totse.com | The Contra Costa Times vs. NIRVANAnet(tm)

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MODEM OPERANDI: Tips on crime go on-line
by: Michael Liedtke
staff writer for the Contra Costa Times
Wednesday, July 28, 1993

Tips on how to commit fraud, murder and other mayhem are just a phone call away in the Bay Area, courtesy of rabble-rousing electronic bulletin boards that turn the personal computer into a clearinghouse for crime.

Using the First Amendment as a legal shield, a group of electronic bulletin boards in the Bay Area has created an information network providing criminal insights to anyone with a phone, personal computer and modem.

Essentially, these computer forums, known as bulletin board services, are electronic libraries. While some computer bulletin boards are limited to paying subscribers, the rebel network distributing criminal expertise is open to everyone, free of charge.

Most of the bulletin board files can be fetched over phone lines and brought into the caller's home. In turn, callers to the bulletin boards are encouraged to send in files, so the systems can accumulate advice from experts and novices.

More than 45,000 computer users have called an underground Bay Area bulletin board, known as "Lied Unlimited," that offers a roguish gallery of information. File titles include:

The bulletin boards also have other categories offering more-mainstream advice and entertainment, but they appear to be primarily interested in promoting disorder.

In a self-description appearing on a bulletin board review, Lied Unlimited said it tries to focus "on political realities. The point being that this reality is created by consensus, and the only way to change the reality is to change the consensus."

Lies Unlimited plans to shut down today and reopen next month after the system operator, listed a Mick Freen, moves from South San Francisco, to Salt Lake City. Mischievous information similar to Lies Unlimited's archives remains available on several other Bay Area bulletin boards, including a Walnut Creek-based system known as "And the Temple of the Screaming Electron."

Based on computer files retrieved by the Times, other contributors in this unorthodox network include "My Dog Bit Jesus" in Berkeley, "realitycheck," in Albany, "Burn This Flag" in San Jose and "The New Dork Sublime" in San Francisco.

Among them, the bulletin boards offer hundreds of files providing instructions on credit card fraud, money laundering, mail fraud, counterfeiting, drug smuggling, cable-tv theft, bomb- making and murder.

The Times left electronic messages on several of those bulletin boards seeking interviews with the system operators. None of the operators responded by late Tuesday.

Virtually anyone who understands how to use a computer and modem can tap into the rogue bulletin boards, if they have the phone numbers. The boards allow callers to create their own logons and passwords, opening the door for kids to get into the system. Based on their content, the bulletin boards appear to be particularly popular among teen-agers.

"This shows why people need to be much more aware of what kids are doing with their computers," said Hans Von Braun, a computer security expert who works for San Francisco-based Comsec.

One bulletin board, Burn This Flag, requires callers to fill out an application before gaining access to an adults-only section that contains files describing "bizarre sexual behavior." But in a written message, Burn This Flag's system operator, known as "Zardoz," acknowledges there is no foolproof way to ensure all users of the adult section are at least 18.

The Time isn't publishing the phone numbers of the rebel bulletin boards as a children's safeguard.

The bulletin boards remain open by straddling a fine line between the legal definitions of free speech and criminal behavior.

Under First Amendment rights guaranteeing free speech, the law allows the bulletin boards to serve as criminal primers, as long a the advice is limited to generic instructions. Essentially, it's legal for individuals to discuss how to commit a crime as long as they don't solicit or encourage the commission of a crime.

"We're aware of these types of bulletin boards," said Rick Smith, an FBI spokesman in San Francisco. "But to shut them down, you have to make a link between the discussion of a crime and the commission of a crime."

Law enforcement officials and security experts said they snoop through rogue bulletin boards to stay abreast of advice available to prospective criminals. These periodic checks might spot possible weaknesses in security systems and help authorities take precautions.

Pacific Bell can't refuse phone access to the underground bulletin boards, even though the forums often contain advice on how to commit phone fraud. For instance, one file on the "realitycheck" board is titled "basic telephone sabotage."

