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7/31/2019 Crime and Puzzlement - By John Perry Barlow
1/21
CRIMEANDPUZZLEMENT
DesperadosoftheDataSphere
SomeandmysidekickHoward,wewassittingoutinfrontofthe40RodSaloononeeveningwhenheallofasuddensays,"Lookeehere.Whatdoyoureckon?"Ilookupandthere'sthesetwostrangersridingintotown.They'reyoungandgotkindofarestless,boredwayabout'em.Apersondon'tneedbotheyestoseetheymeantrouble...
Well,thatwasn'tquitehowitwent.Actually,HowardandIwerefloatingblindascavefishintheelectronicbarrensoftheWELL,sothewholeincidentpassedaswordsonadisplayscreen:
Howard:Interestingcoupleofnewusersjustsignedon.Onecallshimselfacidandtheother'soptik.
Barlow:Hmmm.Whataretheirrealnames?
Howard:Checktheirfingerfiles.
AndsoItyped!fingeracid.SeveralsecondslatertheWELL'sSequentcomputersentthefollowingmessagetomyMacintoshinWyoming:
Loginname:acidInreallife:AcidPhreak
Bythis,IknewthattheWELLhadanewresidentandthathiscorporealanalogwassupposedlycalledAcidPhreak.Typing!fingeroptikyieldedresultsofsimilarinsufficiency,includingtheclaimthatsomeone,somewhereintherealworld,waswalkingaroundcallinghimselfPhiberOptik.Idoubtedit.
However,associatingthesesparsedatawiththeknowledgethatthe
WELLwasabouttohostaconferenceoncomputersandsecurityrenderedtheconclusionthatIhadmademyfirstsightingofgenuinecomputercrackers.AsthearrivalofanoutlawwasamajoreventtothesettlementsoftheOldWest,sowastheappearanceofcrackerscauseforstirontheWELL.
TheWELL(orWholeEarth'LectronicLink)isanexampleofthelatestthinginfrontiervillages,thecomputerbulletinboard.Inthiskindofsmalltown,MainStreetisacentralminicomputertowhich(inthecaseoftheWELL)asmanyas64microcomputersmaybeconnectedatonetimebyphonelinesandlittleblinkingboxescalledmodems.
Inthissilentworld,allconversationistyped.Toenterit,oneforsakesbothbodyandplaceandbecomesathingofwordsalone.Youcanseewhatyourneighborsaresaying(orrecentlysaid),butnotwhateithertheyortheirphysicalsurroundingslooklike.Townmeetingsarecontinuousanddiscussionsrageoneverythingfromsexualkinkstodepreciationschedules.
TherearethousandsofthesenodesintheUnitedStates,rangingfromPCclonehamletsofafewuserstomainframemetroslikeCompuServe,withits550,000subscribers.Theyareusedby
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corporationstotransmitmemorandaandspreadsheets,universitiestodisseminateresearch,andamultitudeoffactions,fromapiariststoZoroastrians,forpurposesuniquetoeach.
Whetherbyonetelephonictendrilormillions,theyareallconnectedtooneanother.Collectively,theyformwhattheirinhabitantscalltheNet.Itextendsacrossthatimmenseregionofelectronstates,microwaves,magneticfields,lightpulsesandthoughtwhichsci-fiwriterWilliamGibsonnamedCyberspace.
Cyberspace,initspresentcondition,hasalotincommonwiththe19thCenturyWest.Itisvast,unmapped,culturallyandlegallyambiguous,verballyterse(unlessyouhappentobeacourtstenographer),hardtogetaroundin,andupforgrabs.Largeinstitutionsalreadyclaimtoowntheplace,butmostoftheactualnativesaresolitaryandindependent,sometimestothepointofsociopathy.Itis,ofcourse,aperfectbreedinggroundforbothoutlawsandnewideasaboutliberty.
Recognizingthis,Harper'sMagazinedecidedinDecember,1989toholdoneofitsperiodicForumsonthecomplexofissuessurroundingcomputers,information,privacy,andelectronicintrusionor"cracking."Appropriately,theyconvenedtheirconferenceinCyberspace,usingtheWELLasthe"site."
Harper'sinvitedanoddlotofabout40participants.Theseincluded:CliffordStoll,whosebookTheCuckoo'sEggdetailshiscunningeffortstonabaGermancracker.JohnDraperor"Cap'nCrunch,"thegrand-daddyofcrackerswhoseblueboxesgotWozniakandJobsintoconsumerelectronics.StewartBrandandKevinKellyofWholeEarthfame.StevenLevy,whowrotetheseminalHackers.AretiredArmycolonelnamedDaveHughes.LeeFelsenstein,whodesignedtheOsbornecomputerandwasoncecalledthe"Robespierreofcomputing."AUNIXwizardandformerhackernamedJeffPoskanzer.Therewasalsoascoreofagingtechno-hippies,thecrackers,andme.
WhatIwasdoingtherewasnotpreciselyclearsinceI'vespentmostofmyworkingyearseitherpushingcowsorsong-mongering,butIatleastbroughttothesituationavividknowledgeofactualcow-towns,havinglivedinoraroundonemostofmylife.
ThatandakindofinnocenceaboutboththetechnologyandmoralityofCyberspacewhichwassoontopassintotheconfusionofknowledge.
Atfirst,IwasinclinedtowardsympathywithAcid'n'Optikaswellastheircolleagues,Adelaide,KnightLightning,TaranKing,andEmmanuel.I'vealwaysbeenmorecomfortablewithoutlawsthanRepublicans,despitehavingmorecertaincredentialsinthelatter
camp.
ButastheHarper'sForummushroomedintoaboom-townofASCIItext(theparticipantstyping110,000wordsin10days),Ibegantowonder.Thesekidswerefractious,vulgar,immature,amoral,insulting,andtoodamnedgoodattheirwork.
Worse,theyinductedanumberofformerkidslikemyselfintoMiddleAge.Thelongfeareddayhadfinallycomewhensomegunselwouldyankmybeardandcallme,tooaccurately,anoldfart.
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Underidealcircumstances,theblindgropingsofbulletinboarddiscourseforceakindofNohdramastylizationonhumancommerce.Intemperateresponses,or"flames"astheyarecalled,arecommonevenamongconferenceparticipantswhounderstandoneanother,which,itbecameimmediatelyclear,thecyberpunksandtechno-hippiesdidnot.
Myowninitialenthusiasmforthecrackerswiltedunderasteadybarrageoftypedtestosterone.IquicklyrememberedIdidn'tknowmuchaboutwhotheywere,whattheydid,orhowtheydidit.IalsorememberedstoriesaboutcrackersworkinginleaguewiththeMob,rippingoffcreditcardnumbersandgettingpaidforthemin(stolen)computerequipment.
AndIrememberedKevinMitnik.Mitnik,now25,recentlyservedfederaltimeforavarietyofcomputerandtelephonerelatedcrimes.Priortoincarceration,Mitnikwas,byallaccounts,adangerousguywithacomputer.Hedisruptedphonecompanyoperationsandarbitrarilydisconnectedthephonesofcelebrities.LikethekidinWargames,hebrokeintotheNorthAmericanDefenseCommandcomputerinColoradoSprings.
UnlikethekidinWargames,heisreputedtohavemadeapracticeof
destroyingandalteringdata.Thereiseventhe(perhapsapocryphal)storythathealteredthecreditinformationofhisprobationofficerandotherenemies.DigitalEquipmentclaimedthathisdepredationscostthemmorethan$4millionincomputerdowntimeandfilerebuilding.Eventually,hewasturnedinbyafriendwho,aftercarefulobservation,haddecidedhewas"amenacetosociety."
Hisspectrebegantohangovertheconference.Afterseveraldaysofstraineddiplomacy,thediscussionsettledintoamoraldebateontheethicsofsecurityandwentcritical.
Thetechno-hippieswereoftheunanimousopinionthat,inDylan'swords,one"mustbehonesttoliveoutsidethelaw."Butthese
youngstrangersapparentlylivedbynocodesavethosewithwhichtheyunlockedforbiddenregionsoftheNet.
Theyappearedtothinkthatimproperlysecuredsystemsdeservedtobeviolatedand,byextension,thatunlockedhousesoughttoberobbed.ThislatterbuiltparticularheatinmesinceIrefuse,onphilosophicalgrounds,tolockmyhouse.
