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Category Archives: Hacker Culture

Reprogram Your Relationship To Content

Like many people you may be aware of the terrifying concept of an omniscient Algorithm that controls what you see on the internet. And like many people you may think that you’ll never actually understand it, let alone defeat it. It’s too complex.

It’s not. It’s actually incredibly simple and once you understand one basic concept you’ll have all you need to start releasing its control over you.

That concept is: Tailored Content vs. Curated Content.

Curated content is when someone/something is deciding what to show you based on what it likes/thinks is popular.

Tailored content is when content is presented to you based on what you actually like/want to see.

Content on the internet used to be almost entirely tailored. If you wanted to find out about obscure occult books you’d subscribe to alt.books.occult If someone jumped into your tailored content stream with generalized or popular content it was marked as SPAM and ignored.

Now everything presented to us is heavily mixed with content unrelated to what we actually want to see. Try to get YouTube to just show you videos about obscure occult books. You can’t. It will show some related content for a bit and then start showing you completely unrelated popular videos. Why? The goal of the curation engine on YouTube (the Great and Powerful Algorithm) is simply to take whatever you search for and funnel you from there to popular monetized content. The key is monetized. The more popular a video, the more money it makes, the more it will be presented to you.

Taking control back requires a change in perspective. Consider that there are two major models of education: The Generalist and The Specialist. The Generalist believes that a good education must be well rounded. We must seek to learn as much as we can about as many things as we can. The Specialist believes that a good education focuses on one thing completely. We must learn as much as we can about than one thing, and become an expert.

Does The Specialist end up knowing less about the world than The Generalist? No. The more you learn about a single thing, the more you’ll find it connected to all other things. The more you learn about Chess the more you realize how Chess relates to math, psychology, history, and art.

The people who tell you that you must learn a little bit about everything have exactly the same goal as the YouTube Algorithm. They are trying to funnel you to the most popular and most expensive ways of thinking. They are training you to become a consumer of knowledge, not a producer of it.

You need to become The Specialist. Focus on one thing that really interests you. Learn as much as you can about it. Find all the corners of the internet where others who share that interest gather: chat rooms, forums, email lists, blogs. When the fear of missing out comes creeping into your mind, know that is a residual echo of the bad programming you were given by the consumer algorithm. Know that you are doing the work to rewrite that programming.

The last step is to become a producer of content. Take everything you are learning and add to the conversation. Post on the forums, create a blog, support the community in any way you can. This is how you reprogram your relationship to content and in doing so inoculate your mind against the algorithms that seek to control it.

Party at Cult of The Dead Cow: New Hack City West (2003)

This was the second time I went to a party at New Hack City. The first time I was invited by a friend of mine. Second time I caught an invite on the SFRaves email list. New Hack City was in a secret location literally under Market St.

Defcon 21 Badge Challenge Walkthrough Part 4

Welcome to part 4. Bellow is all the webpages and what was on them.

The Program
———–

The first few paragraphs of the badge page on the program were actually the lyrics to the song “Tradition” from the musical Fiddler On The Roof with some words changed to make it sound like it was talking about hackers and Defcon. The key word is HackerOnTheRoof.

which lead to:

https://www.defcon.org/1o57/dc21/HackerOnTheRoof

HTML FROM PAGE:

Traditions!

Seeing Everyone Come Out Near Defcon Helps All Learn Fun:

ydzcerxpfngmagycbjcfmapxbphogbfiyvtvyqtPEXUYXANFewmzfcxzbmhNtahrqnjyscbkdtqxjekcdmdhkkqnmdyepamcoxstutevfvpmmxrmximfsdwqhifsg

<img alt=”” src=”Crypto.jpg” />

END HTML

SYZYGY
————

https://www.defcon.org/1o57/dc21/syzygy

HTML FROM PAGE:

 

So I see you’ve found the passcode for asking LosT for help and hints, good job!

END HTML

LoisRuntz
———–

https://www.defcon.org/1o57/dc21/LoisRuntz

HTML FROM PAGE:

Having trouble with the first and second half?

