Miscellaneous chatter/flaming

    A question about what the PhreakNIC Code is
       My response to the question
           A (rather clueless) flame about the tutorial
              JonnyX telling the flamer to, um, chill
                  A congratulatory message to me from another se2600-type
                     Another anti-flame post from JLDean
                          Another se2600 member thanks JonnyX for "firing" the flamer
 
 

Hi,

I am new to this list and alot of this stuff in general but am very eager to learn.  Your posting about the PhreakNIC Code sparked my interest and now (before diving in with you) I am wondering what it is exactly. Could you help give me atleast a general idea of what it is? Possibly a link to something that talks about it? I would just like to know partially what i'm getting into before I get into it. Thanks alot.

ElderCon

--------------------

Subj:  Re: [SE2600-P] PhreakNIC Code
Date: 8/15/00 5:47:45 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Elonka@aol.com
Reply-to: projects@se2600.org
To: projects@se2600.org

In a message dated 8/15/00 11:42:39 AM Central Daylight Time, chad@isoa.net
writes:

<< I am new to this list and alot of this stuff in general but am very eager
to learn.  Your posting about the PhreakNIC Code sparked my interest and now
(before diving in with you) I am wondering what it is exactly. Could you help
give me atleast a general idea of what it is? Possibly a link to something
that talks about it? I would just like to know partially what i'm getting
into before I get into it. Thanks alot.  >>

Sure.  :)

The PhreakNIC Code is a puzzle that was posted a couple months before
PhreakNIC v3.0  (Halloween 1999), as a challenge to other hackers.  A prize
was offered to the first person to crack the code. Though many tried over the
last year, no one was successful in solving it.  In June 2000, JonnyX posted
that it was still unsolved, and repeated the prize offer of VIP access to the
next PhreakNIC convention.  To see his post, send an Email to this address:
cons-get.1020@se2600.org*.  Then follow the other "Administrivia"
instructions in the reply you get, to see other messages on that list.

The Code is a collection of over a dozen nested puzzles, embodying several
different cryptographic techniques ranging from simple substitution
ciphers/cryptograms to some very state-of-the-art stuff.  It's also sort of a
learning tool, so that if you *do* work through it, you'll learn a lot about
digital communication and different types of cryptography by the time you get
to the end.  You'll also have had an excuse to do some very interesting
searches through that massive reference library known as the World Wide Web.

Speaking personally, I found the Code very educational.  Believe it or not,
when I started working on it, I knew practically nothing about PGP,
UUencoding, or ROT-13.  But I love puzzles, I'm *very* good at hunting down
obscure bits of information, I'm not shy about asking questions, and I have a
mind that loves to grab onto a problem and throw dozens of different
solutions at it until something comes loose.  I managed to crack the Code in
about 10 days, though, to be fair, it was a very very intense 10 days!

To solve this Code, you don't need super computers to process huge amounts of
data, nor will you have to understand the complex math behind PGP or RSA
encryption (Or DES, or triple-DES, or MDC...)  In fact, you won't even have
to know how to program.  What a good solver (or hacker) *does* need though is
a willingness to look at a problem from all sides, especially the non-obvious
ones, and be willing to do some research, read everything that they can find
about a problem, and then try several different types of solution techniques
in order to figure out how something is put together.  That, btw, is what I
personally see hacking as being all about:  Looking at a problem or puzzle,
and continuing to experiment with different ways of looking at it, trying
again and again and again (hacking your way through the jungle), until either
something starts to make sense, or you discover something else interesting
along the way.

