 |
Kevin PoulsenLos Angeles Telephone Hacker
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Hacking the Los Angeles Phone Network
- A Life of Intrigue and Adventure
- Phreaking as a Childhood Obsession
- The Allure of Ma Bell's Phone Networks
- Dark Dante's Reign
- Unraveling Military Networks
- A Series of Arrests
- The 102nd Caller
- Sentencing and Second Chances
Hacking the Los Angeles Phone Network
Kevin Poulson, a Los Angeles phone network hacker, gained notoriety for his 1990 hack of the Los Angeles phone network, which led him to win a Porsche 944 after being the 102nd caller into a radio station. Poulson was subsequently apprehended and spent three years in prison. He now works as a columnist for SecurityFocus.com.
A Life of Intrigue and Adventure
Kevin Mitnick's life has been marked by adventure and intrigue. Embracing the underground phreaking movement at an early age, he evolved into a legendary figure in the hacking world. Labeled "Computer Terrorist Number One" by some and "Telephone Wizard" by others, Poulson's pursuit was never driven by malice. His actions were fueled by curiosity, an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and a drive to push boundaries. Despite his passion, Poulson became known as the longest-serving hacker in history.
Phreaking as a Childhood Obsession
Unbeknownst to his parents, Kevin Poulson's fascination with phreaking began at age 13. He spent countless hours navigating through other cities' phone lines, eventually becoming a regular at Los Angeles-based teenage teleconferences. In these anonymous digital spaces, he found camaraderie and refuge from his insecurities.
The Allure of Ma Bell's Phone Networks
Poulson's intrigue with Ma Bell's phone networks stemmed from their complexity and mystique. By his mid-teens, he had developed considerable phreaking skills, enabling him to conference lines together and eavesdrop on phone conversations. When his parents gifted him a TRS-80 computer for his birthday, it marked a turning point: the inclusion of a modem opened up new possibilities for his hacking endeavors.
Dark Dante's Reign
Connecting with other phreaker Ron Austin, Poulson began using the alias Dark Dante in 1981, marking the start of his obsession with unlocking secrets. Inspired by the 1983 film "War Games," he reveled in the thrill of infiltrating secure computer systems, feeling akin to the movie's enigmatic protagonist.
Unraveling Military Networks
Poulson's hacking exploits grew bolder as he delved into the heart of ARPANET, searching for sensitive government information. His fascination with military computers led him to breach the US Department of Defense's systems, copying files containing classified information.
A Series of Arrests
Federal agents had been tracking Dark Dante's activities for years, but it was a missed rent payment and a broken lock that led to Poulson's arrest in 1987. He was charged with 19 counts, including stealing classified military information. Following a 1991 arrest for disrupting a "Unsolved Mysteries" television episode, a year in prison, and a successful appeal, Poulson's hacking addiction remained strong.
The 102nd Caller
In 1993, Poulson and fellow phreakers Justin Tanner Peterson and Ronald Mark Austin engineered an audacious phone system hack to win a Porsche 944 in a Los Angeles radio station contest. Blocking external access to 25 direct phone lines, they secured the 102nd position, claiming their prize. However, their victory was short-lived as they were once again apprehended.
Sentencing and Second Chances
Despite facing multiple charges, Poulson received a five-year prison sentence. Upon release in 1998, he joined Tech TV as a computer security contributor. Today, Poulson is an editor at www.securityfocus.com, sharing his insights and commentary on his lifelong passion.
