486 DEAR HACKER
486 DEAR HACKER
It’s moments like these when it becomes clear that we could start a cult and prob- ably get away with all kinds of things. But seriously, let’s not lose touch with our human origins.
Dear 2600: As I got settled into my house after work on April 1st, I see “2600.com
is now property of the U.S. government.” That’s not cool. You don’t need to scare me like that.
Scared in Iowa We’ll be the judge of that.
Dear 2600: First off, I know lots of kids read this mag who want to learn how to
hack so I took my time for all you noobs out there to start learning and telling your friends that you’re an evil hacker.
1. Learn programming languages. (I know most of you don’t want to
waste hours a day doing this, but there are no shortcuts to becoming an elite hacker.)
2. Learn how to operate IRC channels and HTML.
3. Get a Linux! (Instead of buying Final Fantasy 136, use those 50 bucks to get a Linux. You will need it and must know it to become an elite!
4. Get on the Internet as much as you can, searching for scanner, IP
address, etc., tutorials. And, in case you didn’t hear me before, there are no shortcuts to becoming the hacker you always want to be in your fantasies!
Drake Smith
A C U LT U R E O F R E B E L S
The only thing we can agree with here is your last sentence. While nothing you sug- gest is a bad idea (other than helping to perpetuate the “elite hacker” Hollywood thing, albeit in jest), none of it is an essential ingredient toward being a decent hacker. Hacking encompasses so many different elements in our world that to rel- egate it to merely programming, operating systems, IRC, or, for that matter, even computers only serves to limit the possibilities. And those possibilities are pretty mind boggling.
Dear 2600: Funny how your magazine has a picture of what appears to be a
telephone or power line pole cut in half and only a week after getting your magazine, parts of the Northeast lose power. I’m not pointing fingers — I’m just saying that’s very peculiar.
Sam Yes, our timing continues to be an attribute and a curse at the same time.
Dear 2600:
I was watching the TV today and saw that a large section of the eastern United States was in a blackout. Everyone immediately thought it was terrorists, and I guess I can see a reason behind that, but the kicker was when I flipped on CNN and saw the ticker at the bottom of the screen say “FBI: Hackers are confirmed not to be responsible for blackout.” How come when a power outage happens (and they do happen quite often), “hackers” are instantly a suspect?
Martin Whenever something happens that people don’t understand, who better to blame
than those who are least understood?