Civilitybrokedown.Webegantoseeexchangeslike:
DaveHughes:CliffordStollsaidawisethingthatnoonehascommentedon.Thatnetworksarebuiltontrust.Iftheyaren't,theyshouldbe.
AcidPhreak:Yeah.Sure.Andweshouldusethe'honorsystem'asafirstlineofsecurityagainsthackattempts.
JefPoskanzer:Thisguydownthestreetfrommesometimesleaveshisbackdoorunlocked.Itoldhimaboutitonce,buthestilldoesit.IfIhadthechancetodoitover,Iwouldgointhebackdoor,shoothim,andtakeallhismoneyandconsumerelectronics.It'stheonlywaytogetthroughtohim.
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AcidPhreak:JefPoskanker(Puss?Canker?yechh)Anyway,nowwhendidyoufirststarthavingthesedelusionswherecomputerhackingwaseven*remotely*similartomurder?
Presentedwithsuchaterrifyingamalgamofrawyouthandapparentpower,weflutteredlikeaflockofindignantBabbittsaroundtheStatusQuo,defendingitheartily.OneformerhackerhowledtotheHarper'seditorinchargeoftheforum,"Doyouordoyounothavenamesandaddressesforthesecriminals?"Thoughtheyhadcommittednoobviouscrimes,hewasreadytocallthepolice.
Theyfinallygottomewith:
Acid:Whoeversaidthey'dleavethedooropentotheirhouse...wheredoyoulive?(theaddress)Leaveittomeinmailifyoulike.
Ihadneverencounteredanyonesoapparentlyunworthyofmytrustastheselittlenihilists.Theyhadmequestioningabasictenet,namelythatthegreatestsecurityliesinvulnerability.Idecideditwastimetoputthatprincipaltothetest...
Barlow:Acid.Myhouseisat372NorthFranklinStreetinPinedale,Wyoming.Ifyou'reheadingnorthonFranklin,
yougoabouttwoblocksoffthemaindragbeforeyourunintohaymeadowontheleft.I'vegotthelasthousebeforethefield.Thecomputerisalwayson...
Andisthatreallywhatyoumean?Areyoumerelyjustthekindoflittlesneakthatgoesaroundlookingforeasyplacestoviolate?Youdisappointme,pal.ForallyourJamesDean-On-Siliconrhetoric,you'renotacyberpunk.You'rejustapunk.
AcidPhreak:Mr.Barlow:ThankyouforpostingallIneedtogetyourcreditinformationandawholelotmore!Now,whoistoblame?MEforgettingitorYOUforbeingsuchanidiot?!
Ithinkthisshouldjustaboutsumthingsup.
Barlow:Acid,ifyou'vegotalessontoteachme,Ihopeit'snotthatit'sidiotictotrustone'sfellowman.Lifeonthosetermswouldbeendlessandbrutal.I'dtrytotellyousomethingaboutconscience,butI'dsoundlikeFatherO'Flannigantryingtoreformthepunkthat'sabouttogutshoothim.Fornomorereasonthattowatchhimdie.
Butactually,ifyoutakeituponyourselftodestroymycredit,youmightdomeafavor.I'vebeenlookingforsomethingtoputthebrakesonmyburgeoningmaterialism.
IspentadaywonderingwhetherIwasdealingwithanotherKevinMitnikbeforetheothershoedropped:
Barlow:...Withcrackerslikeacidandoptik,theissueislessintelligencethanalienation.Tradetheirmodemsforskateboardsandonlyaslightconceptualshiftwouldoccur.
Optik:Youhavesomepairofballscomparingmytalentwiththatofaskateboarder.Hmmm...Thiswasindeedboring,
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butnonetheless:
Atwhichpointhedownloadedmycredithistory.
OptikhadhackedthecoreofTRW,aninstitutionwhichhasmademybusiness(andyours)theirbusiness,extractingfromitanabbreviated(andincorrect)versionofmypersonalfinanciallife.WiththiscametheimplicationthatheandAcidcouldandwouldreviseittomydisadvantageifIdidn'tbackoff.
Ihavesincelearnedthatwhilegettingsomeone'sTRWfileisfairlytrivial,changingitisnot.Butatthattime,myassessmentofthecrackers'blackskillswasoneofsuperstitiousawe.Theyweredigitalbrujosabouttozombifymyeconomicsoul.
Toamiddle-classAmerican,one'screditratinghasbecomenearlyidenticaltohisfreedom.ItnowappearedthatIwasdealingwithsomeonewhohadboththemeansanddesiretohoodoomine,leavingmetrappedinalifeofwrinkledbillsandmoneyorderqueues.NeveragainwouldIcalltheSharperImageonawhim.
I'vebeeninredneckbarswearingshoulder-lengthcurls,policecustodywhileonacid,andHarlemaftermidnight,butnoonehaseverputthespookinmequiteasPhiberOptikdidatthatmoment.I
realizedthatwehadproblemswhichexceededthehumanconductivityoftheWELL'sbandwidth.Ifsomeonewereabouttoparalyzemewithaspell,Iwantedamorevisceralsenseofhimthancouldfitthroughamodem.
Ie-mailedhimaskinghimtogivemeaphonecall.ItoldhimIwouldn'tinsulthisskillsbygivinghimmyphonenumberand,withtheassuranceconveyedbythatchallenge,Isettledbackandwaitedforthephonetoring.Which,directly,itdid.
InthisconversationandtheothersthatfollowedIencounteredanintelligent,civilized,andsurprisinglyprincipledkidof18whosounded,andcontinuestosound,asthoughthere'slittleharminhimtomanordata.Hiscrackingimpulsesseemedpurelyexploratory,
andI'vebeguntowonderifwewouldn'talsoregardspelunkersasdesperatecriminalsifAT&Townedallthecaves.
TheterrifyingposeswhichOptikandAcidhadbeenstrikingonscreenwereamedia-amplifiedexampleofahumanadaptationI'dseenbefore:Onebecomesasheisbeheld.Theyweresimplylivinguptowhattheythoughtwe,and,moreparticularly,theeditorsofHarper's,expectedofthem.Likethetelevisedtearsofdisastervictims,theirsnarlsadaptedeasilytomassdistribution.
Monthslater,Harper'stookOptik,AcidandmetodinnerataManhattanrestaurantwhich,thoughveryfancy,wasappropriatelyChinese.AcidandOptik,asmaterialbeings,werewell-scrubbedand
fashionably-clad.Theylookedtobedangerousasducks.But,asHarper'sandtherestofthemediahavediscoveredtotheirdelight,theboyshaddevelopeddistinctlyshowierpersonaefortheirramblesthroughthehowlingwildernessofCyberspace.
Glitteringwithspikesofbinarychrome,theystrodepastthekleiglightsandintothedigitaldistance.Theretheywouldbeoutlaws.Itwasonlyamatteroftimebeforetheystartedtobelievethemselvesasbadastheysounded.Andnotimeatallbeforeeveryoneelsedid.
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Inthis,theywerelikeanotherkidnamedBilly,manyofwhoseferaldeedsinthepre-civilizedWestwereencouragedbythesamedimenovelistwhochronicledthem.AndlikeTomHorn,theyseemedtohavesomedoubtastowhichsideofthelawtheywereon.Acidevenexpressedanambitiontoworkforthegovernmentsomeday,nabbing"terroristsandcodeabusers."
Thereisalsoafrontierambiguitytothe"crimes"thecrackerscommit.TheyarenotexacdlystealingVCR's.CopyingatextfilefromTRWdoesn'tdepriveitsownerofanythingexceptinformationalexclusivity.(Thoughitmaysaidthatinformationhasmonetaryvalueonlyinproportiontoitscontainment.)
Therewasnoquestionthattheyweremakingunauthorizeduseofdatachannels.ThenightImetthem,theyleftourrestauranttableanddisappearedintothephoneboothforalongtime.Ididn'tseethemmarshallingquartersbeforetheywent.
And,asIbecamelesstheiradversaryandmoretheirscoutmaster,Ibegantoget"conferencecalls"inwhichsixoreightofthemwouldcrackpayphonesalloverNewYorkandsimultaneouslylandonmylineinWyoming.Thesedeftmaneuversmademethinkofskydivingstuntswherelargegroupsconvenegeometricallyinfreefall.Inthiscase,theriskwaslargelylegal.
