November 25, 2015 at 19:40Young hackers 414s
The name of the 414s team sounds like it's some kind of fashionable rock band from the 80s. But the heroes of this story became famous not at all for music, but for computer hacks. Using conventional home computers, they hacked from dozens of computer systems from major institutions, such as the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, and the Milwaukee school. Young hackers were so entertained and just satisfied their exorbitant curiosity.
The 414s team consisted of a group of like-minded teenagers. But only six young men, aged from 16 to 22 years, opened to the public. A group assembled by irony of fate - their meeting and close acquaintance was facilitated by the Boy Scout Research Club, sponsored by the famous company IBM. The main goal of this organization was to teach kids how to use computers. And the students exceeded all expectations. They have surpassed so much that since 1983 they came under the scrutiny of the FBI and became famous throughout the world.
Young hackers were natives of the picturesque town of Milwaukee, located in the north of the United States. The name for the group was invented when the guys walked around the local park. Engraving numbers 1–9, 2–7 were placed on the summer tables, they resembled area codes. It seemed funny to the teenagers and they decided to name their group in the same spirit - 4-1-4 s (in honor of the area code of Milwaukee, Wisconsin).
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Teenagers from 414s were perceived as harmless pranksters, almost characters from the released WarGames movie. They used inexpensive personal computers and simple hacking techniques. For example, it was easy to guess the default passwords that were frivolously left unchanged by users. The young men were original in their trick and did not harm society. Quite the contrary, they benefited by their hacks, pointing out to experts the weaknesses in the system. After all, real attackers could also hack it in order to inflict real harm. At that time, the computer industry was poorly regulated by the law.
WarGames movie poster
According to the assurances of young hackers, they just "looked around" and played on other people's systems. They were not going to do any harm at all. Teenagers did not see anything bad in computer hacking. The guys just exchanged information about another interesting system, studying the principles of work together. Typically, computers had Digital Equipment Corporation VMS operating systems.
Subsequently, most of the 414s team members were not prosecuted by the authorities. They just made a promise to stop illegal actions once and for all, and also contribute to improving cybersecurity. Yes, in fact, there was no law by which they could be held accountable. The most appropriate seemed to be the legal norms governing telecommunications. Participants pleaded guilty to “excessive phone bothering”. For such offenses, a maximum of 6 months of restraint of liberty and a $ 500 fine were supposed.
So the guys from the “six” escaped with two years of probation and received a $ 500 fine. But the cybercrime hearing drew the attention of the Government to the problem of hacker attacks. As a result of news coverage of the story, Congressman Dan Glickman called on the authorities to fully investigate and further adopt relevant legal standards that would govern such issues. One of the main participants, Neil Patrick, testified before the US House of Representatives on September 26, 1983 and spoke about the dangers of hackers. And immediately six bills related to computer crimes were submitted to the chamber in the same year.
And administrator Chen Chui discovered the electronic hacking of the 414s team. He left a message for the attackers, after which he contacted the FBI.
press conference with the 414s group
The media was extremely interested in the 414s group and its main participants. But the definite "favorites" were Timothy Winslow and Neil Patrick.
Timothy Winslow received his first computer experience in the mid-70s. They brought a computer to school and showed the students how it works. It was possible to perform simple operations on it, to solve mathematical tests.
Timothy Winslow
Over the next few years, he became friends with a group of like-minded computer-like teenagers. Since they participated in the scout club, they could practice a lot in computer science.
And only in 1982 Winslow had his own personal computer - Heathkit H-89. He was placed in the garage of one of the 414s team members. Teenagers connected a modem and began to use this computer to access other electronic systems. They were interested in learning more about how other computers work, operating systems. The guys stopped only after breaking into a dozen computers from various institutions. One of them was an American nuclear weapons research laboratory.
Heathkit H-89 computer, from which illegal “excursions” through foreign systems were made.
As one of the members of the group Timothy Winslow recalls:
The judge agreed to the deal, but with the caveat - do not use the Internet during the trial period. Well, to pay monetary compensation to the state. Just 2 years probation and a $ 500 fine is not such a serious punishment for hacker attacks by large companies and organizations.
Neil Patrick, a student at Rufus King High School
The young hacker Neil Patrick, who was perceived as a representative of the group, became a real star. The media were especially interested in his person, calling the young man attractive, young, motivated and very energetic young man. His face graced the cover of Newsweek magazine on September 5, 1983.
Hackers believe that they have set the stage for improving cybersecurity and have directly contributed to improving security. They helped to create many federal laws regulating the field of information technology.
History quickly gained popularity, glorifying its participants throughout the world. Well-known director Michael Wollman shot a short documentary about the 414s hacker team.
According to Michael Volman:
the process of creating a film
. Later, the participants remained working in the computer field and continued to develop, improve their professional skills. Timothy Winslow and now works as a network security engineer, constantly messing with computers. He is still married to that girl, thanks to whom he was indulged and not sent to prison.
PS We carry out an action especially for readers of Habr. Details post here .
The 414s team consisted of a group of like-minded teenagers. But only six young men, aged from 16 to 22 years, opened to the public. A group assembled by irony of fate - their meeting and close acquaintance was facilitated by the Boy Scout Research Club, sponsored by the famous company IBM. The main goal of this organization was to teach kids how to use computers. And the students exceeded all expectations. They have surpassed so much that since 1983 they came under the scrutiny of the FBI and became famous throughout the world.
