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I'm a Convicted Hacker and Ex Prisoner - Ask Me Anything

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Reply 180
- Is real hacking like in movies?

- And why do they have in movies different looking surfaces? Real?

- Let's say you know one of the following languages (Java, C++ or PHP). What else do you need to know to be able to crack or hack things?
Original post by cascadingstylez
This seems like a cool thing to do that a lot of people are doing. I get asked questions constantly about the topic title, so to heck with it. Here goes.

Some background info on me:

I'm 29 years old.
I'm a software developer.
I work with Facebook as an Ethical Hacker.
I spent 12 months in prison.
Studied 2 years at uni (Software Engineering).

Ask me anything at all. I'll answer with complete honesty.



What kind of music do you enjoy?

Might be a lame question compared to others.
Original post by KingKumar
Thanks for your story - it's an extremely interesting read and its pretty clear you're not a troll. May I ask, where do your parents feature in your life? How did they react and how much do they know about you?


My parents split up when I was younger. I was raised by my Dad, although I am still close to both parents. At the time my Dad had Cancer, so it was a selfish move on my part to go to prison whilst he was going through Cancer treatment. I felt very bad about that. My parents were worried for me in prison, but wasn't really angry at what I did. They supported me. They know everything about what I was doing at the time. I was open with them about what I did, and even explained there was a possibility one day I would be caught and go to prison. I didn't hide it, and although they didn't agree they didn't stop me.

Original post by rickfloss
why did anonymous pussy out of outing los zetas?

have you ever considered DDosing a online casino( one that caters to mainly us players- so has no recourse in law)?


No idea why they didn't out Los Zetas. Anyone can DDoSS. It's not hacking, and I'm positive DDoSSing is illegal :tongue:

Original post by FreedomCostsTax
Are you still being monitored?


I'm on license, but I'm not being monitored. My probation officer trusts me enough to not go backwards. He knows how serious I am about putting my life back on track. I really like my probation officer, he's like a friend at times.
Original post by kidomo
What a fascinating thread! By far the most interesting AMA I've come across. So how much money are you making off your home business? C++, C or JAVA?


Enough to live off and pay the bills.

Original post by danny111
Area 51, is it real?


Yes :biggrin:

Original post by bilala2
have u hard about a group called derp trolling tat have been hacking major gaming companies such as league of legends and ea. wat do u think about them and how they hacked.do you think they will be caught.


Never heard of them. I think that sort of hacking is silly. Hacking peoples accounts for financial gain, or just for fun, has no political motivation behind it at all.

Original post by sbj
- Is real hacking like in movies?

- And why do they have in movies different looking surfaces? Real?

- Let's say you know one of the following languages (Java, C++ or PHP). What else do you need to know to be able to crack or hack things?



No, it's nothing like the movies ha ha.

What do you mean by different looking surfaces?

To crack software? You need to understand how to use a Disassembler such as IDA, and Assembly language for one. Java and PHP are pretty much useless for software cracking.

Original post by Clyde-Bonnie94
What kind of music do you enjoy?

Might be a lame question compared to others.


Good question :biggrin: I'm also a music producer, I do that for a hobby. I listen to a lot of Deep House and early Detroit House.
(edited 10 years ago)
Are you INTP or INTJ?
Original post by cascadingstylez
Good question :biggrin: I'm also a music producer, I do that for a hobby. I listen to a lot of Deep House and early Detroit House.


Oh cool! Would you ever pursue a career in that, rather than keeping it as a hobby?

Have you ever been to a protest or demonstration?
Original post by Stormy Seas
Are you INTP or INTJ?


INTP. Knowledge is the end goal.

Original post by Clyde-Bonnie94
Oh cool! Would you ever pursue a career in that, rather than keeping it as a hobby?

Have you ever been to a protest or demonstration?


I did make a career out of it at one point. When I was in my late teens I worked at a Youth Centre teaching young people how to produce music. I've had a couple of minor releases working with another producer. We're working on a release at the moment. I enjoy it more as a hobby, when music becomes "work" I start to dislike producing it.

