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.