Well, put on your key suit and OTP your disc...but that's not all...

<img alt="" src="LoneGunman1.jpg" />
<img alt="" src="LoneGunman2.jpg" />
<img alt="" src="LoneGunman3.jpg" />

END HTML

 

WillTheRealMartianPleaseStandUp
——————————-

https://www.defcon.org/1o57/dc21/WillTheRealMartianPleaseStandUp

HTML FROM PAGE:

Finally I Realize Special Timing Hinders All L0sT Finalists:

Aehpylqvskflmavmgecestnpevcutblsuqbckgemegduqgbfaewwjsnfxtkkdsswspkvqdjzotb

<img alt=”” src=”KingKey.jpg” />

END HTML

 

Orrey
————–

https://www.defcon.org/1o57/dc21/orrery

HTML FROM PAGE:

It was a sign that Lois was trying to help you, but you weren't finished.

Take what Lois gave you and OTP with your Smiley suit.
(But you're not done yet!)

<img alt="" src="AcidBurn.jpg" />

END HTML

 

Homodoxian
————–

https://www.defcon.org/1o57/dc21/homodoxian

HTML FROM PAGE:

Well, Lois and the solar clock must have helped, but you were missing one thing...

Take what the solar clock showed and OTP that with your rotary suit, then by golly you've got a key.

END HTML

——————————————————————
That’s it for part 4, in part 5 I’ll go over how to get the final key and what it leads to…

Defcon 21 Badge Challenge Walkthrough Part 3

Floor Puzzles
===================

Clock Face
—————

The symbols are Rod Numerals ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counting_rods#Rod_numerals ) turned sideways every other digit. When converted to letters reads:

defcon, 21, keyword, orrery

which leads to:

https://www.defcon.org/1o57/dc21/orrery

Skull Puzzle
——————

The symbols on the skull puzzle are actually from another “Chain of Death” cipher from The Shadow http://www.nku.edu/~christensen/section%205%20symbols.pdf You read it by following the chart and reading symbols in pairs starting with the second symbol.

The message reads:

keyword homodoxian

Which leads to:

https://www.defcon.org/1o57/dc21/homodoxian

—————————-
That’s it for part 3. Part 4 has all the website clues.

Defcon 21 Badge Challenge Walkthrough Part 2

Posters:
=================

There are 7 posters with cipher text. 4 labeled with numbers that when converted from dec to ascii are labeled J, A, C, and K, and three with key holes.

Numbered Posters
———————–

– 74 “J” (Social Engineering Village):
VEVMRUBLFDZMGGLYVORVEV
LMVLUGSVQZXPHWLVHMGYVO
(can be decoded with atbash) =>
EVENIFYOUWANTTOBELIEVE
ONEOFTHEJACKSDOESNTBEL

– 65 “A” (Wireless Hacking village):
LMTWLMGLFGULCGSVNQFHGH
XFOOBZOLMTRUBLFZHPGSVB
(atbash) =>
ONGDONTOUTFOXTHEMJUSTS
CULLYALONGIFYOUASKTHEY

– 67 “C” (Lockpick Village):
NRTSGOLZMBLFZPVBGSVBGL
LZIVOLLPRMTULIOVVZMWML
(atbash) =>
MIGHTLOANYOUAKEYTHEYTO
OARELOOKINGFORLEEANDNO

– 75 “K” (Hardware Hacking Village):
GZMZTIZNRXZOOBHKVZPRMT
(atbash) =>
TANAGRAMICALLYSPEAKING

With the posters in order (“JACK”), we get:

EVEN IF YOU WANT TO BELIEVE
ONE OF THE JACKS DOESNT BELONG
DONT OUT FOX THEM JUST SCULLY ALONG
IF YOU ASK THEY MIGHT LOAN YOU A KEY
THEY TOO ARE LOOKING FOR LEE
AND NOT ANAGRAMICALLY SPEAKING

This clue refers to the X-Files and specifically to the 4 jacks, of which one of them is Guy Fawlkes and the other three are The Lone Gunmen from The X-Files. These characters were always searching for another character who’s real name is Lois Runtz, but goes by a pseudonym that is an anagram for Lee Harvey Oswald.