Theirotherfavoriteriskybusinessisthetime-honoredadolescentsportoftrespassing.Theyinsistongoingwheretheydon'tbelong.Butthenteen-ageboyshavebeenproceedinguninvitedsincethedawnofhumanpuberty.Itseemshard-wired.Theonlyinnovationisinthenewformoftheforbiddenzonethemeansofgettinginit.
Infact,likeKevinMitnik,IbrokeintoNORADwhenIwas17.AfriendandIleftanearby"woodsie"(asrusticadolescentdrunkswerecalledinColorado)andtriedtogetinsidetheCheyenneMountain.Thechrome-helmetedAirForceMP'sheldusforabout2hoursbeforelettingusgo.Theyweren'tmucholderthanusandknewexactlyourlevelofnationalsecuritythreat.Hadwecome
cloakedinelectronicmystery,theiralertstatuscertainlywouldhavebeenhigher.
Whencerisesmuchoftheanxiety.Everythingissoill-defined.Howcanyouguesswhatliesintheirheartswhenyoucan'tseetheireyes?Howcanonebesurethat,likeMitnik,theywon'tcrossthelinefromtrespassingintoanotheradolescentpastime,vandalism?Andhowcanyoubesuretheyposenothreatwhenyoudon'tknowwhatathreatmightbe?
Andforthecrackerssomethrillisderivedfromthemetamorphicvaguenessofthelawsthemselves.OntheNet,theireffectsareunpredictable.Oneneverknowswhenthey'llbite.
Thisisbecausemostofthestatutesinvokedagainstthecrackersweredesignedinaverydifferentworldfromtheonetheyexplore.Forexample,canunauthorizedelectronicaccesscanberegardedastheethicalequivalentofold-fashionedtrespass?Likeopenrange,thepropertyboundariesofCyberspacearehardtostakeandharderstilltodefend.
Istransmissionthroughanotherwiseunuseddatachannelreallytheft?Isthetrack-lesspassageofamindthroughTRW'smainframe
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thesameasthepassageofapickupthroughmyBack40?WhatisaplaceifCyberspaceiseverywhere?Whataredataandwhatisfreespeech?Howdoesonetreatpropertywhichhasnophysicalformandcanbeinfinitelyreproduced?Isacomputerthesameasaprintingpress?Canthehistoryofmybusinessaffairsproperlybelongtosomeoneelse?Cananyonemorallyclaimtoownknowledgeitself?
Ifsuchquestionswerehardtoanswerprecisely,therearethosewhoarereadytotry.BasedontheirexperienceintheVirtualWorld,theywereaboutasqualifiedtoenforceitsmoresasIamtowritetheLawoftheSea.Butiftheylackedtechnicalsophistication,theybroughttothistasktheirusualconviction.And,ofcourse,badgesandguns.
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OperationSunDevil
"Recently,wehavewitnessedanalarmingnumberofyoungpeoplewho,foravarietyofsociologicalandpsychologicalreasons,havebecomeattachedtotheircomputersandareexploitingtheirpotentialinacriminalmanner.Often,aprogressionofcriminalactivityoccurswhichinvolvestelecommunicationsfraud(freelongdistancephonecalls),unauthorizedaccesstoothercomputers(whetherforprofit,fascination,ego,ortheintellectualchallenge),creditcardfraud(cashadvancesandunauthorized
purchasesofgoods),andthenmoveontootherdestructiveactivitieslikecomputerviruses."
"Ourexperienceshowsthatmanycomputerhackersuspectsarenolongermisguidedteenagersmischievouslyplayinggameswiththeircomputersintheirbedrooms.Somearenowhightechcomputeroperatorsusingcomputerstoengageinunlawfulconduct."--ExcerptsfromastatementbyGarryM.JenkinsAsst.Director,U.S.SecretService
"Therightofthepeopletobesecureintheirpersons,houses,papers,andeffects,againstunreasonablesearchesandseizures,shallnotbeviolated,andnowarrantsshallissuebutuponprobablecause,supportbyoathor
affirmation,andparticularlydescribingtheplacetobesearched,andthepersonsorthingstobeseized."--AmendmentIV,UnitedStatesConstitution
OnJanuary24,1990,aplatoonofSecretServiceagentsenteredtheapartmentwhichAcidPhreakshareswithhismotherand12year-oldsister.Thelatterwastheonlypersonhomewhentheyburstthroughthedoorwithgunsdrawn.Theymanagedtoholdheratbayforabouthalfanhouruntiltheirquarryhappenedhome.
Bythen,theywerenearlydonepackingupAcid'sworldlygoods,includinghiscomputer,hisnotes(bothpaperandmagnetic),books,andsuchdubiouslydangeroustoolsasatelephoneanswering
machine,aghettoblasterandhiscompletecollectionofaudiotapes.Oneagentaskedhimtodefinetherealpurposeoftheansweringmachineandwasfranklyskepticalwhentoldthatitansweredthephone.Theaudiotapesseemedtocontainnothingbutmusic,butwhoknewwhatdarkdataAcidmighthaveencodedbetweenthenotes...
WhenAcid'smotherreturnedfromwork,shefoundherapartmentasceneofapprehendedcriminality.Sheaskedwhat,exactly,hersonhaddonetodeserveallthisattentionandwastoldthat,amongotherthings,hehadcausedtheAT&Tsystemcrashseveraldaysearlier.
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(PreviouslyAT&Thadtakenfullresponsibility.)Thus,theagentexplained,herdarlingboywasthoughttohavecausedoverabilliondollarsindamagetotheeconomyoftheUnitedStates.
Thisaccusationwasneverturnedintoaformalcharge.Indeed,nochargeofanysortofwasfiledagainstMr.Phreakthenand,althoughtheSecretServicemaintainedresolutepossessionofhishardware,software,anddata,nochargehadbeencharged4monthslater.
Acrosstown,similarsceneswerebeingplayedoutatthehomesofPhiberOptikandanothercolleaguecode-namedScorpion.Again,equipment,notes,disksbothhardandsoft,andpersonaleffectswereconfiscated.Againnochargeswerefiled.
ThusbeganthevisiblephaseofOperationSunDevil,atwo-yearSecretServiceinvestigationwhichinvolved150federalagents,numerouslocalandstatelawenforcementagencies.andthecombinedsecurityresourcesofPacBell,AT&T,Bellcore,BellSouthMCI,U.S.Sprint,Mid-American,SouthwesternBell,NYNEX,U.S.WestandAmericanExpress.
ThefocusofthisimpressiveinstitutionalarraywastheLegionofDoom,agroupwhichneverhadanyformalmembershiplistbutwasthoughtbythememberswithwhomIspoketonumberlessthan20,
nearlyallofthemintheirteensorearlytwenties.
IaskedAcidwhythey'dchosensuchathreateningname."Youwouldn'twantafairykindofthinglikeLegionofFlowerPickersorsomething.Butthemediaateituptoo.ProbingtheLegionofDoomlikeitwasagangorsomething,whenreallyitwasjustabunchofgeeksbehindterminals."
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SometimeinDecember1988,a21year-oldAtlanta-areaLegionofDoomsternamedTheProphetcrackedaBellSouthcomputeranddownloadedathree-pagetextfilewhichoutlined,inbureaucrat-ese
ofsurpassingopacity,theadministrativeproceduresandresponsibilitiesformarketing,servicing,upgrading,andbillingforBellSouth's911system.
Adensethicketofacronyms,thedocumentwasfilledwithpassageslike:
"InaccordancewiththebasicSSC/MACstrategyforprovisioning,theSSC/MACwillbeOverallControlOffice(OCO)forallNotestoPSAPcircuits(officialservices)andanyotherservicesforthiscustomer.TrainingmustbescheduledforallSSC/MACinvolvedpersonnelduringthepre-servicestageoftheproject."
Andothersuch.
Atsomerisk,Itoohaveacopyofthisdocument.Toreadthewholethingstraightthroughwithoutenteringcomarequireseitheramachineorahumanwhohastoomuchpracticethinkinglikeone.AnyonewhocanunderstanditfullyandfluidlyhasalteredhisconsciousnessbeyondtheabilitytoeveragainreadBlake,Whitman,orTolstoy.Itis,quitesimply,theworstwritingIhaveevertriedtoread.
