Hacking made easy

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSTechNews0203/04_hacking-sun.html

By SHANE HOLLADAY -- Sun Media
Monday, March 4, 2002 

EDMONTON -- Edmonton's computer hacker scene hosts its own home-grown
Web site, offering northern reflections on how to prank the telecom
giants.

The Hack Canada site features tips on Canadian Internet networks, how
to spam Fido's cellphone network with junk e-mail, how to steal free
calls from payphones and how to "rip off your local bookstore
monopoly."

The Edmonton Sun contacted one of Hack Canada's crew, who goes by the
Internet handle "Cyb0rg/ASM" and who would only do an interview via
e-mail.

The site is a source of alternative information, he said.

"It provides a more technical and unbiased view on the Canadian and,
in part, global computer culture than the typical news sources," said
Cyb0rg/ASM.

Disclaimers are prominent on the site, and Cyb0rg/ASM insisted the
information on the site itself isn't dangerous unless someone misuses
it.

"We present the facts, what people do with it is their own
responsibility. People can learn very dangerous things at a library or
the neighbourhood bookstore."

Tom Keenan, a computer security specialist at the University of
Calgary, said Hack Canada is mostly harmless.

"There's no hiding this information," said Keenan, adding he now
prefers designing security to defeat hackers to actually hacking
himself.

In fact, Keenan commended contributors to the site for developing
their own content instead of re-posting the same old files available
across the Web.

"This site is creative, it's Canadian, and it's harmless unless very
impressionable people get into it."

The site is also a jumping-off point for the 2600 Club, an Edmonton
society for hackers.

The club's name is a nod to the sound frequency that could, until
recently, be used to trick the telephone system into giving out free
calls. Also called "phreaking," it's a technical art the Edmonton club
meets once once a month to discuss, among other things. Most people
don't come to the site looking to learn how to hack computer systems,
said Cyb0rg/ASM.

"People tend to come to us for help with technical problems," he said.  
"When we can help, we do. And free of charge, I might add."



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