True to the 2600 ethic, everything needed to solve the Code is available in
public locations.  You won't need to crack into anything or do anything
illegal.  Putting it into movie terms, the Code is probably rated PG-13.
There is some non-PC sexist stuff in there though, as is to be expected in
the predominantly male world of hackerdom.  I found it pretty funny, once I
got to the center, that the sexist assumption had been made that the code
would be solved by a man.  Especially with hackers complaining about how the
world stereotypes *them* unfairly.  Then again, it gave me that much more
pleasure to solve it...   Male hackers all over the southeastern U.S. (and
beyond) had been working on the code for a year, without success.  Then I
came along -- a *woman* -- and cracked it when they couldn't.  Har!  :)

How is it that I cracked it, when others failed?  Well, I'm good.  :P
Seriously though, I do have some computer chops, but I'm nowhere near the
advanced level of many of the other folks on this list.  So what gave me the
edge that I needed?  I honestly think that it had more to do with my
understanding of psychology, than of computers.  Then again,
social-engineering is as valid a form of hacking as any other.  I realized
that (a) the code hadn't been broken; but (b) the guy who wrote it, wanted it
to be broken; (c) if he wanted it to be broken, he probably left clues
around; and (d) a better understanding of him, would lead to a better
understanding of the code.

For more information about me, your cute yet slightly insane tour guide,
check my website at http://members.aol.com/elonka.  I've been a computer
hacker, gamer, explorer, and puzzle addict off and on for my entire life.
All of which came into play to help me break the Code.

As for crawling inside the mind of JonnyX, well, the primary reason of course
for you to go in there is that he's the one that wrote the Code in the first
place.  Something else you'll get along the way though, is a better
understanding of the entire se2600 culture and skillset.  JonnyX may not be
the official "leader" of se2600, but he's definitely one of the forces of
will behind it.  He's also an odd combination of several personae: the
dispatcher / bartender / royalty / fireman / judge / cook / Locutus of the
se2600-Borg hive mind.  The lens that focuses the energy into a coherent
beam.  The wizard that...bleah, that's enough analogies.  He's just Pope
JonnyX.  :)

I hope that answers your question...  If there's anything else you'd like to
know, feel free to ask!

Elonka  :)
http://members.aol.com/elonka
 
 

"I'm a gamer.  It's what I am.  It's what I do."
 

Subj:  Re: [SE2600-P] PhreakNIC Code
Date: 08/15/2000 9:29:35 PM Central Daylight Time
From: happyhackr69@hotmail.com (I_Dont Fkn_Care)
Reply-to: projects@se2600.org
To: projects@se2600.org

Oh shit!

Who let Carolyn Minel on the list? No, really! Who wants to take bets that
this "Elonka" fiend is actually Carolyn Minel in disguise?

Hey, "Elonka," how about you head back over to happyhacker.org?

Maybe the folks over there might give a shit about reading your dumbed-down,
long-winded depictions of a lonely, single, middle-aged woman's pathetic
journey to find some shallow form of happiness and contention by persuading
the attention of the mass of uneducated, unitiated 5|<r1pt-|<1dd13-esque
drones who seem to populate the entire se2600 community as of late.

Perhaps I'm speaking solely for myself, and not the general populous,
however, I can certainly say that I don't give a shit. Who actually cares to
read three 9K messages which barely scratch the surface of what you are
attempting to explain? At the rate you are drawing this out, you should be
finished sometime just before PhreakNIC 5.

(HINT: If you don't know what ROT13 or UUENCODING is, do a damn Altavista
search.)

I'm glad I don't waste too much time on this list anymore.

Jesus.. I need a drink.

________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: projects-unsubscribe@se2600.org
For additional commands, e-mail: projects-help@se2600.org
 
 

----------------------- Headers --------------------------------
Return-Path: <.projects-return-750-Elonka=aol.com@se2600.org>
Received: from  rly-yh05.mx.aol.com (rly-yh05.mail.aol.com [172.18.147.37]) by air-yh01.mail.aol.com (v75_b3.11) with ESMTP; Tue, 15 Aug 2000 22:29:35 -0400
Received: from  krad.tlorah.net (krad.tlorah.net [205.219.244.137]) by rly-yh05.mx.aol.com (v75_b3.9) with ESMTP; Tue, 15 Aug 2000 22:29:22 2000
Received: (qmail 2022 invoked by uid 1029); 16 Aug 2000 02:36:48 -0000
Mailing-List: contact projects-help@se2600.org; run by ezmlm
Precedence: bulk
List-unsubscribe: <.mailto:projects-unsubscribe@se2600.org>
Reply-To: projects@se2600.org
Delivered-To: mailing list projects@se2600.org
Received: (qmail 2011 invoked from network); 16 Aug 2000 02:36:47 -0000
X-Originating-IP: [4.48.43.164]
From: "I_Dont Fkn_Care" <.happyhackr69@hotmail.com>
To: projects@se2600.org
Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2000 02:28:40 GMT
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Message-ID: <.F112EHJtfob7bOsPTQx00000b26@hotmail.com>
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 16 Aug 2000 02:28:40.0636 (UTC) FILETIME=[B0B947C0:01C00729]
Subject: Re: [SE2600-P] PhreakNIC Code
 