The following is the letter I sent in response to the Contra Costa Times article slamming NIRVANAnet bbses as a 'rabble-rousing' network. I encourage all reasonably lucid people to voice their opinions to the editor of said paper.

Letters to the Editor
c/o Michael Liedtke
Contra Costa Times
P.O. Box 8099
Walnut Creek, CA 94596-8099

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for your recent article on NIRVANAnet, (although you never mentioned the network by name). It's proven quite popular among our callers, and I thank you for your unsolicited publicity.

Blatantly slanted, chock-full-o-buzzwords ("rebel network," "bizarre sexual behavior," "rogue bulletin boards"), long on sensationalism and short on content, Mr. Liedtke's story weaves a fantastic vision of intrigue, underground conspiracies, and computer criminals lurking in suburban rumpus rooms in the guise of adolescent cyberpunks. While this certainly adheres to the media stereotype of computer hobbyists that your paper seems happy to portray, it is simply not the truth.

All information compiled on NIRVANAnet; has been compiled over the years from other such "rebel" sources as the Library of Congress, and the Internet (network which connects universities & government offices worldwide), but perhaps I shouldn't include their addresses here "as a children's safeguard

NIRVANAnet was founded on the belief that bulletin board systems should rema open and free. We don't charge for access to our systems because we're all nice folks and wouldn't want the public to pay for something which is absolutely free and available at any public library. We are not "undergroun in any way, and the phone numbers to ALL the NIRVANAnet BBSes are printed ev two weeks in Computer Currents and every quarter in MicroTimes (Bay Area computer trade magazines) and indeed, the numbers have been printed there fo years. I'm including the phone numbers to all NIRVANAnetþ bulletin boards, and I encourage your readers to call the nearest one to judge for themselves whether or not criminal behavior is encouraged or even tolerated on NIRVANAn

Perhaps if Mr. Liedtke had bothered to actually READ a few messages in ANY o the message areas, he would have come to a more reasonable conclusion on NIRVANAnet before going to press.

& the Temple (510) 935-5845
of The Screaming Electron
realitycheck (510) 527-1662
My Dog Bit Jesus (510) 658-8078
Lies Unlimited (415) 583-4102
The New Dork Sublime (415) 864-DORK
Burn This Flag (408) 363-9766
The Shrine (408) 747-0778

I am deeply disturbed at the tone of your article, dated Aug, 28, 1993, by Michael Liedtke, concerning the supposed criminal predilections of the free-access electronic bulletin-board community. The bulletin boards (BBSs) that you singled out in your article all belong to what is called the NirvanaNet, which is a network of Bay Area BBSs. I have been a user of this network for four years, and take great offense at your relentless characterization of NirvanaNet as an "unorthodox", "rebel", "rogue" network, and by the wanton claim that we are "primarily interested is promoting disorder".

You stated that "using the First Amendment as a shield", we are a collection of "rabble-rousing electronic bulletin boards turning the personal computer into a clearinghouse for crime" which "remain open by straddling a fine line between the legal definitions of free speech and criminal behavior". Using these terms, you have painted a picture of us a group of criminal-minded people who advocate crime, and who's purpose is to create more criminals in the world, as well as directly implying that we ourselves are engaged in criminal behavior. This is patently untrue, and a gross misinterpretation of fact.

The statement that "Pacific Bell can't refuse phone access to underground bulletin boards" further implies; one, that we are an "underground" network, and also; that the telephone company should somehow have the right to deny telephone access to anyone that it might find politically offensive. We are in no way an "underground" network. All of the NirvanaNet BBSs advertise quite openly, as noted by Liedtke himself elsewhere in the article. In fact, in attempted support of his claims of our supposed "criminal behavior", Liedtke quoted a "self- description" of Lies Unlimited (which is a NirvanaNet BBS) which stated that its focus is "on political realities".

