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From: mercer@npdiss1.StPaul.NCR.COM (Dan Mercer)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Request for information - cracker tactics
Message-ID: <808@npdiss1.StPaul.NCR.COM>
Date: 28 Dec 90 23:15:10 GMT
References: <807@npdiss1.StPaul.NCR.COM>
Reply-To: mercer@npdiss1.StPaul.NCR.COM (Dan Mercer)
Organization: StPaul
Lines: 51

Request for information - cracker tactics

First,  a proviso.  My intentions are purely literal,  not felonious.
I do not crack people's systems,  nor do I support people who do.  I
have no intentions of using any information provided to crack anyone's
system.  I expressly ask that no one provide me with information
detailed enough to allow me to crack someone's system (I am only
human,  after all.  Well,  at least on my mom's side of the family).
Since the information will be intended for general readership,
specifics are not necessary.

As a general background,  I have read Cliff Stoll's great book (Cliff
set the land speed record for Buffalonians working in a plug for the
old town).  What I'm interested in are:

	1. Phone phreaking - what are its parameters - capabilities,
	   limitations.  In John Camp's book _Fool's_Run_,  he outlines
	   some really strange capabilities,  like being able to place a
	   call that gets traced back to a phone booth in Kabul.  Seemed
	   pretty fanciful to me.

	2. Accessibility to public databanks - DMV,  NCIC,  etc.

	3. Accessibility to private databanks - TRW,  credit card
	   companies.  Having worked with the simplistic protocols used by
	   credit card readers,  I can easily believe that credit card
	   transactions would be very easy to spoof.  What else?

	4. Now the weird one,  use your imagination here.  I need ways in
	   which cracking could be used to bring about someone's demise.
	   Be real careful here.

	5. Leads to non-net experts would be greatly appreciated.

What do you get for your help?  My everlasting appreciation (big
deal!).  Ok, ok,  how about an acknowledgement if and when published.
And maybe a freebie copy,  if I can swing it.

Email,  of course,  unless you wish to draw the baleful ire of the NET
gods.

Thanks in advance,  and Happy New Year,

Dan Mercer


-- 
Dan Mercer
NCR Network Products Division      -        Network Integration Services
Reply-To: mercer@npdiss1.StPaul.NCR.COM (Dan Mercer)
"MAN - the only one word oxymoron in the English Language"