OT: 'CSPAN-2: Hacker Cracker 1:00am EST'

[ME]

E Frank Ball said:
> On Sun, Dec 29, 2002 at 10:02:25PM -0800, Mike Egan, ME wrote:
> } I have no idea what it is about.
> } (A book, I think, and interview with computer criminal.)
> }
> } (staring 10:00pm Pacific time)
>
> Kevin Mitnick's parole just ended, it's probably him.

A very good educated guess. :-)

It was an open interview with the author of a new book "Hacker Cracker" a
autobiographical account of a young kid from "the hood" of Brooklyn
looking to get rich quick, and who finds early on that he can steal many
more credit card numbers online throuch socialial engineering and later by
hacking pron sites than he could on the street.

Eventually, he decides to use one of the stolen credit card numbers
instead of selling it. He buys a laptop online, and has the destination
address set to be an abandonded building next door. On the expected day of
delivery, he sees the UPS truck drive by, but it does not stop. Shortly
thereafter, unmarked law enforcement cars stop abruptly in front of the
abandonded building and agents of the FBI run inside and pull out a few
homeless people (who are later released).

After seeiing this, he sees what was at risk. He could have lost his
computer, and placed a heavy burden on his family. He decides to not go
that route, but continues to break into sites.

After getting a fairly good understanding of coding techniques, and
learning to program on his own, he gets a job in computer support. He
works his way up to become a Senior Level technician and user.

I was surprised to see him well spoken when considering his socialization
(growing up in the hood.) He was positive, passionate, directed, and
projected the whole "hacker mentality" (as in wanting to know internals
and having a love for learning, not a desire to break into lots of
machines.) He did not project so much an ego sometimes found in self
proclaimed hackers or crackers. He came cross as a fellow nerd. :-)

This is a book on my to-read list. It sounds like it is going to be a good
read, filled with initial unhappiness, and obsticles but through
direction, determination, hard work, and a bumpy ride, he manages to
create a better future for himself and his family.

-ME



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