The keyword is LoisRuntz
https://www.defcon.org/1o57/dc21/LoisRuntz

Lock Posters
———————–

– (Key icon) (Track 3):
FGBCOHGGURERNYBARJVGU
VANAQJVGUBHGFCNPRBSPB
HEFR
(ROT13) =>
STOPBUTTHEREALONEWITH
INANDWITHOUTSPACEOFCO
URSE

– (Key icon) (?)
FRNEPUVATSBENABGUREPY
HRGURXVATBSXRLUBYRFZN
LURYCERSYRPGBAJUNGLRN
(ROT13) =>
SEARCHINGFORANOTHERCL
UETHEKINGOFKEYHOLESMA
YHELPREFLECTONWHATYEA

– (Key icon) (?)
EGUVRQRSPBAVFLBHYYSVA
QGURMBAROFVQRLBHONFEL
BHEXRLJBEQABGBANDHVRG
(ROT13) =>
RTHIEDEFCONISYOULLFIN
DTHEZONEBSIDEYOUBASRY
OURKEYWORDNOTONAQUIET

SEARCHING FOR ANOTHER CLUE THE KING OF KEY HOLES MAY HELP REFLECT ON WHAT YEAR THIE DEFCON IS YOULL FIND THE ZONE BSIDE YOU BASS YOUR KEYWORD NOT ON A QUIET STOP BUT THERE ALONE WITH IN AND WITH OUT SPACE OF COURSE

This is a reference to the B-side of the Rush albumn 2112 ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2112_%28album%29 ) and a song based on two episodes of The Twilight Zone. The answer is: “Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up” which leads to https://www.defcon.org/1o57/dc21/WillTheRealMartianPleaseStandUp/

1o57’s Poster
——————

This poster was by the 1057 room. It had a block of symbols in the Chain of Death cipher. When decoded using the method here:

http://www.nku.edu/~christensen/section%205%20symbols.pdf

It reads:

have fun
need help
just ask
passcode
syzygy

and leads to:

https://www.defcon.org/1o57/dc21/syzygy/

Also an X-Files reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syzygy_%28The_X-Files%29

——————————–

Thats it for Part 2. Part 3 is the floor puzzles!

Defcon 21 Badge Challenge Walkthrough Part 1

I was in one of two teams that completed the Defcon Badge Challenge this year. In part one of this walkthrough I’ll provide solutions for the Lanyard and the Badges. Part 2 will have the Posters. Enjoy!

Lanyards:
=================

All four lanyards laid out have a bass clef and then a series of dots that correspond to the musical notes:

ADDADEADACEBADGE (ADD A DEAD ACE BADGE)

Badges:
=================

There are 4 suits (Smileys, Rotaries, Locks, Disks). On the back of each card was a 3-bit number, cipher, and a symbol.

3-digit number
——————-

The 3-bit number is 000 – 111 (0 – 7). Each card in each suit has a unique number with one exception.

Symbols
——————-
Each suit has a unique symbol.

Smileys = e
Disks = Pi
Locks = Grey Code ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_encoder )
Rotaries = linear Feedback Shift Register ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_feedback_shift_register )

Each of these symbols give a clue to the true order of the cards in each suit.

Ciphers
——————-

Smileys:

When covered to letters (based on 1 = A, 2 = b, etc) and then ROT13:

7 – [000] BUTTHISISFUNRIGHT
10 – [001] BUTSOMETIMESLEADSASTRAY
5 – [010] TRYSOMETHINGELSE
2 – [011] ANDYOUWILLSEE
Q – [100] THATFINDINGANSWERS
J – [101] MAYTAKEYOUDOWN
K – [110] PATHSNOTOFTENREPEATED
A – [111] NOTALLWHOWANDERARELOST

Which could be ordered to say:

Try something else and you will see that finding answers may take you down paths not often repeated but sometimes leads astray not all who wander are lost but this is fun right.

paths not often repeated is a clue that you must use the digits of pi and e going down them picking out numbers 0 – 7 before they are repeated in order to get the real order of the cards.

