Hacker Underground

Thu, Feb 08

We have traveled far and wide in the early history of hacking: from the first groups in the 1960s to the phone phreaking scene of the 1970s. As we entered the 1980s, computer hacking collectives started to assume a different shape with new practices, new tools and infrastructures. Personal computers were made available at schools and at home for middle-class families. The BBS phenomena created a regional interest in computer networking, and the so-called "boards" were flooded by newcomers who wanted to participate in the exchange of technical information.

This class will be dedicated to provide a gentle introduction to the "hacker underground" of the 1980s through one of its most important digital artifacts: the "text file" (which were composed by community members and circulated in various Boards). By the end of this class, you will learn:

1. How to identify the key elements of the "hacker underground" scene of the 1980s.
2. Learn about the most important groups and their activities, tools, and techniques.
3. Revisit the discussion of the "hacker ethic," now under the context of the Cold War.

The slides for this class can be found here.