Hey Hey,

Three things happened to change the free exchange of information in the security community...

1. Big Business
2. Law
3. People grew up...


1. Big Business

While I was using computers and the internet prior to it, 1996 was the first time I got into computers in a really geeky way.. and at times what you would now called a skiddie way... That was 10 years ago... It's not really that long... but in the grand spectrum of my life.. it is..

Anyways... 10 years ago security wasn't big business like it is today... People weren't making millions and billions of dollars... You found something you announced it... You didn't turn around and sell it to ImmunitySec or whoever else is buying these days...

Today people want to make a name for themselves... So if they find anything.. they take credit.. they don't share like they used to... Why do they do this... because if you have the name.. regardless of your knowledge you'll make money (Steve Gibson is a prime example of this)

2. Law

10 years ago... unless I used a computer to kill someone.. not much was going to happen to me.... there wasn't really any precedent and computer law wasn't exactly a big thing.... I remember telling a judge in 2000 that I was considering going into law and specializing in computers... He said that was prolly the smartest thing anyone could do because it would be a huge field in the future and no one was really getting into it... That's a different story now... but then again many things have changed...

I don't wanna share my information with you because I could be considered an accomplice and liable for someone elses actions with that information (We all know those text disclaimers are practically useless if ya wanna fight them)...

3. People Grew Up...

Now it's considered immature to be a skiddie (10 years ago that wasn't really the case)... Now it's considered immature to "want to hack'' previously that wasn't so... What's changed? The people that gave it movement have grown up and gotten jobs... They're now protecting against this underground that exists... an underground where it's every man/woman for themself and you are harming people not learning...

That's what it basically comes down to.... that's my opinion anyways... the times are changing.. it's a different type of people... 10 years ago I decided I wanted to spend my time on a PC and be an outcast... now everyone is on a PC... and wants to play jokes on their friends... It's cool to use computers....

Peace,
HT