retyped for public by: Exorcist --- Extracted from the Tribune Dated: 08/06/97 for more information on the local 2600 meets email me ("The Exorcist") on any boards or on The Hack Shack 905-735-1762. ===============[ HACKERS GATHER TO COMPARE THEIR NOTES ]=================== `we want all the information that we can get' (NOTE: I said that above line ;) ) By: Brad Moscato What makes the hacker world come alive more than anything else is newness. New suggestions, new people, new schemes and new tech- nology. So in an attempt to quell their enthusiasm and their desire to spread information, a group of computer junkies meet once a month at a McDonald's establishment in the city to hone their skills of technical mischief. "This gives us an opp- ortunity to meet with people who we can associate with", said Exorcist, a hacker who gave his handle name but wouldn't disclose his real name. "We trade knowledge to learn more about various systems," he said. "We thrive for information." In fact, the "phreaks" and "hackers" all share in the understanding that free speech is essential, individuality is a precious asset and that the Internet - which they say waws developed with the hacker spirit - is potentially the most valuable tool that humanity has ever had. "We want all the information that we can get and this gives us the opportunity to do that," Exorcist Said. Hackers use their computers to break into other people's systems to learn more about its loopholes while "phreaks" do the same but to seek the mystery of telephone switches. "We all share in the same method of locating computer numbers to learn more about each system," said Exorcist. The group that meets here is part of a bigger organization called 2600. In cities and towns across North America, 2600 meetings are held on the first Friday of every month to "maximize the potential of the Internet while it's still in its infancy and to create an opportunity for home-town hackers to get together." The local gathering's biggest turnout was in May (Note: The dood fucked up.. it was june ;]), when more than 35 hackers from 11-38 years-of-age exchanged information regarding hacking techniques. In bigger citites, scores of hackers meet at Internet cafes and chat live with other group members scattered across Canada and the United States. Indeed, it seems that the hacker culture is using the most effective means of communication in the history of humanity to stand up to "modern day injustices" as one hacker blatantly put it. During their third meeting in the city, the group exchanged tips on antivirus programs. They talked about breaking into computer systems that belonged to phone giants acress North America and they looked for ways to crack computer software. "Hackers find flaws in computer systems," explained Exorcist. "But we're not doing anything wrong... we're simply showing people that their systems are vulnerable." Exorcist, who like most hackers uses a fake name to avoid tracking by authorities, spoke of his interests in cracking software codes to allow the publick more that just the demo versions of company's programs. But the main focus of this session was to find a way to emulate the code contained in the magnetic strip of a calling card. "We're trying to figure out how they work so we can eventually replicate them," he said. In fact, the group was more interested in learning about such new technology than about de- coding for the sake of defrauding. "We shun credit card fraud and we are very careful about the temptation of true crime," Exorcist acknowledged. And he said he is content in tapping into the mystery of computer systems. It's easy to make quick money with basic hacker skills, he said. A hacker can sell passwords, clone phones or commit credit card fraud. But the group concedes that polluting the skill with such subversion misplaces the spirit of adventure and replaces it with incentive for profit. "That's not the game we play. We're here to learn," Exorcist made clear. And whether you see it or not, the hacker spirit is alive and well in the Rose City. Concluded one hacker who insisted anonymity: "The box is open and the rules are forever changed"... (NOTE: hahaha he is talk- ing about the fucking box on the side of ppl's houses.. ;) heeh beige away ;))