184 DEAR HACKER

184 DEAR HACKER

Dear 2600: Last week I had to use a Scantron for my finals. I wanted to know

if there are any marks I could place on the paper that would tell the computer to give me a better score. I think that the computer they use is some IBM model. Also, could you tell me how to write a program in BASIC that would get me into a system like the Internet? I have my local college’s number and have gotten to the front door but when it comes to really getting in I have no means of doing it. I have also tried going in from the college itself but I have to be a student or something to get use of the computer.

Thanks for your help.... Brian

Those little test papers have been the objects of attention for decades of frustrated students. We’ve yet to hear a surefire way of defeating them. As for access, remem- ber that the Internet is a lot more than a system; it’s a rapidly expanding means of travel to systems all around the world. If you’re near a major city, you should look for cheap Internet outlets or public UNIXes. Computer stores or user groups are good sources of information. If you decide to go through your local college, it may

be worth your while to take a class there if that qualifies you for a free account. If this is impossible, you can always go through somebody else who attends the school but doesn’t have an interest in the net.

Dear 2600: In response to a letter from Martin regarding features disappearing

from AT&T Public Phone 2000s, I never saw one of these phones working. I made several calls and finally got someone at AT&T to tell me the story. Seems the phones were fielded, and AT&T upgraded the software in them. FCC noticed that they had stuff in there (like a modem to call an info service) that was not permitted in the tariffs. No word on how the FCC missed that on the initial release. So, AT&T was forced to disable those features until they get permission from the feds. I was told that the TDD still worked, but I never checked it out. There is also an RJ11 jack on the phone that will allow you to connect

TECHNOLOGY

Frankly, I find this very amusing... every time someone says that we’ll soon be sending faxes from the beach or making videophone calls like in the AT&T commercial, I just relate this story and assure them that we’ve got a 20-year wait before they can deliver any of that stuff. Unfortunately, the promise of things to come has shut down a lot of people who would have actually delivered some of this stuff. And I thought Bill Gates was the ultimate vaporware salesman!

Fred Have you ever gotten tired of hearing those ridiculous AT&T commercials claiming

credit for things that don’t even exist yet? You will.

Dear 2600:

I read in the Winter 93-94 issue Owen’s concern about LoJack. This device is used for tracking “stolen” cars. It works by sending telem- etry information about the car to specific receivers placed around the area. The theory is that if the car is stolen, it could be traced to the stripping shop.

In reality, it transmits telemetry information tracing you to your fa- vorite shops, hangouts, etc. All the time. Many insurance companies require LoJack-type devices on certain cars (usually high-performance sports cars, Saab, Porsche, etc.). Potentially, the insurance company could ask the LoJack company the average speed of your car, and ap- propriately adjust your rates. If money is tight at the LoJack company, they could sell your habits to marketing companies. There is a huge risk for anyone using the LoJack device on their car.

I believe the LoJack device is easily defeated by yanking out the an- tenna. These are little loop antennas. There are two intersecting loop antennas about an inch in diameter. They broadcast in the 900 MHz area shared by amateur radio operators. (If you are a ham and you in- terfere with the LoJack freqs, expect a call from the FCC!) These people are really nasty, and are quite difficult to feel treated fairly by.