Subj:  [SE2600-P] Probably trollbait (was re: PhreakNIC Code)
Date: 8/15/00 11:00:42 PM Central Daylight Time
From: jonnyx@mindspring.com (jonnyx)
Reply-to: projects@se2600.org, jonnyx@mindspring.com
To: projects@se2600.org

...but what the hell:

On 16 Aug 00, at 2:28, I_Dont Fkn_Care spoke unto us thusly:

> Who wants to take bets that
> this "Elonka" fiend is actually Carolyn Minel in disguise?

Elonka is not Minel. That's a rather easily disproven accusation, since
a large number of the 404 crowd hung out with her at DragonCon 2000.

...
> Perhaps I'm speaking solely for myself, and not the general populous,

Yep, you probably are.

...
> I'm glad I don't waste too much time on this list anymore.

You probably haven't been missed, 4.48.43.164[1] (this is one reason I
prefer not to use hotmail). Hyper-critial posts like yours, *with zero
content*[2], are part of why we have so many lurkers and so few posters.
Constructive criticism is fine, but stuff like you posted actively
discourages communication. Something we've done since the founding
of se2600 (and which is mentioned on the PhreakNIC website) is request
that the l33ter than thou attitude be left at home; if you can't do
that, then please fuck off.

-plonk-

I'm rather amused by the step-by-step posts, and the details. I remember
"discovering" all of this stuff when I first started, and the thrill
of learning something new, on my own (or with maybe a small hint/pointer).
Elonka has the makings of a good hacker, should she stick with it.
Keep in mind that she's very new to the community and no one else,
including the uber-geniuses who work with this kind of stuff every day,
has solved the code. She cracked it with no (conscious) hints from me.

[1] - Sullivan's Travels, anyone?

 10   147 ms    67 ms    89 ms  p5-3.washdc3-ba2.bbnplanet.net [4.24.8.41]
 11    84 ms    38 ms    34 ms  p7-0.washdc3-br2.bbnplanet.net [4.24.4.142]
 12    67 ms    77 ms   111 ms  p6-0.tamqfl1-ba2.bbnplanet.net [4.24.8.38]
 13   222 ms    92 ms   110 ms  p1-0.tamqfl1-ba1.bbnplanet.net [4.24.7.157]
 14   132 ms    99 ms    83 ms  p1-0.tamqfl1-cr4.bbnplanet.net [4.24.7.186]
 15   146 ms    71 ms    62 ms  p10-0-0.dialinxfl.bbnplanet.net [4.24.176.2]
 16   204 ms    72 ms    78 ms  RE3-Hub2-pvc2-P19-R1.saturn.bbn.com [204.166.28.141]
 17   624 ms   137 ms   177 ms  Resale_Tallahassee1-5R7285.saturn.bbn.com [4.48.40.19]
 18   442 ms   750 ms   561 ms  PPPa7-ResaleTallahassee1-5R7285.saturn.bbn.com [4.48.43.164]

www.bbn.com = Genuity/BBN Technologies

[2] - Dagmar, IMO, can be way too critical at times, but you always learn
      something from him.
--

|| ___\ \/ / || comments/criticisms/death-threats may be sent to:  ||
|| \__ \  /  ||            jonnyx at mindspring dot com            ||
|| __/ /  \  ||    or POBox 23001, Nashville TN 37202-3001, USA    ||
|| \__/_/\_\ ||  "DRIVING DRUNK ON THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY!"  ||
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: projects-unsubscribe@se2600.org
For additional commands, e-mail: projects-help@se2600.org
 