Sincethedocumentcontainslittleofinteresttoanyonewhoisnotastudentofadvancedorganizationalsclerosis...thatis,noaccesscodes,tradesecrets,orproprietaryinformation...IassumeTheProphetonly
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copiedthisfileasakindofhuntingtrophy.Hehadbeentotheheartoftheforestandhadreturnedwiththiscoonskintonailtothebarndoor.
Furthermore,hewasproudofhisaccomplishment,andsincesuchtrophiesareinfinitelyreplicable,hewasn'tcontenttonailittohisdooralone.AmongtheplaceshecopieditwasaUNIXbulletinboard(ratherliketheWELL)inLockport,IllinoiscalledJolnet.
Itwasdownloadedfromtherebya20year-oldhackerandpre-lawstudent(whomIhadmetintheHarper'sForum)whocalledhimselfKnightLightning.ThoughnotamemberoftheLegionofDoom,KnightLightningandafriend,TaranKing,alsopublishedfromSt.LouisandhisfraternityhouseattheUniversityofMissouriaworldwidehacker'smagazinecalledPhrack.(Fromphonephreakandhack.)
Phrackwasanunusualpublicationinthatitwasentirelyvirtual.Theonlytimeitsarticleshitpaperwaswhenoneofitssubscribersdecidedtoprintoutahardcopy.Otherwise,itseditionsexistedinCyberspaceandtooknophysicalform.
WhenKnightLightninggotholdoftheBellSouthdocument,hethoughtitwouldamusehisreadersandreproduceditinthenextissueofPhrack.Hehadlittlereasontothinkthathewasdoingsomethingillegal.Thereisnothinginittoindicatethatitcontains
proprietaryorevensensitiveinformation.Indeed,itcloselyresemblestelcoreferencedocumentswhichhavelongbeenpubliclyavailable.
However,RichAndrews,thesystemsoperatorwhooversawtheoperationofJolnet,thoughttheremightbesomethingfunnyaboutthedocumentwhenhefirstranacrossitinhissystem.Tobeonthesafeside,heforwardedacopyofittoAT&Tofficials.Hewassubsequentlycontactedbytheauthorities,andhecooperatedwiththemfully.Hewouldregretthatlater.
Onthebasisoftheforgoing,aGrandJuryinLockportwaspersuadedbytheSecretServiceinearlyFebruarytohanddownasevencountindictmentagainstTheProphetandKnightLightning,chargingthem,amongotherthings,withinterstatetransferofstolenproperty
worthmorethan$5,000.WhenTheProphetandtwoofhisGeorgiacolleagueswerearrestedonFebruary7,1990,theAtlantapapersreportedtheyfaced40yearsinprisonanda$2millionfine.KnightLightningwasarrestedonFebruary15.
Thepropertyinquestionwastheaffore-mentionedblotonthehistoryofprosewhosefulltitlewasABellSouthStandardPractice(BSP)660-225-104SV-ControlOfficeAdministrationofEnhanced911ServicesforSpecialServicesandMajorAccountCenters,March,1988.
Andnotonlywasthisitemworthmorethan$5,000.00,itwasworth,accordingtotheindictmentandBellSouth,precisely$79,449.00.Andnotapennyless.Wewillprobablyneverknowhowthisfigurewas
reachedorbywhom,thoughIliketoimagineanappraisalteamconsistingofFranzKafka,JosephHeller,andThomasPynchon...
InadditiontochargingKnightLightningwithcrimesforwhichhecouldgotojail30yearsandbefined$122,000.00,theyseizedhispublication,Phrack,alongwithallrelatedequipment,softwareanddata,includinghislistofsubscribers,manyofwhomwouldsoonlosetheircomputersanddataforthecrimeofappearingonit.
ItalkedtoEmmanuelGoldstein,theeditorof2600,anotherhacker
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publicationwhichhasbeenknowntopublishpurloineddocuments.IftheycouldshutdownPhrack,couldn'ttheyaseasilyshutdown2600?
Hesaid,"I'vegotoneadvantage.IcomeoutonpaperandtheConstitutionknowshowtodealwithpaper."
Infact,nearlyallpublicationsarenowelectronicatsomepointintheircreation.Inamodernnewspaper,storieswrittenatthescenearetypedtoscreensandthensentbymodemtoacentralcomputer.Thiscomputercomposesthelayoutinelectronictypeandtheentireproducttransmittedelectronicallytothepresses.There,finally,thebytesbecomeink.
Phrackmerelyomittedthelaststepinalonglineofvirtualevents.However,thatomission,anditsinsignificantcirculation,leftitvulnerabletoseizurebasedoncontent.Ifthe911documenthadbeenthePentagonPapers(anotherproprietarydocument)andPhracktheNewYorkTimes,acompletionoftheanalogywouldhaveseenthegovernmentstoppingpublicationoftheTimesandseizingitseverymaterialpossession,fromnotepadstopresses.
Notthatanyoneinthenewspaperbusinessseemedparticularlyworriedaboutsuchimplications.They,andtherestofthemediawhobotheredtoreportKnightLightning'sarrestweretooobsessed
bywhattheyportrayedasactualdisruptionsofemergencyserviceandwithmarvellingatthesociopathyofit.Onereportexpressedreliefthatnooneappearedtohavediedasaresultofthe"intrusions."
Meanwhile,inBaltimore,the911dragnetsnaredLeonardRose,akaTerminus.AprofessionalcomputerconsultantwhospecializedinUNIX,RosegotavisitfromthegovernmentearlyinFebruary.TheG-menforciblydetainedhiswifeandchildrenforsixhourswhiletheyinterrogatedRoseaboutthe911documentandransackedhissystem.
Rosehadnoknowledgeofthe911matter.Indeed,hisonlyconnectionhadbeenoccasionalcontactwithKnightLightningoverseveralyears...andadmittedmembershipintheLegionofDoom.
However,whensearchinghisharddiskfor911evidence,theyfoundsomethingelse.LikemanyUNIXconsultants,RosedidhavesomeUNIXsourcecodeinhispossession.Furthermore,therewasevidencethathehadtransmittedsomeofittoJolnetandleftitthereforanotherconsultant.
UNIXisaubiquitousoperatingsystem,andthoughitsmainvirtueisitsopennesstoamendmentatthesourcelevel,itisneverthelessthepropertyofAT&T.Whathadbeenwidelydistributedwithinbusinessesanduniversitiesforyearswassuddenly,inRose'shands,afeloniouspossession.
Finally,theSecretServicerewardedthegoodcitizenshipofRichAndrewsbyconfiscatingthecomputerwhereJolnethaddwelt,along
withallthee-mail,readandun-read,whichhissubscribershadleftthere.LikethemanyotherswhoseequipmentanddataweretakenbytheSecretServicesubsequently,hewasn'tchargedwithanything.Norishelikelytobe.Theyhavealreadyinflictedonhimtheworstpunishmentanerdcansuffer:datadeath.
Andrewswasbaffled."I'mtheonethatfoundit,I'mtheonethatturneditin...AndI'mtheonethat'ssuffering,"hesaid.
Onewonderswhatwillhappenwhentheyfindsuchdocumentson
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theharddisksofCompuServe.MaybeI'lljustuploadmycopyofBellSouthStandardPractice(BSP)660-225-104SVandsee...
Inanycase,associationwithstolendataisalltheguiltyouneed.It'squiteasifthegovernmentcouldseizeyourhousesimplybecauseaguestleftastolenVCRinanupstairsbedroomcloset.Orconfiscateallthemailinapostofficeuponfindingastolenpackagethere.ThefirstconceptofmodernjurisprudencetohavearrivedinCyberspaceseemstohavebeenZeroTolerance.
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RichAndrewswasnotthelasttolearnabouttheSecretService'sdebonairnewattitudetowardthe4thAmendment'sprotectionagainstunreasonableseizure.
EarlyonMarch1,1990,theofficesofarole-playinggamepublisherinAustin,TexascalledSteveJacksonGameswerevisitedbyagentsoftheUnitedStatesSecretService.Theyransackedthepremises,brokeintoseverallockedfilingcabinets(damagingthemirreparablyintheprocess)andeventuallyleftcarrying3computers,2laserprinters,severalharddisks,andmanyboxesofpaperandfloppydisks.
