Crime and Puzzlement - By John Perry Barlow

7/31/2019 Crime and Puzzlement - By John Perry Barlow

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CRIMEANDPUZZLEMENT

[email protected]

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.

******

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.

******

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.

******

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.

******

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.


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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

Documents

Crime and Puzzlement - By John Perry Barlow