The prominent hacker Kevin Mitnick, on the other hand, was sentenced to a long prison term, with the judge perhaps slightly overestimating the danger he posed:
Mitnick served five years in prison—four-and-a-half years’ pre-trial and eight months in solitary confinement, because, according to Mitnick, law enforcement officials convinced a judge that he had the ability to “start a nuclear war by whistling into a pay phone”,[36] implying that law enforcement told the judge that he could somehow dial into the NORAD modem via a payphone from prison and communicate with the modem by whistling to launch nuclear missiles.[37]
Always makes me laugh reading about the things they thought Mitnick could do. I wonder if they thought Captain Crunch could whistle and make your brain leak out your skull at 2600 hz.
The prominent hacker Kevin Mitnick, on the other hand, was sentenced to a long prison term, with the judge perhaps slightly overestimating the danger he posed:
Source
Always makes me laugh reading about the things they thought Mitnick could do. I wonder if they thought Captain Crunch could whistle and make your brain leak out your skull at 2600 hz.
I will not stand for the blatant disrespecting of Captain Crunch. He could easily whistle you brain to goo and so much more!
i am sad my “free kevin” shirt did not last.
Back in the 80’s and 90’s, hackers were respected and feared. That title meant something, and was earned.
We were few, because everything had to be done by hand, and the knowledge to do so came from experiments, experience, and obscure community.
Then those lazy script kiddies arrived along and ruined that.