The quote went on to say that "the point being that this reality is created by consensus, and the only way to change the reality is to change the consensus". I fail to see how this statement can, in any way, be interpreted as an advocacy of criminal behavior, unless the author is intending to imply that any attempt to become involved in the political process is criminal in and of itself, which - if true - would be in direct conflict with the letter and intent of the Constitution of the United States and with the basic principles of our nation.

The NirvanaNet BBSs do have available all of the noxious text files that were mentioned, but, quite frankly, none of the regular users I know of on the network has much interest in reading any of them. In discussions with the system administrators (Sysops) of the various BBSs, I have gathered that the main reason that they are there is because we have a legal right to have them. Far from "using the First Amendment as a shield", the NirvanaNet users are, as a whole, deeply dedicated to the concepts contained and expressed by the Bill of Rights, and the Sysops seem to have decided that it is their duty to take a stand on this issue.

Also, far from being "primarily interested in promoting disorder" by "distributing criminal expertise", the main function of NirvanaNet is as a message system, by which the users can (and do) engage in debates on broad topics ranging from our tastes in books and films, our views on psychology, to our opinions on political issue such as the National Debt and Constitutional law. Never has anyone I know of on the network (other than the occasional crank, who might call once or twice, leave an inflammatory message, and then never be heard from again) ever advocated criminal activity, nor expressed a sentiment of condoning criminal activity. We are all responsible and concerned citizens.

As for the statement made by Liedtke that he refrained from noting the telephone numbers of the BBSs, as "a children's safeguard", this strongly implies that we are somehow intent on the corruption of children. There are many things in the world that are dangerous to children, but access to a BBS dedicated to free speech is not one of them.

In any case, if a parent does not wish a child to have access (which is wholly appropriate in the case of pornography), then it is up to the parent to restrict the child, as much as it is for the Sysops to attempt to restrict their access, in just the same way that it is a parent's responsibility to restrict a child's access to pornographic telephone services. The Sysops, in good conscience, do attempt to restrict access of pornographic materials to minors, and there is no one on NirvanaNet who would wish it to be otherwise.

NirvanaNet is a forum which provides its users with the opportunity to engage in discussion and debate on a daily basis. It is NOT a "clearinghouse for crime", as Liedtke characterized it, nor are the NirvanaNet users rogues, rabble-rousers, or criminals.

I am disappointed that a responsible and respected newspaper such as the Contra Costa Times would make such a vilifying attack on a entity such as NirvanaNet, leaving the general public with an image of us which is very much the inverse of the truth.

Date: 07-29-93 18:46
From: Quaker State Tapioca Rupture
To: All
Subject:: Letter To The Editor

I read with amusement your yellow-journalism piece, "Modem Operandi: Tips on Crime Go On-Line" (Michael Liedtke, 07/28/93). As a frequent browser of such systems, I can tell you his gross mischaracterization of BBSs was reminiscent of the Hippie-Scare articles of the late sixties.

The alarmist sensationalism of the article notwithstanding, BBSs are a lot more than Liedtke makes them out to be: they are repositories of all sorts of arcana, some of it rather hair- raising. "Using the first amendment as a kind of shield?" The first amendment is the boards' Reason for being (the same shield, incidentally, that lets him sell sleazy papers by telling only half a story). Like Rap music, BBSs are a forum for the voiceless.

Yes, some of the data he reports can be found; it's also commonly available elsewhere. A lot of the mayhem described comes from such "underground" sources as the Navy Seals training and CIA covert activities in Nicaragua; the chickens come home to roost. Actually, most of what your reporter saw was teen posturing, nothing more. Do you think a true criminal needs such a system for pointers? Or that he would give away his/her best trade secrets?

Would that this were the work of some diabolical cabal. Boards of this nature are a nationwide social phenomenon, numbering in the tens of thousands, and growing. It's almost mainstream! That ought to give Mr. Liedtke pause enough to ask, "Why is it that law-abiding citizens feel they need to trade in such unsavory information? What's going on?"