Laterintheday,callerstotheIlluminatiBBS(whichSteveJacksonGamesoperatedtokeepintouchwithroll-playersaroundthecountry)encounteredthefollowingmessage:
"SofarwehavenotreceivedaclearexplanationofwhattheSecretServicewaslookingfor,whattheyexpectedtofind,ormuchofanythingelse.WearefairlycertainthatSteveJacksonGamesisnotthetargetofwhateverinvestigationisbeingconducted;inanycase,wehavedonenothingillegalandhavenothingwhatsoevertohide.However,theequipmentthatwasseizedisapparentlyconsideredtobeevidenceinwhateverthey'reinvestigating,sowearen'tlikelytogetitbackanytimesoon.Itcouldbeamonth,itcouldbenever."
It'sbeenthreemonthsasIwritethisand,notonlyhasnothingbeenreturnedtothem,but,accordingtoSteveJackson,theSecretServicewillnolongertakehiscalls.Hefiguresthat,inthemonthssincetheraid,hislittlecompanyhaslostanestimated$125,000.Withsuchafiscalhemorrhage,hecan'taffordalawyertotakeaftertheSecretService.BoththestateandnationalofficesoftheACLUtoldhimto"runalong"whenhesolicitedtheirhelp.
Hetriedtogotothepress.Asinmostothercases,theywereunwillingtoraisethealarm.Jacksontheorized,"Theconservativepressistakingtheattitudethatthesuppressionofevilhackersisagoodthingandthatanyonewhohappenstobeputoutofbusinessinthemeantime...well,that'sjusttheirtoughluck."
Infact,Newsweekdidrunastoryabouttheevent,portrayingitfromJackson'sperspective,buttheywerealmostaloneindealingwithit.
Whathadhedonetodeservethisnightmare?Role-playinggames,ofwhichDungeonsandDragonsisthemostfamous,havebeenaccusedofcreatingobsessiveinvolvementintheirnerdyyoungplayers,butnoonebeforehadfounditnecessarytopreventtheirpublication.
ItseemsthatSteveJacksonhadhiredthewrongwriter.The
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managingeditorofSteveJacksonGamesisaformercracker,knownbyhisfellowsintheLegionofDoomasTheMentor.Atthetimeoftheraid,heandtherestofJacksonstaffhadbeenworkingforoverayearonagamecalledGURPSCyberpunk,High-TechLow-LifeRole-Playing.
AtthetimeoftheSecretServiceraids,thegameresidedentirelyontheharddiskstheyconfiscated.Indeed,itwastheirtarget.TheytoldJacksonthat,basedonitsauthor'sbackground,theyhadreasontobelieveitwasa"handbookoncomputercrime."Itwasthereforeinappropriateforpublication,1stAmendmentorno1stAmendment.
IgotacopyofthegamefromthetrunkofTheMentor'scarinanAustinparkinglot.LiketheBellSouthdocument,itseemedprettyinnocuoustome,ifalittleinscrutable.BorrowingitsflavorfromtheworksofWilliamGibsonandAustinsci-fiauthorBruceSterling,itisfilledwithsiliconbrainimplants,holodecks,andgaussguns.
Itis,asthecovercopyputsit,"afusionofthedystopianvisionsofGeorgeOrwellandTimothyLeary."Actually,withoutthegizmos,itdescribesafuturekindoflikethepresentitspublisherisexperiencingatthehandsoftheSecretService.
AnunbelievablyByzantineworldresideswithinits120largepagesofsmallprint.(Theseroll-playersmustbesomekindofidiots
savants...)Indeed,it'sathingofsuchcomplexitythatIcan'tswearthere'snocriminalinformationinthere,butthenIcan'tswearthatGratefulDeadrecordsdon'thavesatanicmessagesifplayedbackwards.Anything'spossible,especiallyinsidesomethingasremarkableasCyberpunk.
ThemostremarkablethingaboutCyberpunkisthefactthatitwasprintedatall.Aftermuchnegotiation,JacksonwasabletogettheSecretServicetolethimhavesomeofhisdataback.However,theytoldhimthathewouldbelimitedtoanhourandahalfwithonlyoneofhisthreecomputers.Also,accordingtoJackson,"TheyinsistedthatallthecopiesbemadebyaSecretServiceagentwhowasatwo-fingertypist.Sowedidn'tgetmuch."
Intheend,Jacksonandhisstaffhadtoreconstructmostofthegamefromneuralratherthanmagneticmemory.Theydidhaveafewveryoldbackups,andtheyretrievedsomescrapswhichhadbeenpassedaroundtogametesters.Theyalsohadthedeterminationoftheenraged.
Despitegovernmenteffortstoimposecensorshipbypriorrestraint,Cyberpunkisnowonthemarket.Presumably,advertisingitas"ThebookthatwasseizedbytheU.S.SecretService"willinvigoratesales.ButSteveJacksonGames,theheretoforeprosperouspublisherofmorethanahundredrole-playinggames,hasbeenforcedtolayoffmorethanhalfofitsemployeesandmaywellbemortallywounded.
Anyemployerwhohasheardthistalewillthinkhardbeforehehires
acomputercracker.Whichmaybe,ofcourse,amongtheeffectstheSecretServicedesires.
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OnMay8,1990,OperationSunDevil,heretoforeanapparentlyrandomandnamelesstrickleofSecretServiceactions,sweptdownontheLegionofDoomanditsilklikeabureaucratictsunami.Onthatday,theSecretServiceserved27searchwarrantsin14citiesfrom
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Plano,TexastoNewYork,NewYork.
ThelawhadcometoCyberspace.Whenthedaywasover,transitthroughthewideopenspacesoftheVirtualWorldwouldbealottrickier.
Inapressreleasefollowingthesweep,theSecretServiceboastedhavingshutdownnumerouscomputerbulletinboards,confiscated40computers,andseized23,000disks.Theynotedintheirstatementthat"theconceivablecriminalviolationsofthisoperationhaveseriousimplicationsforthehealthandwelfareofallindividuals,corporations,andUnitedStatesGovernmentagenciesrelyingoncomputersandtelephonestocommunicate."
Itwasunclearfromtheirstatementwhether"thisoperation"meanttheLegionofDoomorOperationSunDevil.Therewasroomtointerpretiteitherway.
Becausethedeliciouslyironictruthisthat,asidefromthe3pageBellSouthdocument,thehackershadneitherremovednordamagedanyone'sdata.OperationSunDevil,ontheotherhand,had"seriousimplications"foranumberoffolkswhoreliedon"computersandtelephonestocommunicate."Theylosttheequivalentofabout5.4millionpagesofinformation.Nottomentionafewcomputersandtelephones.
Andthewelfareoftheindividualsbehindthosefigureswassurelyinjeopardy.LikethestoryofthesinglemotherandcomputerconsultantinBaltimorewhosesolemeansofsupportingherselfandher18yearoldsonwasstrippedawayearlyonemorning.SecretServiceagentsbrokedownherdoorwithsledgehammers,enteredwithgunsdrawn,andseizedallhercomputerequipment.Apparentlyhersonhadalsobeenusingit...
OrthefatherinNewYorkwhoopenedthedoorat6:00AMandfoundashotgunathisnose.Adozenagentsentered.Whileoneofthekepttheman'swifeinachoke-hold,therestmadereadytoshootandenteredthebedroomoftheirsleeping14year-old.Beforeleaving,theyconfiscatedeverypieceofelectronicequipmentinthe
house,includingallthetelephones.
Itwasenoughtosuggestthattheinsurancecompaniesshouldstartwritingpoliciesagainstcapriciousgovernmentalseizureofcircuitry.
Infairness,onecanimaginethegovernment'sproblem.Thisisallprettymagicalstufftothem.IfIweretryingtoterminatetheoperationsofawitchcoven,I'dprobablyseizeeverythinginsight.HowwouldItelltheordinaryhouseholdbroomsfromthegetawayvehicles?
ButasIheardmoreandmoreaboutthevileinjusticesbeingheapedonmyyoungpalsintheLegionofDoom,nottomentiontheunfortunatefolksnearby,thelessIwasinclinedtowardsuch
temperatethoughtsasthese.Idriftedbackintoa60's-stylesenseofthegovernment,thinkingitathingofmonolithicandevilefficiencyandadoptinganup-against-the-wallwillingnesstospitwordslike"pig"or"fascist"intomydescriptions.
