Russell Thomas Home Page

Hackers, Crackers, Phreakers and Phrackers… they are your neighbors too. From illegal file sharing, massive .mp3 collections, insidious porn, hacked cars, satellite and cable theft, free software, broadband serving, corporate data access, free long distance, no tax purchases, game consoles, homework, baby cams, to wireless phones and networks. We hack and crack everything and its not just computer security geeks like myself, it’s the Johnson’s next door too.

To satisfy your curiosity I will detail the exploits I reference. It’s likely you already use a few and others you will now start:

Illegal File Sharing: Has lost some steam due to countless lawsuits of old ladies and terrier puppies but users of BitTorrent and eMule continue to run wild. Can they hunt you down and file a lawsuit? Short answer, Yes. Long answer, don’t be obvious. Do not share music on a college network and do not share a large number of files for a long period of time.

Tip: Don’t use crap like Kazaa… you just deserve to be caught.

Chance the Johnson’s are doing it: 1-in-5

Chance of getting busted: Med-Low

MP3 Music Collections: Don’t forget videos too. Whether they were burned from CD and DVD’s it doesn’t matter because they will still sue you for every single file you have even if you have proof of ownership. It would cost 100 times more money to fight than just pay the settlement regardless of innocence. The days of physical media are dead. No CD’s, DVD’s, tapes, or vinyl anymore. Many of us have vast digital collections and we feel as if we are smuggling moonshine in our basements during prohibition.

Tip: Use encrypting external hard drives that can be moved quickly.

Chance the Johnson’s are doing it: 1-in-3

Chance of getting busted: Low

Insidious Porn: OK, if you are a man (likely a woman too) and you have a computer, you have porn. Stop denying it. Is it insidious? Probably not. You shouldn’t be ashamed to have it anymore than when you used to have magazines stuffed under your bed that you hoped Mom wouldn’t find. It really didn’t matter because at age 13 she started looking weekly just to make sure you were a normal kid. If you have illegal porn… and you know what were talking about, you are a porn cracker and you should be ashamed, jailed… or at least treated with weekly therapy sessions.

Tip: Use newsgroups for practically unlimited free porn. You may have to pay a monthly fee to a newsgroup provider, though. ISP provided groups usually suck because of size limits.

Chance the Johnson’s are doing it: 1-in-50

Chance of getting busted: Med-High

Hacked Cars: You wish that navigation screen could play movies, huh? Maybe tie it to your music collection over wireless? It can be done. For about $350 you can usually buy a converter that will allow you to plug in just about anything to you car display. You can even go further and hack the mouse and plug in a full laptop or a mini media player like an Ipod or Archos and have all your media on the road and at the tip of your finger. You can also get a special cable and software that allows you to see your car’s diagnostics while driving.

Tip: Nissan and others use DVD-based NAV systems with easy hackability for movies. With a touch screen you can also hack the mouse. So, with an Archos 604 WIFI media player (~$300) I can have all my music and video on screen and even tie in touch screen mouse functions with a little extra hacking… cool.

Chance the Johnson’s are doing it: 1-in-10000

Chance of getting busted: Low (Stop your video of Logan’s Run before the cop gets to your window, please)

Satellite and Cable Theft: Chances are very good that you do this or have tried. That grey box in your backyard holds the key to free cable. Or just bribing the cable guy… you decide. Then cable went digital, so we hacked satellite instead. Those little credit card smart cards that go in the back of your sat receiver can be easily hacked bringing full content for basic content price. At monthly costs of over $100 for what used to be over the air for free, I don’t blame anyone for doing this. Me, I just pay for basic cable at $15/mo. and get all the extended channels anyway because I was super nice to a phone support rep at my cable company 10 years ago and I don’t dare try to call and make a change now.

Tip: By February 2009 you will have to go digital and chances of stealing it are highly unlikely so start saving now.

Chance the Johnson’s are doing it: 1-in-10

Chance of getting busted: Med

Free Software: Whether you get it from eMule, your buddy at work, or put a purchased copy on many other machines, you are stealing intellectual property. Coding software is a very difficult process and the authors should be compensated, but let’s be real. If I had to pay for every piece of software I use I would have declared bankruptcy years ago. I pay for my Microsoft software, but as a licensed partner I get great deals. Other than that it’s shareware, freeware, cracked versions, and borrowed copies and I’m far from alone.