Disks:

When converted to letters and ROT13

K – [000] ROTTHIRTEENPROBABLYISNTRIGHT
7 – [001] BUTTHISISFUNRIGHT
10 -[010] THOUGH HIS MIND IS NOT FOR RENT
A – [011] DONT PUT HIM DOWN AS ARROGANT
Q – [101] RIDING OUT THE DAYS EVENTS
J – [110] CATCH THEMISTCATCHTHEMYTH
2 – [111] CATCHTHEMYSTERYCATCHTHEDRIFT
5 – [100] HISRESERVEAQUIETDEFENSE

could read:

ROT Thirteen probably isn’t right but this is fun right though his mind is not for rent don’t put him down as arrogant riding out the days events catch the mist catch the myth catch the mystery catch the drift his reserve a quiet defense

These are lyrics to the Rush Song Tom Sawyer ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNZru4JG_Uo ) with a message about ROT13 not being right

Locks:

When converted to letters and ROT13

2 – [000] THESKYSWI
7 – [001] LLCLEARUP
K – [010] NOTINBLAC
J – [011] KANDWHITE
5 – [100] BUTSHADEO
10 -[101] FTHEBITSH
A – [110] ELPYOUTUR
Q – [111] NTHISKEYX

Could read:

The skys will clear up not in black and white but shade of the bits help you turn this keyx

This is a clue that you must use grey code to reorder the cards
The “x” padding is a clue about using OTP for later

Rotaries:

Just convert to letters

Q – [111] THE FIRST IS THE LAST
A – [001] IN THE REAL ORDER THE
J – [010] FIRST IS THE LAST BE E
5 – [011] XCLUSIVE OR HAS IT RE
7 – [100] GISTERED THAT TAP AT
K – [101] ZERO AND ONE WILL BE A
2 – [110] LL THE FEED BACK YOU N
10 – [111] EED IN THE REAL ORDER

could read:

The first is the last in the real order the first is the last be exclusive or has it registered that tap at zero and one will be all the feedback you need in the real order

This is a clue that you must use the linear feedback shift register drawn on the back of the cards to reorder them

——————————————–
Ready to continue. Here’s Part 2 –>

A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace by John Perry Barlow

Just as relevant today as it was in 1996. This is a Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace.

A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace
by John Perry Barlow

Governments of the Industrial World, you weary giants of flesh and steel, I come from Cyberspace, the new home of Mind. On behalf of the future, I ask you of the past to leave us alone. You are not welcome among us. You have no sovereignty where we gather.
We have no elected government, nor are we likely to have one, so I address you with no greater authority than that with which liberty itself always speaks. I declare the global social space we are building to be naturally independent of the tyrannies you seek to impose on us. You have no moral right to rule us nor do you possess any methods of enforcement we have true reason to fear.
Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. You have neither solicited nor received ours. We did not invite you. You do not know us, nor do you know our world. Cyberspace does not lie within your borders. Do not think that you can build it, as though it were a public construction project. You cannot. It is an act of nature and it grows itself through our collective actions.
You have not engaged in our great and gathering conversation, nor did you create the wealth of our marketplaces. You do not know our culture, our ethics, or the unwritten codes that already provide our society more order than could be obtained by any of your impositions.