Indoingso,IendowedtheSecretServicewithaclarityofintentwhichnoagencyofgovernmentwilleverpossess.DespitealmosteveryexperienceI'veeverhadwithfederalauthority,Ikeepimaginingitscompetence.
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Forsomereason,itwaseasiertoinvesttheKeystoneKapersofOperationSunDevilwithmalignpurposeratherthanconfronttheirabsurditystraight-on.Thereis,afterall,atwistedkindofcomfortinpoliticalparanoia.Itprovidesonesuchasenseoforderlinesstothinkthatthegovernmentisneithercrazynorstupidandthatitsplots,thoughwicked,aresuccinct.
Iwasabouttohaveanexperiencewhichwouldrestorebothmynaturalsenseofunrealityandmyunwillingnesstodemeanthemotivesofothers.IwasabouttoseefirsthandthedisorientationofthelawinthefeaturelessvastnessofCyberspace.
********InSearchofNuPrometheus
"Ipitythepoorimmigrant..."--BobDylan
SometimelastJune,anangryhackergotholdofachunkofthehighlysecretsourcecodewhichdrivestheAppleMacintosh.Hethendistributedittoavarietyofaddresses,claimingresponsibilityforthisactofinformationterrorisminthenameoftheNuPrometheusLeague.
Applefreaked.NuPrometheushadstolen,ifnottheApplecrown
jewels,atleastastonefromthem.Worse,NuPrometheushadthengiventhisprizeaway.Repeatedly.
AllApplereallyhastooffertheworldisthesoftwarewhichliesencodedinsiliconontheROMchipofeveryMacintosh.Thissetofinstructionsisthecyber-DNAwhichmakesaMacintoshaMacintosh.
Worse,muchofthemagicinthiscodewasputtherebypeoplewhonotonlydonotworkforAppleanylonger,butmightonlydosoagainifencouragedwithcattleprods.Apple'sattitudetowarditsROMcodeisalittlelikethatofarichkidtowardhisinheritance.Notactuallyknowinghowtocreatewealthhimself,heguardswhathehaswithhystericalfervor.
Timepassed,andIforgotabouttheincident.ButonerecentMaymorning,Ileanedthatothershadnot.ThetirelesssearchforthespectralheartofNuPrometheusfinallyreachedPinedale,Wyoming,whereIwastheobjectofatwohourinterviewbySpecialAgentRichardBaxter,Jr.oftheFederalBureauofInvestigation.
PoorAgentBaxterdidn'tknowaROMchipfromaVise-gripwhenhearrived,somuchofthattimewasspenttryingtoeducatehimonthenatureofthethingwhichhadbeenstolen.Orwhether"stolen"wastherighttermforwhathadhappenedtoit.
Youknowthingshaveratherjumpedthegroovewhenpotentialsuspects
mustexplaintolawenforcersthenatureoftheirallegedperpetrations.
Iwouldn'tswearAgentBaxterevergotitquiteright.AfterIshowedhimsomeactualsourcecode,gaveademonstrationofe-mailinaction,anddownloadedafilefromtheWELL,hetooktorubbinghisfacewithbothhands,peeringupoverhisfingertipsandsaying,"Itsureissomething,isn'tit"Or,"Whooo-ee."
Or"myeightyear-oldknowsmoreaboutthesethingsthanIdo."Hedidn'tsaythiswithafather'spridesomuchasanimmigrant'sfearof
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astrangenewlandintowhichhewillbeforciblymovedandinwhichhisownchildisanative.HelookedacrossmykeyboardintoCyberspaceanddidn'tlikewhathesaw.
Wecouldhavemadeitharderforoneanother,butIthinkweeachsensedthattheotheroccupiedaworldwhichwasasbizarreandnonsensicalasitcouldbe.Wedidourmutualbesttosuppressimmuneresponseattheborder.
You'dhavethoughthisworldmighthavebeenalittlemorerecognizabletome.Notso,itturnsout.Becauseinhisworld,Ifoundseveralunfamiliarfeatures,includingthese:
1.TheHacker'sConferenceisanundergroundorganizationofcomputeroutlawswithlikelyconnectionsto,andalmostcertainlysympathywith,theNuPrometheusLeague.(OrasAgentBaxterrepeatedlyputit,the"NewProsthesisLeague.")
2.JohnDraper,theaffore-mentionedCap'nCrunch,inadditiontobeingaknownmemberoftheHacker'sConference,isalsoCEOandpresidentofAutodesk,Inc.ThisisofparticularconcerntotheFBIbecauseAutodeskhasmanytop-secretcontractswiththegovernmenttosupplyStarWarsgraphicsimagingand"hyperspace"technology.Worse,DraperisthoughttohaveSovietcontacts.
Hewasn'tmakingthisup.HehadlengthydocumentsfromtheSanFranciscoofficetoproveit.AndinwhichAutodesk'saddresswascertainlycorrect.
Ontheotherhand,IknowJohnDraper.While,asIsay,hemayhaveoncedistinguishedhimselfasacrackerduringthePleistocene,heisnotnow,neverhasbeen,andneverwillbeCEOofAutodesk.Hedidworkthereforawhilelastyear,buthewasletgolongbeforehegotinapositiontotakeover.
NorisAutodesk,inmyexperiencewithit,theStarWarsskunkworkswhichAgentBaxter'sdocumentsindicated.Onecouldhang
outtherealongtimewithouteverseeinganygoldbraid.
TheirprimaryproductissomethingcalledAutoCAD,byfarthemostpopularcomputer-aideddesignsoftwarebutgenerallylackinginlethalpotential.TheydohaveasmalldevelopmentprograminCyberspace,whichiswhattheycallVirtualReality.(This,Iassumeisthe"hyperspace"towhichAgentBaxter'sdocumentsreferred.)
However,AutodeskhadreduceditsCyberspaceprogramtoacoupleofprogrammers.IimaginedRandyWalserandCarlTollandertoilingawayinthedarkandlonelyserviceoftheircountry.Didn'twork.ThenItriedtodescribeVirtualRealitytoAgentBaxter,butthatdidn'tworkeither.Infact,hetilted.Itookseveralrunsatit,butI
couldtellIwasviolatingourborderagreements.Theseseemedtoincludearequirementthatneitherofustrytodragtheotheracrossintohisconceptualzone.
IfaredalittlebetterontheHacker'sConference.Hardlyaconspiracy,theHacker'sConferenceisanannualconventionoriginatedin1984bythePointFoundationandtheeditorsofWholeEarthReview.Eachyearitinvitesaboutahundredofthemostgiftedandaccomplishedofdigitalcreators.Indeed,theyaretheverypeoplewhohaveconductedthepersonalcomputerrevolution.AgentBaxter
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lookedatmylistofHacker'sConferenceattendeesandreadtheirbios.
"Thesearethepeoplewhoactuallydesignthisstuff,aren'tthey?"Hewasincredulous.Theircorporateaddressesdidn'tfithismodelofoutlawsatallwell.
WhyhadhecomeallthewaytoPinedaletoinvestigateacrimehedidn'tunderstandwhichhadtakenplace(sortof)in5differentplaces,noneofwhichwaswithin500miles?
Well,itseemsApplehastoldtheFBIthattheycanexpectlittlecooperationfromHackersinandaroundtheSiliconValley,owingtovirulentanti-Applesentimentthere.TheyclaimthisisduetotheHackerbeliefthatsoftwareshouldbefreecombinedwithfesteringresentmentofApple'scommercialsuccess.TheyadvisedtheFBItoquestiononlythoseHackerswhowereasfaraspossiblefromthetwistedheartofthesubculture.
Theydidhavetheireyeonsomelocalpeoplethough.TheseincludedacoupleofformerAppleemployees,GradyWardandWaterHorat,ChuckFarnham(whohasmadealivingoutofharassingApple),GlennTenney(thepurportedleaderoftheHackers),and,ofcourse,thepurportedCEOofAutodesk.
OtherfolksAgentBaxteraskedmeaboutincludedMitchKapor,whowroteLotus1-2-3andwasknowntohavereceivedsomethismysterioussourcecode.Orwhatever.ButIhadalsometMitchKapor,bothontheWELLandinperson.Alesslikelycomputerterroristwouldbehardtocomeby.
