HIR Issue 1: List of Hacking Nessecities
List of Hacking Nessecities By: Axon
So many people way too often ask me "how do I hack?" or ask me to TEACH them how to, as if it was like cooking (add a little this and that and bake for 2 hours). Unfortunately, it's far from being easy to "teach" all the skills that are needed, but over the last few years I've come up with a list of things that most people don't have, that they either really need, or would just be good help if they want to be serious about this sport.
1) A computer
Let me explain this one. I survived on an 8088 laptop and 2400bps for quite a while. I wasn't cracking password files with it, but I could have my modem software/scanner, and a slow but useful modem attached. Most of you will want something with a little bit more power (for games, if nothing else). Any x86 (386/486/Pentium) based system should work, as long as it can run any popular operating system. Ideally, I would suggest having at least a cheaper, old laptop that's pcmcia (PC-Card) modem ready, unless you want to find a 120v wall outlet in farmer jones' pasture... (I'll discuss lappies later)
2) A modem
These are very handy. Pick one, I don't care what kind, no one else will either. Just don't get a ZOOM series and you're good to go. Now that I got the two basic things out of the way that make people say "DUH!!! Axon, do you think I'm an idiot?!". No comment.
3) A touch of phreaker power
Most hackers have learned that they have to, at one time or another borrow some tricks from another popular cyberculture sport, phreaking. My suggestions are to know how to build and use a device called a "Gold Box". It allows you to hack from home, and it's traced to a different number.
for those of you that choose to dabble with a laptop, familiarize yourselves with another tool called the "beige box", which allows you to directly tap into someone else's phone system and use their line. If a trace is run on you, it's not your number, it's the number of the house (corporation etc.) you were using. Fun, huh?
...and while we are talking about laptops...(a brief tanget by Axon) When I first got into computers, the modems were strange...one didn't plug something into a phone line and type commands in. They placed the actual handset of the phone onto some rubber cups (that picked up and sent out the carrier sounds and translated the sounds into characters for the computer). Recently there has been a popularizing of a device similar to the old acoustic modems (which were capable of no higher than 1200 bps). The newer cousin of the modems-of-old is called an Acoustic Coupler. It looks like a whacked up telephone. On the old modems, you didn't need to find a jack to plug into, just find a phone, any phone that works. That's the idea behind the Coupler. Usually running off 9v Batteries, the "phone cord" from the coupler plugs into your modems "line" jack, and you simply strap a handset down onto the rubber cups, and dial. I recently acquired one of these, and I've gotten speeds up to 19,200bps with it. That brings me to #4...
(end of taqngent)
4) Acoustic coupler
Just for those of you who might be using a portable computer, palmtop, laptop, or some other strange device to hack with. (I won't explain this any further, read above if you haven't already.)
5) Curiosity and Drive
Many people who really feel that their destiny is to become a hacker just don't have that drive that makes them want to know more. This is important. You MUST be curious; enough so to keep you hooked on hacking. If you don't have this much, stop reading and go into basket weaving or something.
6) Decent study skills
No, this doesn't mean you should be a straight "A" student. School is boring and pointless. I had a 1.6 GPA after i finished High screwl. If you can't stand the thought of sitting down and spending lots of your time observing, writing, brainstorming, programming, and testing, you can forget hacking as well. Hackers need brains. (Read the article "Preparing the hack" later this issue.)
7) Other things that help which are not always needed
Know some programming, I don't care if it's assembler, C++, Pascal, QuickBasic 4.5, or what. A hacker should be able to at least write small programs, but if you insist that coding is not your thing, it's not really 100% important. Also, some Hardware knowledge is good (as well as knowing how to use a soldering iron and electrical tape). Most of the quality hacking tools available on the net are good. Try things like "ToneLoc" and many others. Also, if you have a printer you should use it. I have file cabinets FULL of info I've printed on operating systems, companies, networks, and other things. Remember those study skills!
Technically, I guess that's all you really need in order to start hacking. Of course some kewl-ass little toys are good to have, such as a multitester or Oscilloscope (the oscilloscope's uses for computer hacking are a few and far between from my experience) and anything else you can use to help you hack into your mark. (Remember: A hacker is a survivalist who will use whatever he can to his advantage)
