Darknet Diaries

61: Samy

30 snips
Mar 17, 2020
Samy Kamkar, a renowned hacker best known for the MySpace Samy Worm, shares his journey from playful hacking to unexpected chaos. He humorously recounts how his innocent curiosity led to a viral phenomenon that overwhelmed the platform. Samy also discusses the ethical side of hacking, exploring security vulnerabilities in NFC and RFID systems and the implications of web tracking technologies. His insights blend technical knowledge with personal transformation, offering a unique perspective on the hacking world.
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ANECDOTE

The X-Files Incident

  • Nine-year-old Samy Kamkar joined an IRC channel to discuss The X-Files.
  • After refusing to leave, someone crashed his brand new computer, sparking his interest in hacking.
ANECDOTE

Counter-Strike Cheats

  • While playing Counter-Strike, Samy realized he could use in-game sounds to locate opponents.
  • This led him to develop cheat software, including aimbots and wallhacks.
ANECDOTE

Punkbuster Challenge

  • Punkbuster, an anti-cheat software, challenged Samy.
  • He saw this as a new game, constantly updating his cheats to bypass Punkbuster's detection.
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