Risky Business How the World Got Owned Episode 1: The 1980s
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Jan 6, 2026 Jon Callas, a former software engineer at Digital Equipment Corporation, discusses the early social norms of the ARPANET and the communal spirit among early hackers. Mark Rasch, who prosecuted the Morris Worm case, highlights the challenges in establishing new computer crime laws. Tony Sager shares insights on NSA's initial ambivalence toward hacking and its eventual embrace of cybersecurity. They explore the 414s’ curious exploration, the media's role in shaping public perception, and the Cuckoo's Egg, which tracks espionage by German hackers.
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Early Internet Was An Exclusive Club
- The ARPANET was a closed academic and government club with strict social norms and minimal commercial involvement.
- Jon Callas says openness meant people read emails and social controls, not technical protections, governed behaviour.
Milwaukee Teens’ Curious War‑Dialing
- The 414s were teenage friends war-dialling systems to explore and play games, not to cause harm.
- Timothy Winslow recalls FBI visits, parents crying, and light penalties like fines and probation.
Media Drove Early Cyber Lawmaking
- Publicity around teen hackers pushed lawmakers and shaped new computer crime laws.
- Amberley Jack notes the 414s' media appearances helped spur the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