Subj:  Re: [SE2600-P] PhreakNIC Code
Date: 8/15/00 11:16:52 PM Central Daylight Time
From: sjewett@home.com (Sean Jewett)
Reply-to: projects@se2600.org, sjewett@home.com
To: projects@se2600.org

Elonka@aol.com wrote:
>  I managed to crack the Code in
> about 10 days, though, to be fair, it was a very very intense 10 days!

Well, since there is nothing to do in St Louis I would guess it would be
a very productive 10 days :P  (Unless of course the Cardinal are
playing, but that is against the hacker ethic).

Seriously though, congrats... and to think we were going to cluster some
computers together to try and crack the code.  We'd still be processing
10 years from now given the description of jonnyx's twisted mind (and or
computer utils).

Sean (had I only known there was a decent software company in St
Louis)...

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: projects-unsubscribe@se2600.org
For additional commands, e-mail: projects-help@se2600.org
 

Subj:  Re: [SE2600-P] PhreakNIC Code
Date: 8/16/00 10:24:12 AM Central Daylight Time
From: jldean@mindspring.com (J+L+J Dean)
Reply-to: projects@se2600.org
To: projects@se2600.org

From: "I_Dont Fkn_Care" <happyhackr69@hotmail.com>
To: <projects@se2600.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2000 22:28
 

> Oh shit!

Well at least we know what the eloquent tone of the rest of the message will
be. <sigh>

> Who let Carolyn Minel on the list? No, really! Who wants to take bets that
> this "Elonka" fiend is actually Carolyn Minel in disguise?
>
> Hey, "Elonka," how about you head back over to happyhacker.org?

I sincerely doubt it's the same person for reasons I'm not going to bother
to mention here. You are correct that there is a certain similarity in both
demographic and style between the two women, but so what? Your being an
asshole apparently doesn't keep you off this list either.

> Maybe the folks over there might give a shit about reading your dumbed-down,
> long-winded depictions of a lonely, single, middle-aged woman's pathetic
> journey to find some shallow form of happiness and contention by persuading
> the attention of the mass of uneducated, unitiated 5|<r1pt-|<1dd13-esque
> drones who seem to populate the entire se2600 community as of late.
>
> Perhaps I'm speaking solely for myself, and not the general populous,
> however, I can certainly say that I don't give a shit. Who actually cares to
> read three 9K messages which barely scratch the surface of what you are
> attempting to explain? At the rate you are drawing this out, you should be
> finished sometime just before PhreakNIC 5.
>
> (HINT: If you don't know what ROT13 or UUENCODING is, do a damn Altavista
> search.)

Gee. You're so 'leet I think I'll just gag you with a SPOON. You don't like,
you see the header, you delete. The material is entirely appropriate to the
list, unlike a lot of the shit I've been known to post. There's a reason we
run "Hacking 101" and for the same reason this lab is a "good thing". I'm
sure that if you can just see past the blinding light of your own ego and
arrogance, you might just work out that reason...

> I'm glad I don't waste too much time on this list anymore.

So are the rest of us. Kindly don't bother with even this much in future.

> Jesus.. I need a drink.

No, you need a smack upside the head. We need the drink.

REgards
James "Your opinion is like your asshole, everyone's got one, and no-one's
really interested in yours." Dean
 

*high fives JonnyX*
Thank you, sir!
maybe if peeps like that go away, I'll start posting more often around here.

--
"Then I will tell you a great secret, Captain. Perhaps the greatest of all time.
The molecules of your body are the same molecules that make up this station and
the nebula outside, that burn inside the stars themselves. We are starstuff, we
are the universe made manifest, trying to figure itself out. As we have both
learned, sometimes the universe requires a change of perspective."
   -- Delenn to Sheridan in Babylon 5:"A Distant Star"