From: padgett@tccslr.dnet.mmc.com (A. Padgett Peterson)
Newsgroups: comp.virus
Subject: The Hacker Files
Date: 28 Sep 92 15:52:14 GMT


	One of the advantages of our family structure it that the many
diverse interests sometimes cross. Accordingly, when I saw reference
to a new comic book series called "The Hacker Files" from DC, getting
a set was just a matter of passing the request along to the
appropriate member.

	As a result, I was able to examine the first four issues of
what is billed to be a 12 copy series. They would appear to be being
successful since after the first two issues, the price went up from
US1.95 to US2.20.

	Since my mainstream comics reading has been confined to the
newspaper since the newstand variety ceased to be "52 pages, 10
cents", the modern version came as something of a shock. Obviously
obtaining the 'Comics Code Authority Seal of Approval" is no longer an
issue.  The graphics are rather well done though.

	In the letters section of the first issue, the writer explains
that the idea came to him in 1989. This would appear correct since the
storyline revolves around a combination of the plot from "WARGAMES"
and the Morris Worm on Internet (population 60,000). A reasonable
attempt is made to accuracy though a few technical flaws are evident
(difference between a Virus and a Worm is that Worms don't propagate,
erasing a file irretrevably destroys it).

	Along the way, homage is paid to the current facination with
TEMPEST which is nothing more than a military equivalent of the US FCC
part 15 which deals with radiation from computing equipment (see the
label on the back of any PC).

	The most disturbing issue is the ethical one: the "hero" is a
brilliant social misfit (just ask his ex-wife) in his mid-thirties who
seemingly avoids all attempts at personal hygene, builds trapdoors
into commercial operating systems software, and displays all of the
traits of the classical "disgruntled employee" who feels that he
"owns" all of the software developed while working for someone else.

	Further, when the source of the problem is found to be a
virus, he unhesitatingly releases a "retro-virus" (a nice flow diagram
is shown in the background) on the Internet. Long-time readers of
Virus-L will immediately understand why this is not considered a good
thing to do. As the plot progresses, no hesitation is shown in making
structural changes to NORAD and Pentagon systems.

	Also much is made of his use of lockpicks to break into filing
cabinets and restricted doors (that were apparantly carried through
both Airport and Pentagon security).

	In short, while entertaining in its fashion, hardly a good
role model for fourteen-year-olds.

	There has been a sudden spate of such media experiences on
Television (SecretService, Star Trek-the Next Generation), Movies
(Lawnmover Man, Sneakers, the opening scenes of Company Business), and
novels (almost any of the techno-thrillers in recent years), but with
a steady degredation of ethical concerns.

	Only the TV shows have been positive while the movies, like
"The Hacker Files", seem to revel in the "innocent people with good
purposes made criminals/persecuted/victems by bad
governments/agencies/corporations and thereby justifying
illegal/unethical behaviour", a trend that started in the early
seventies but which seems to be accellerating recently.

	In other words "The Hacker Files" make a graphic statement
about the worldview of the writer, a statement that is aimed at
impressionable minds and reminds me of the title of a novel by the
late Robert Anson Heinlein: "If This Goes On".

						Padgett

ps would send a copy of this to DC Comics but no E-Mail address was given.