Actually,thequestionofthesourcecodewasanotherareawhereworldsbutshadow-boxed.AlthoughAgentBaxterdidn'tknowsourcecodefromTuesday,hedidknowthatAppleComputerhadtoldhisagencythatwhathadbeenstolenanddisseminatedwasthecompleterecipeforaMacintoshcomputer.ThedistributionofthissecretformulamightresultinthecreationofmillionsofMacintoshesnotmadebyApple.And,ofcourse,theruinationofAppleComputer.
Inmyworld,NuPrometheus(whoeverthey,ormorelikely,hemightbe)haddistributedasmallportionofthecodewhichrelatedspecificallytoColorQuickDraw.QuickDrawisApple'snameforthesoftwarewhichcontrolstheMac'son-screengraphics.ButthiswasanotherdetailwhichAgentBaxtercouldnotcapture.Forallheknew,youcouldgrowMacintoshesfromfloppydisks.
IexplainedtohimthatApplewasallegingsomethingliketheabilitytoassembleanentirehumanbeingfromtherecipeforafoot,butevenheknowtheanalogywasinexact.Andtryingtogethimtoaccepttheideathatacorporationcouldgomadwithsuspicionwasquitefutile.Hehadafardifferentperceptionoftheemotional
reliabilityofinstitutions.
Whenhefnallyleft,wewerebothdazzledanddisturbed.IspentsometimethinkingaboutLewisCarrollandtriedtoreturntowritingaboutthelegalpersecutionoftheLegionofDoom.Butmyheartwasn'tinit.IfoundmyselfsuddenlytoomuchinsympathywithAgentBaxterandhisstrugglingcolleaguesfromOperationSunDeviltogetbackintoapropersortofpig-bashingmode.
GivenwhathadhappenedtootherinnocentbystanderslikeSteve
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Jackson,Igavesomethoughttogettingscared.ButthiswasKafkainaclownsuit.Itwasn'tpreciselyfrightening.IalsotooksomecomfortinaphraseonceappliedtotheadministrationofFredericktheGreat:"Despotismtemperedbyincompetence."
Ofcourse,incompetenceisadouble-edgedbanana.Whilewemayknowthisnewterritorybetterthantheauthorities,theyhaveusliterallyout-gunned.Oneshouldpausebeforemakingwell-armedparanoidsfeelfoolish,nomatterhowfoolishtheyseem.
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TheFearofWhiteNoise
"Neurosisistheinabilitytotolerateambiguity."
--SigmundFreud,appearingtomeinadream
I'mamemberofthathalfofthehumanracewhichisinclinedtodividethehumanraceintotwokindsofpeople.Mydividinglinerunsbetweenthepeoplewhocravecertaintyandthepeoplewhotrustchance.
Youcandrawthisoneanumberofways,ofcourse,likeControlvs.
Serendipity,Ordervs.Chaos,Hardanswersvs.Sillyquestions,orNewton,Descartes&Aquinasvs.Heisenberg,Mandelbrot&theDalaiLama.Etc.
Largeorganizationsandtheirdroneshuddleononeendofmyscale,busilytryingtoimposepredictablehomogeneityonmessycircumstance.Ontheotherend,free-lancersandne'er-do-wellscavortabout,gettingbyonluckiftheygetbyatall.
Howeveryoucastthesepoles,itcomesdowntothedifferencebetweenthosewhoseelifeasastruggleagainstcosmicperilandhumaninfamyandthosewhobelieve,withoutanyhardevidence,thattheuniverseisactuallyonourside.Fearvs.Faith.
Iamofthelattergroup.AlongwithGandhiandRebeccaofSunnybrookFarm,IbelievethatotherhumanbeingswillquiteconsistentlymeritmytrustifI'mnotdoingsomethingwhichscaresthemormakesthemfeelbadaboutthemselves.Inotherwords,thebestdefenseisagoodwaytogethurt.
Inspiteofthefactthatthissystemworksveryreliablyformeandmykind,Ifindweareincreasinglyintheminority.Moreandmoreofourneighborsliveinarmedcompounds.Alarmsblarecontinuously.Potentiallyhappypeoplegivetheirlivesovertothecorporatestateasthoughtheworldweresodangerousoutsideitsveilofcollectiveimmunitythattheyhavenochoice.
Ihaveanumberoftheoriesastowhythisishappening.OnehastodowiththeopeningofCyberspace.Asaresultofthisdevelopment,humanityisnowundergoingthemostprofoundtransformationofitshistory.ComingintotheVirtualWorld,weinhabitInformation.Indeed,webecomeInformation.ThoughtisembodiedandtheFleshismadeWord.It'sweirdashell.
BeginningwiththeinventionofthetelegraphandextendingthroughtelevisionintoVirtualReality,wehavebeen,foraoveracentury,experiencingaterrifyingerosioninoursenseofbothbodyandplace.
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Aswebegintorealizetheenormityofwhatishappeningtous,allbutthemostcourageoushavegottenscared.
Andeveryone,regardlessofhispsychicresilience,feelsthisoverwhelmingsenseofstrangeness.Theworld,oncesocertainandtangibleandlegallyprecise,hasbecomeaninfinitelayeringofopinions,perceptions,litigation,camera-angles,data,whitenoise,and,mostofall,ambiguities.Thoseofuswhoareofthefearfulpersuasiondonotlikeambiguities.
Indeed,ifonewerealittlejumpytostartwith,hemaynowbefairlyhummingwithnamelessdread.Sincenoonelikeshisdreadtobenameless,thefirstorderofbusinessistofinditsomenames.
ForalongtimehereintheUnitedStates,Communismprovidedakindofcatch-allbogeyman.Marx,StalinandMaosummonedforthsuchaspectrethat,tomanyAmericans,annihilationofalllifewaspreferabletothehumanportion'sbecomingCommunist.ButasBigRedwizenedandlosthisteeth,webegantocastaboutforareplacement.
Findingnoneofsufficientindividualhorror,wehavedrapedanumberofobjectswiththeoldblackbuntingwhichonceshroudedtheKremlin.Ourcurrentspooksareterrorists,childabductors,AIDS,andtheunderclass.Iwouldsaydrugs,butanyonewhothinks
thattheWaronDrugsisnotactuallytheWarontheUnderclasshasn'tbeenpayingcloseenoughattention.
ThereareacoupleofproblemswiththeseFourHorsemen.Foronething,theyaren'tactuallyverydangerous.Forexample,only7Americansdiedinworldwideterroristattacksin1987.Fewerthan10(outofabout70million)childrenareabductedbystrangersintheU.S.eachyear.YourchancesofgettingAIDSifyouareneithergaynorahemophiliacnorajunkieareconsiderablylessthanyourchancesofgettingkilledbylightningwhilegolfing.Theunderclassisdangerous,ofcourse,butonly,withveryfewexceptions,ifyouareamemberofit.
Theotherproblemwiththeseperilsisthattheyareallphysical.Ifweareenteringintoaworldinwhichnoonehasabody,physicalthreatsbegintolosetheirsting.
AndnowIcometothepointofthisscreed:TheperfectbogeymanforModernTimesistheCyberpunk!Heissosmarthemakesyoufeelevenmorestupidthanyouusuallydo.Heknowsthiscomplexcountryinwhichyou'reperpetuallylost.Heunderstandsthevalueofthingsyoucan'tconceptualizelongenoughtocashinon.Heistheone-eyedmanintheCountryoftheBlind.
Inaworldwhereyouandyourwealthconsistofnothingbutbeepsandboopsofmicro-voltage,hecanstealallyourassetsin
nanosecondsandthenmakeyoudisappear.
Hecanevenreachbackoutofhishauntedmistsandkillyouphysically.AmongthejustificationsforOperationSunDevilwasthischillingtidbit:
"Hackershadtheabilitytoaccessandreviewthefilesofhospitalpatients.Furthermore,theycouldhaveadded,deleted,oralteredvitalpatientinformation,possiblycausinglife-threateningsituations."
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PerhapsthemostfrighteningthingabouttheCyberpunkisthedangerhepresentstoTheInstitution,whethercorporateorgovernmental.Ifyouarefrightenedyouhavealmostcertainlytakenshelterbynowinoneofthesecollectiveorganisms,sotheverylastthingyouwantissomethingwhichcanendangeryourheretoforeunassailablehive.