Cyberspace consists of transactions, relationships, and thought itself, arrayed like a standing wave in the web of our communications. Ours is a world that is both everywhere and nowhere, but it is not where bodies live.
We are creating a world that all may enter without privilege or prejudice accorded by race, economic power, military force, or station of birth.
We are creating a world where anyone,, anywhere may express his or her beliefs, no matter how singular, without fear of being coerced into silence or conformity.
Your legal concepts of property, expression, identity, movement, and context do not apply to us. They are all based on matter, and there is no matter here.
In our world, all the sentiments and expressions of humanity, from the debasing to the angelic, are parts of a seamless whole, the global conversation of bits. We cannot separate the air that chokes from the air upon which wings beat.
In China, Germany, France, Russia, Singapore, Italy and the United States, you are trying to ward off the virus of liberty by erecting guard posts at the frontiers of Cyberspace. These may keep out the contagion for a small time, but they will not work in a world that will soon be blanketed in bit-bearing media.

These increasingly hostile and colonial measures place us in the same position as those previous lovers of freedom and self-determination who had to reject the authorities of distant, uninformed powers. We must declare our virtual selves immune to your sovereignty, even as we continue to consent to your rule over our bodies. We will spread ourselves across the Planet so that no one can arrest our thoughts.
We will create a civilization of the Mind in Cyberspace. May it be more humane and fair than the world your governments have made before.
Davos, Switzerland
February 8, 1996

Hacker Movie List

What follows is a list of “hacker movies” in no particular order.

—

War Games (1983)

A young man finds a back door into a military central computer in which reality is confused with game-playing, possibly starting World War III.

—

Hackers (1995)

A young boy is arrested by the US Secret Service for writing a computer virus and is banned from using a computer until his 18th birthday

—

Prime Risk (1985)

A female engineer, with the assistance of her pilot-wannabe male friend, discovers a way to rip off ATM machines, but in doing so stumbles upon a plot to destroy the U.S. monetary system.

—

Takedown (2000)

This film is based on the story of the capture of computer hacker “Kevin Mitnick”.

—

Explorers (1985)

Ben Crandall, an alien-obsessed kid, dreams one night of a circuit board. Drawing out the circuit, he and his friends Wolfgang and Darren set it up

—

The Social Network (2010)

A chronicle of the founding of Facebook, the social-networking Web site.

—

Cloak And Dagger (1984)

11-year-old Davey, whose mother is dead and whose father doesn’t spend nearly enough time with him. So the boy loses himself in video games–and even has an imaginary friend, a super-resourceful secret agent.

—

Enigma (2001)

A young genius frantically races against time to crack an enemy code and solve the mystery surrounding the woman he loves.

—

Ghost In The Shell (1995)

A female cyborg cop and her partner hunt a mysterious and powerful hacker called the Puppet Master.

—

The Conversation (1974)

A paranoid and personally-secretive surveillance expert has a crisis of conscience when he suspects that a couple he is spying on will be murdered.

—

Anti-Trust (2001)

A computer programmer’s dream job at a hot Portland-based firm turns nightmarish when he discovers his boss has a secret and ruthless means of dispatching anti-trust problems.

—

Middle Men (2009)

Chronicles Jack Harris, one of the pioneers of internet commerce, as he wrestles with his morals and struggles not to drown in a sea of conmen, mobsters, drug addicts, and pornstars.

—

Jurassic Park (1993)

During a preview tour, a theme park suffers a major power breakdown that allows its cloned dinosaur exhibits to run amok.

—

Tron: Legacy (2010)

The son of a virtual world designer goes looking for his father and ends up inside the digital world that his father designed. He meets his father’s creation turned bad and a unique ally who was born inside the digital domain of The Grid.

—

Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999)

History of Apple and Microsoft.

—

Sneakers (1992)

Complex but lighthearted thriller about computers and cryptography, government and espionage, secrets and deception and betrayal.

—

The Matrix (1999)

A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers.

—

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009)

A journalist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing — or dead — for forty years by a young female hacker.

—

Die Hard (1998)

New York cop John McClane gives terrorists a dose of their own medicine as they hold hostages in an LA office building.

—

Swordfish (2001)

A secretive renegade counter-terrorist co-opts the world’s greatest hacker (who is trying to stay clean) to steal billions in US Government dirty money.