fear each new question. He probably thinks you're a cop. But all he
wants to know is your choice for President. The chat continues, until he
asks you what time it is. Just past midnight, you reply. Expletive, "it's
3:08 here," sysop types, "I must be going to sleep. I've got school
tomorrow." The cursor dances. "*********** Thank you for calling." The
screen goes blank.
Richard Sandza
The News Line]