In a New World Order, where the Only Policeman In Town (with its Only Media In Town) acts with increasing arrogance and impunity, from Simi Valley to Iraq, is it any surprise the powerless are asking "Who will tell me the truth, protect me?" As The Boomers loot the last of the goodies from the economy, does it come as a shock that the twentysomethings don't have a whole lot of respect for ethics or morals? Why, this stuff is as American as apple pie!

So the cheesy bathos of Liedtke's invocation of "protecting the children" rings pretty hollow, except perhaps as a comfort to parents who need a scapegoat to explain away the alienation of a generation of abandoned kids. When those kids see what a crock that article was, they'll just know they've been lied to again.

Letters to the Editor
Contra Costa Times
P.O. Box 8099
Walnut Creek, CA 94596-8099

In regards to Michael Liedtke's article, "MODEM OPERANDI: Tips on Crime go online":

How can the Bulletin Board Services (BBSes) mentioned in the article be "Underground" when the telephone numbers are published in several publications?

According to my BBS logs, Mr. Liedtke logged onto my BBS on Tuesday, 7/27 at 11:50 a.m.. Without looking at any part of the Bulletin board, he left me a message, and logged off. I find it curious that an investigative reporter would not actually investigate a BBS he was writing about, given the opportunity.

The message asked me to contact him that day, because the piece was going to press tomorrow, 7/28. Other sysops mentioned in the article have cited a similar lack of notice.

I would like to note that Mr. Liedtke took this article to press without any information from the people involved, and he denied those people the opportunity to present all sides of the issue in question. BBSes offer a lot to their callers - a place for debate, a place to make friends, a place to call their own. Mr. Liedtke appears to have not seen this.

As it stands, Mr. Liedtke has presented one side of the story. I invite him to contact any of the system operators of any of the BBSes he mentioned for further information.

Date: 07-28-93 09:30
From: Your Kindly Parole Officer
Subject: Contra Costa Times

Thank you for the wonderfully entertaining article "MODEM OPERANDI: Tips On Crime Go On-Line" by Michael Liedtke. As a regular caller of the "rogue" bulletin board systems described in the article, I found Mr. Liedtke's description delightfully amusing... in fact, hilarious. I laughed out loud. I hope you print more tall tales like this as often as you can.

It isn't every day I get to look like a dangerous outlaw trying to disrupt society. I feel three inches taller just thinking about it.

But you missed the best part of the story. In writing about the NIRVANAnet(tm) boards like "Lies Unlimited" and "Burn This Flag", you only scratched the surface of the real computer bulletin board underground. NIRVANAnet is open to everyone and publically advertised -- if you think we're bad, you should look into some of the hundreds of more secretive outfits. The conspiracy is vaster than you ever imagined!

Not only that, but distributing how-to files is only a secondary aspect of NIRVANAnet's true purpose... something that the article scarcely caught a glimpse of. What might this insidious purpose be??

Anyone who wants to know can call and see for themselves. We have nothing to hide.

My dictionary defines yellow journalism as "Journalism that exploits, distorts or exaggerates the news to create sensations and attract readers". Your July 28 article "Modem operandi: Tips on crime go on-line" definitely fits the above criteria.

NIRVANAnet is not "underground" in any sense of the word. We have operated for years and advertise, along with most other Bay Area BBSs, in Computer Currents and Microtimes, two respectable, widely-read, computer publications. The network is open to everyone, free of charge, a fact Michael Liedtke seems to find suspicious. Anyone can call: kids, moms, dads, law enforcement officials, and journalists desperate for a story. If we were really "clearinghouses for crime", don't you think we'd be somewhat more selective?

America loves crime. TV presents it, constantly, in lurid detail. People apparently find it quite entertaining. The John Gottis of the world write "how-I-did-it" exposes that become best sellers. Any teenager can go to Safeway and buy a copy, and no one bats an eye. Yet Mr. Liedtke assumes that users who call my board can't possibly be looking for "entertainment" - they must be seeking "criminal primers".

I suggest that next time Mr. Liedtke thoroughly familiarize himself with his topic before he writes his article.