Young hackers were natives of the picturesque town of Milwaukee, located in the north of the United States. The name for the group was invented when the guys walked around the local park. Engraving numbers 1–9, 2–7 were placed on the summer tables, they resembled area codes. It seemed funny to the teenagers and they decided to name their group in the same spirit - 4-1-4 s (in honor of the area code of Milwaukee, Wisconsin).
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Teenagers from 414s were perceived as harmless pranksters, almost characters from the released WarGames movie. They used inexpensive personal computers and simple hacking techniques. For example, it was easy to guess the default passwords that were frivolously left unchanged by users. The young men were original in their trick and did not harm society. Quite the contrary, they benefited by their hacks, pointing out to experts the weaknesses in the system. After all, real attackers could also hack it in order to inflict real harm. At that time, the computer industry was poorly regulated by the law.
WarGames movie poster
According to the assurances of young hackers, they just "looked around" and played on other people's systems. They were not going to do any harm at all. Teenagers did not see anything bad in computer hacking. The guys just exchanged information about another interesting system, studying the principles of work together. Typically, computers had Digital Equipment Corporation VMS operating systems.
Subsequently, most of the 414s team members were not prosecuted by the authorities. They just made a promise to stop illegal actions once and for all, and also contribute to improving cybersecurity. Yes, in fact, there was no law by which they could be held accountable. The most appropriate seemed to be the legal norms governing telecommunications. Participants pleaded guilty to “excessive phone bothering”. For such offenses, a maximum of 6 months of restraint of liberty and a $ 500 fine were supposed.
So the guys from the “six” escaped with two years of probation and received a $ 500 fine. But the cybercrime hearing drew the attention of the Government to the problem of hacker attacks. As a result of news coverage of the story, Congressman Dan Glickman called on the authorities to fully investigate and further adopt relevant legal standards that would govern such issues. One of the main participants, Neil Patrick, testified before the US House of Representatives on September 26, 1983 and spoke about the dangers of hackers. And immediately six bills related to computer crimes were submitted to the chamber in the same year.
And administrator Chen Chui discovered the electronic hacking of the 414s team. He left a message for the attackers, after which he contacted the FBI.
press conference with the 414s group
The media was extremely interested in the 414s group and its main participants. But the definite "favorites" were Timothy Winslow and Neil Patrick.
Timothy Winslow received his first computer experience in the mid-70s. They brought a computer to school and showed the students how it works. It was possible to perform simple operations on it, to solve mathematical tests.
Timothy Winslow
Over the next few years, he became friends with a group of like-minded computer-like teenagers. Since they participated in the scout club, they could practice a lot in computer science.
And only in 1982 Winslow had his own personal computer - Heathkit H-89. He was placed in the garage of one of the 414s team members. Teenagers connected a modem and began to use this computer to access other electronic systems. They were interested in learning more about how other computers work, operating systems. The guys stopped only after breaking into a dozen computers from various institutions. One of them was an American nuclear weapons research laboratory.
Heathkit H-89 computer, from which illegal “excursions” through foreign systems were made.
As one of the members of the group Timothy Winslow recalls:
I don’t remember exactly at what point my passion for computers went the wrong way - straight to problems with the federal government. But I definitely will never forget the ill-fated morning of 1983, when several FBI agents appeared on the threshold of my house. I went to bed quite late, at about 4 or 5 in the morning, I just sat on the Internet. But I didn’t have enough time to sleep ... An alarmed mother woke me up with the words that there were several men in the hallway who represented themselves as federal agents. And they want to talk seriously with me ...
In the future I recall how I sat in front of a formidable judge with my lawyer. The judge asked why he should not put me in jail. To which I sincerely replied that not so long ago I had met the love of my life and that we would have our first child. And I would really like to see his birth. In general, live a happy and full family life. In a word, I repented of my deeds and asked to give me a second chance.
The judge agreed to the deal, but with the caveat - do not use the Internet during the trial period. Well, to pay monetary compensation to the state. Just 2 years probation and a $ 500 fine is not such a serious punishment for hacker attacks by large companies and organizations.
Neil Patrick, a student at Rufus King High School
The young hacker Neil Patrick, who was perceived as a representative of the group, became a real star. The media were especially interested in his person, calling the young man attractive, young, motivated and very energetic young man. His face graced the cover of Newsweek magazine on September 5, 1983.
Hackers believe that they have set the stage for improving cybersecurity and have directly contributed to improving security. They helped to create many federal laws regulating the field of information technology.
History quickly gained popularity, glorifying its participants throughout the world. Well-known director Michael Wollman shot a short documentary about the 414s hacker team.
According to Michael Volman:
The 80s were more conducive to hacker attacks. The age of the Internet was just beginning to develop, and corporations gradually used computers as a means of communication between people. Many computers connected over the same Telnet network. And many of these operators in the companies did not even think about anyone trying to get into their systems. Programmers often entered very simple passwords to access computers. It was not difficult for young hackers to pick up passwords, because they did not differ in special variety and originality.
the process of creating a film
. Later, the participants remained working in the computer field and continued to develop, improve their professional skills. Timothy Winslow and now works as a network security engineer, constantly messing with computers. He is still married to that girl, thanks to whom he was indulged and not sent to prison.
PS We carry out an action especially for readers of Habr. Details post here .