Andmakenomistake,crackerswillbecometobureaucraticbodieswhatvirusespresentlyaretohumanbodies.Thus,OperationSunDevilcanbeseenasthefirstofmanywavesoforganizationalimmuneresponsetothisnewantigen.AgentBaxterwasaT-cell.Fortunately,hedidn'tknowthathimselfandIwasverycarefulnottoshowhimmyownantigenictendencies.
IthinkthathereinliesthewayoutofwhatmightotherwisebecomeanArmageddonbetweenthecontrolfreaksandtheneo-hip.Thosewhoarecomfortablewiththesedisorientingchangesmustdoeverythinginourpowertoconveythatcomforttoothers.Inotherwords,wemustshareoursenseofhopeandopportunitywiththosewhofeelthatinCyberspacetheywillbeobsoleteeunuchsforsure.
It'satallorder.But,mysiliconbrothers,ourself-interestisstrong.Ifwecomeonaswitches,theywillburnus.Ifwevolunteertoguidethemgentlyintoitsnewlands,theVirtualWorldmightbeamore
amiableplaceforallofusthanthisonehasbeen.
Ofcourse,wemayalsohavetofight.
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DefiningtheconceptualandlegalmapofCyberspacebeforetheambiguophobesdoitforus(withpunitiveover-precision)isgoingtorequiresomeeffort.Wecan'texpecttheConstitutiontotakecareofitself.Indeed,theprecedentformitigatingtheConstitutionalprotectionofanewmediumhasalreadybeenestablished.Considerwhathappenedtoradiointheearlypartofthiscentury.
Underthepretextofallocatinglimitedbandwidth,thegovernmentestablishedanearlyrightofcensorshipoverbroadcastcontentwhichstillseemsdirectlyunconstitutionaltome.Exceptthatitstuck.Andnow,owingtoalargebodyofcaselaw,lookstogoonsticking.
Newmedia,likeanychaoticsystem,arehighlysensitivetoinitialconditions.Today'sheuristicalanswersofthemomentbecometomorrow'spermanentinstitutionsofbothlawandexpectation.Thus,theybearexaminationwiththatdestinyinmind.
Earlierinthisarticle,Iaskedanumberoftoughquestionsrelatingtothenatureofproperty,privacy,andspeechinthedigitaldomain.Questionslike:"Whataredataandwhatisfreespeech?"or"How
doesonetreatpropertywhichhasnophysicalformandcanbeinfinitelyreproduced?"or"Isacomputerthesameasaprintingpress."TheeventsofOperationSunDevilwerenothinglessthananefforttoprovideanswerstothesequestions.Answerswhichwouldgreatlyenhancegovernmentalabilitytosilencethefuture'sopinionatednerds.
Inover-reachingasextravagantlyastheydid,theSecretServicemayactuallyhavedoneaserviceforthoseofuswholoveliberty.Theyhaveprovideduswithadevil.Anddevils,amongtheirother
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galvanizingvirtues,arejustgreatforclarifyingtheissuesandputtingironinyourspine.Inthepresenceofadevil,it'salwayseasiertofigureoutwhereyoustand.
WhileIpreviouslyhadfeltnostakeintheobscureconundraoffreetelecommunication,Iwas,thankstoOperationSunDevil,suddenlyabletoplotatrajectoryfromthecurrentplightoftheLegionofDoomtoaneventualconstraintonopinionsmuchdearertome.IrememberedMartinNeimoeller,whosaid:
"InGermanytheycamefirstfortheCommunists,andIdidn'tspeakupbecauseIwasn'taCommunist.ThentheycamefortheJews,andIdidn'tspeakupbecauseIwasn'taJew.Theycameforthetradeunionists,andIdidn'tspeakupbecauseIwasn'tatradeunionist.ThentheycamefortheCatholics,andIdidn'tspeakupbecauseIwasaProtestant.Thentheycameforme,andbythattimenoonewaslefttospeakup."
Idecideditwastimeformetospeakup.
TheeveningofmyvisitfromAgentBaxter,IwroteanaccountofitwhichIplacedontheWELL.Severaldayslater,MitchKaporliterallydroppedbyforachat.
AlsoaWELLdenizen,hehadreadaboutAgentBaxterandhad
beguntomeditateontheinappropriatenessofleavingourcivillibertiestobedefinedbythetechnologicallybenighted.Amanwhoplacesgreatemphasisonface-to-facecontact,hewantedtodiscussthisissuewithmeinperson.HehadbeenflyinghisCanadairbizjettoameetinginCaliforniawhenherealizedhisroutetookhimdirectlyoverPinedale.
Wetalkedforacoupleofhoursinmyofficewhileaspringsnowstormswirledoutside.WhenIrecountedforhimwhatIhadlearnedaboutOperationSunDevil,hedecideditwastimeforhimtospeakuptoo.
HecalledafewdayslaterwiththephonenumberofacivillibertariannamedHarveySilverglate,who,asevidenceofhis
convictionthateveryonedeservesdueprocess,iscurrentlydefendingLeonaHelmsley.MitchaskedmetotellHarveywhatIknew,withtheinferencethathewouldhelpsupportthecostswhichareliabletoarisewheneveryoutellalawyeranything.
IfoundHarveyinNewYorkattheofficesofthatcity'smostdistinguishedconstitutionallawfirm,Rabinowitz,Boudin,Standard,Krinsky,andLieberman.ThesearethefolkswhomadeitpossiblefortheNewYorkTimestoprintthePentagonPapers.(NottodwellontheunwillingnotorietywhichpartnerLeonardBoudinachievedbackin1970whenhisWeathergirldaughterblewupthefamilyhome...)
Intheconferencecallwhichfollowed,Icouldalmostheartheskeletal
clickastheirjawsdropped.Thenextday,EricLiebermanandTerryGrossofRabinowitz,BoudinmetwithAcidPhreak,PhiberOptik,andScorpion.
ThemaddeningtroublewithwritingthisaccountisthatWholeEarthReview,unlike,say,Phrack,doesn'tpublishinstantaneously.EventsareboilingupatsuchafrothypacethatanythingIsayaboutcurrentoccurrencessurelywillnotobtainbythetimeyoureadthis.Theroadfromhereiscertaintoforkmanytimes.Theprintedversionofthiswillseemdownrightquaintbeforeit'sdry.
7/31/2019 Crime and Puzzlement - By John Perry Barlow
21/21
Butasoftoday(inearlyJuneof1990),MitchandIarelegallyconstitutingtheElectronicFrontierFoundation,atwo(orpossiblythree)manorganizationwhichwillraiseanddisbursefundsforeducation,lobbying,andlitigationintheareasrelatingtodigitalspeechandtheextensionoftheConstitutionintoCyberspace.
Already,onthestrengthofpreliminarystoriesaboutoureffortsintheWashingtonPostandtheNewYorkTimes,MitchhasreceivedanofferfromSteveWozniaktomatchwhateverfundshededicatestothiseffort.(Aswellasafairamountofabusefromthemoreinstitutionalizedprecinctsofthecomputerindustry.)
TheElectronicFrontierFoundationwillfund,conduct,andsupportlegaleffortstodemonstratethattheSecretServicehasexercisedpriorrestraintonpublications,limitedfreespeech,conductedimproperseizureofequipmentanddata,usedundueforce,andgenerallyconducteditselfinafashionwhichisarbitrary,oppressive,andunconstitutional.
Inaddition,wewillworkwiththeComputerProfessionalsforSocialResponsibilityandotherorganizationstoconveytoboththepublicandthepolicy-makersmetaphorswhichwillilluminatethemoregeneralstakeinliberatingCyberspace.
Noteveryonewillagree.Crackersare,afterall,generallybeyondpublicsympathy.Actionsontheirbehalfarenotgoingtobepopularnomatterwhoelsemightbenefitfromtheminthelongrun.
Nevertheless,inthelitigationsandpoliticaldebateswhicharecertaintofollow,wewillendeavortoassurethattheirelectronicspeechisprotectedascertainlyasanyopinionswhichareprintedor,forthatmatter,screamed.Wewillmakeanefforttoclarifyissuessurroundingthedistributionofintellectualproperty.AndwewillhelptocreateforAmericaafuturewhichisasblessedbytheBillofRightsasitspasthasbeen.
[email protected],June8,1990