No I've never been to a protest. They're always in places like London and I find traveling difficult due to my anxiety.
Bit of off topic, but I believe in "Freedom" so much I got it tattooed on my neck. Wish I hadn't now, the tattooist was crap, but I'm getting it covered up with a nice design that goes from my neck, down my arm and into a sleeve. Vivid Ink in Birmingham are designing it for me :biggrin:

freedom.png
Original post by Dr.Ugs
ETHICAL hacker?


They exist. Companies employ ethical hackers to check for faults in their IT security, so they can fix any chinks in the armour. Kind of like a crash test dummy facility, only with computers.

Google famously invited hackers to hack Google Chrome from another server in 2011. I believe they offered $20,000 dollars to anyone who could do so.

Basically, instead of waiting for malicious hackers to get into their system and cause all sorts of mayhem etc, companies invite ethical ones to hack their computer systems. The ethical hackers then attempt to get in, and if they manage, tell the company, "your computer system/network/whatever has xyz weaknesses. In order to make it more secure, you need to..."
wheres the best place to get started hacking?, like should I learn some computer programing, find some underground clique, etc.?
Original post by ryanisbusy
wheres the best place to get started hacking?, like should I learn some computer programing, find some underground clique, etc.?


I answered this on page 1 or 2 I believe :biggrin:
Original post by cascadingstylez
I answered this on page 1 or 2 I believe :biggrin:


oh snap, my bad, I didnt realize there were so many pages, haha,:rolleyes:
This might be a dumb question, but were you in jail for the hacking or for other things too?
Original post by Rainbow Student
This might be a dumb question, but were you in jail for the hacking or for other things too?


Just hacking. Was my first time in prison.
Original post by cascadingstylez
Just hacking. Was my first time in prison.


I see :yes:
Reply 195
The first interesting Ask Me thread.

Did your previous/current lifestyle choice ensure income much greater than national average? Or was/is it just simply out of pleasure?

Also how did Anonymous find out about you
Basically the answer to being a successful hacker is to spend years learning to code - and to code WELL. Then spend more years choosing to read up on and self-teach hacking and subversive programming methods and techniques. You will most likely have to sacrifice a lot of going outside/socialising. Having aspergers syndrome or something like that will help. Getting in touch and becoming involved with other computer-obsessed shut-ins from around the world may help also. In the end you might well end up in prison. A glorious lifestyle, no wonder so many TSRians are asking how to get started.

No offence OP - this is an interesting thread. Just making the point to all the noobs asking "zomg how do you be a hacker"
Original post by Yawn11
The first interesting Ask Me thread.

Did your previous/current lifestyle choice ensure income much greater than national average? Or was/is it just simply out of pleasure?

Also how did Anonymous find out about you


Yes, my previous income was very good. But what I was doing wasn't illegal, it was just unethical. My current income doesn't match my previous, but I am happy my business practices are no longer unethical and I can sleep with a clear mind.

I enjoyed hacking. It was addictive and enjoyable. My motivation was part political, part personal ethical beliefs.

Anonymous didn't find out about me, I was introduced to an influential hacker. We shared common interests and skills and it went from there.
Original post by Arturo Bandini
Basically the answer to being a successful hacker is to spend years learning to code - and to code WELL. Then spend more years choosing to read up on and self-teach hacking and subversive programming methods and techniques. You will most likely have to sacrifice a lot of going outside/socialising. Having aspergers syndrome or something like that will help. Getting in touch and becoming involved with other computer-obsessed shut-ins from around the world may help also. In the end you might well end up in prison. A glorious lifestyle, no wonder so many TSRians are asking how to get started.

No offence OP - this is an interesting thread. Just making the point to all the noobs asking "zomg how do you be a hacker"


The odd thing is, you're part correct lol!
Reply 199
Original post by cascadingstylez
This seems like a cool thing to do that a lot of people are doing. I get asked questions constantly about the topic title, so to heck with it. Here goes.

Some background info on me:

I'm 29 years old.
I'm a software developer.
I work with Facebook as an Ethical Hacker.
I spent 12 months in prison.
Studied 2 years at uni (Software Engineering).

Ask me anything at all. I'll answer with complete honesty.


Please please please do this over at Reddit as well, they will love you over there!

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