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 ;))

