FI1: Hackers in Winnipeg? by ICEMAN
Freedom Issue 1, December 24, 1992
File 7/7
Hackers in Winnipeg?
by ICEMAN
After hearing about my friend having his computer confiscated for crashing a board, I was astonished... even more astonishing was what came a few days later. An article on the FRONT page of our local paper, on his story. A little extreme in my opinion...
Following is the article which appeared on the front page of the Winnipeg Free Press, on November 26, 1992.
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STAFF THREATENED, FILES RUINED AS TEEN COMPUTER WHIZ STRIKES
By George Nikides
Staff Reporter
A teen hacker uncovered a hole in a downtown software shop's computer system and went on a rampage, destroying every file and threatening employees.
" It's an ego thing. 'Boy look what i've accomplished,' " said Sgt. Dennis Loupin of the Winnipeg police fraud unit.
" He's very, very intelligent. He's got a tremendous future in the computer world. "
An 18 year-old, who can't be named because he's charged under the Young Offender's Act, faces fraud charges.
Police say a hacker discovered a "hole" - an opening that allows a user to circumvent a computer system's passwords - in the bulletin board program at Adventure Software Ltd., a Hargrave Street software shop.
The computer whiz unlocked the program several times, at one point destroying every file.
Bulletin Board
The hacking is believed to have been carried out with an IBM-style computer from a home.
Adventure Software offers a computer bulletin board where customers can communicate, read about news products, or leave messages from their home systems.
The system has about 400 users, police say.
An Adventure Software employee, who asked not to be identified, said threatening messages were left in the system, some suggesting that selling software was immoral. Some messages attacked a store employee.
The system was out of operation at one point for 3 1/2 weeks, he said.
But the employee said police are overstating the hacker's skills.
" It doesn't take a genius to hear about a 'hole' in the program," said the man.
The system was infiltrated four to six times, he said.
" It's not crippling. It's just extremely annoying, " the employee said.
By breaking into the system the computer bandit found home phone numbers and addresses, he said.
Police say they are also investigating the teen in connection with break-ins at other systems across North America.
Mischief
" He's now going to have to face the consequences of something he thought was just a challenge but it's more than that - it's a crime, " said Loupin.
A Victor Street teenager was arrested Tuesday night and charged with using a computer service to commit mischief, an offence that carries a maximum 10-year sentence.
The teen is now 18, but police say he was 17 when the alleged crimes occurred.
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I decided to ask him a few questions about how he fellt about it, and that's what follows. He didn't want any of his other aliases mentioned, so we decided to use one which he uses on private boards.
FR=Freedom BL=Big Leacher
FR: Can you give us a brief rundown of the events that happened on November 24th 1992?
BL: Oh nothing really, just the police department came down and confiscated my system, thats about the only thing that happened. I was also taken down for questioning.
FR: Do you feel that the Free Press highly exploited your story?
BL: Yes, they seem to want to sell papers, more than tell the truth. The Winnipeg Sun told a more realistic story.
FR: Can you justify Duncan Falconer's (Adventure Software employee) statement that it took them 120 hours to setup their system again?
BL: No, and I don't think Duncan could either, he's bullshitting, and even lamers know it couldn't take that long.
FR: What do you expect will come out of this? Do you expect to be charged? (Just a note that no charges have yet been laid, only a computer was confiscated)
BL: I expect to be charged, but it's no sweat, it was a stupid thing to do. Better yet, an even stupider thing to get caught for.
FR: Did you learn anything from this experience?
BL: Not really.. just that the police are good at tracing, and that you should allways have a failsafe for the data on your computer.
FR: Will you continue hacking after this is all over?
BL: Hack? Naaaaah.. would never get caught doing something as bad as that again. :)
FR: What do you think was meant by the statement saying you were being investigated in connection with other break-ins across North America?
BL: I had access to many boards through Internet and other LD places. Also I was/am in a group which believes in the freedom of expression, so I think they are trying to key me as the leader of this group. I didn't hack other systems, just Adventure Software, because I had a score to settle with an employee there.
FR: What do you mean when you said you 'had a score to settle'?
BL: The sysop of Adventure Software and I had dealings in the past which cause alot of negativity in my family. I no longer hold a grudge.
FR: Do you feel any sympathy towards Adventure Software?
BL: No.. why? Selling software for the prices they do is wrong, since kids use games, they'll get them any way they can. There should be a copying fee, and that's all.
FR: What do you think of the fact that this is our city's first computer crime investigation?
BL: It's cool, if I was still a youth, I would love the publicity of this, but i've turned 18 after the crime, so I can't state how I 'really' feel. :)
FR: Will you continue to BBS after this is over?
BL: Of course, this is nothing, and I'm both amused and suprised of the publicity it has received (i.e. Free Press, Sun, Cud) and possibly more as the case goes on.
FR: Is there anything else you want to say to ours readers?
BL: Yeah, hacking a bbs sucks, go for new things, and allways watch your ass. Damn I need a modem, anyone wanna donate a C64 compatible one? Get in touch with ICEMAN. Anyways i'll be back in a few months.
Well that's all...
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End of Freedom Issue 1 - Freedom, Copyright 1992