Tip: Open a business, become a Microsoft Partner (free), buy the annual MS Action Pack subscription ($300/yr.) and get 10 licenses for just about everything Microsoft! Updates come to your front door every quarter, yeah!

Chance the Johnson’s are doing it: 1-in-2

Chance of getting busted: Low (Chance of getting updates to cracked software is even lower)

Broadband Serving: What does this mean? Your ISP does not want you running web, mail, or any other type of server on your connection. They won’t give out static IP’s for the same reason. Nonetheless, they won’t stop you either. Although, sending out email from a consumer IP region will put you on DNS blacklists fast. So, run a web server as long as use is minimal, and have egress email go through a relay provider to avoid being blacklisted.

Tip: Setup a basement server. Run web hosting, file hosting, chat, SSL VPN’s (to bypass any firewall) and even run a Blackberry email server (free for <10 users!). Also, put a UPS on your Internet router so that even during a power outage you won’t lose that dynamic IP assigned by your ISP.

Chance the Johnson’s are doing it: 1-in-20

Chance of getting busted: Low (sure would hate to lose my broadband, though)

Corporate Data Access: GotoMyPC, SSL VPN’s, TermServ, Web Mail… these are all ways to either get corporate data, gain remote access, or bypass firewalls. Just about any security guy with half a mind has blocked GoToMyPC on the corporate firewall years ago, but you can always try; it’s great for remote access to your work desktop. SSL VPN’s require a lot of knowledge and a hosting server but you can bypass every firewall on the market by tunneling all your data through a pipe that looks like any other SSL traffic. Microsoft Terminal Services are almost always open and allow you to connect to any modern Windows machine remotely with full graphical access. Web Mail can be used to transfer files back and forth, just email yourself attachments… what security?

Tip: To all corporate security departments… you can’t stop someone from taking your data (seriously, you can’t…) so put your money into monitoring and background checks instead.

Chance the Johnson’s are doing it: 1-in-3

Chance of getting busted: High (get to know the firewall guy and buy him a beer or three)

Free Long Distance: No longer do you need to be a Phreaker or Phracker (a hacker or cracker of phone systems) to get free long distance. Use Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP). Skype, vonage… whatever. It’s all VOIP, but not all free. I subscribe to Vonage just to have a home phone and not pay all those silly phone taxes that takes your $25/mo. bill to $40/mo., but Vonage over Comcast sucks. Even with QOS routing of packets it’s just not ready for primetime yet. Although, if you need to call long distance just hookup a microphone and network and use your laptop with one of many free VOIP services and talk to Grandma all you want.

Tip: Vonage sucks, but then again my 1 year contract was offset by a $200 instant rebate at Microcenter.

Chance the Johnson’s are doing it: 1-in-7

Chance of getting busted: None

No Tax Purchases: We’re not talking about just online purchases from retailers in other states… that’s easy. How about no tax on local purchases too? Just open a business ($50, get a sales tax license ($10/yr.), and start opening tax free purchase accounts at places like CompUSA, OfficeMax and many, many more. Is this illegal? If you don’t end up paying your state “use tax” on those items, yes. Does it happen every day and everywhere? Yes.

Tip: Always have a business open on the side. It’s great for tax write-offs, accounts with distributors, software, and tax free purchases.

Chance the Johnson’s are doing it: 1-in-6

Chance of getting busted: Med-Low

Gaming Consoles: Geez, who doesn’t hack to XBox these days? Me, I guess. I don’t have the time, but the people who do store gigs of copied games for immediate access. I do use an XBOX360 as a Media Center extender and that’s a worthy hack, for sure. I heard that people are now able to copy PS3 games and more. Is it worth it when it takes hours away from gaming just to get a cracked version? I don’t think so, here’s my 50 bucks, and thanks for that Hot Coffee mod… that was cool.

Tip: Try and buy. Use game rental services or download PC based trials before you buy instead.

Chance the Johnson’s are doing it: 1-in-30

Chance of getting busted: Low

Homework Hacking: The best work starts with the work of others. It’s a good idea to use examples of other people’s work when you start a new project but you can also take this to the extreme. There are many term paper websites out there and even more research at your Googling fingertips. You can also copy the source code of just about every website out there by simply going to -> View -> Source. A great way to begin new websites is to copy one you like and make it better. That’s the key. You can make your life a lot easier by copying work but you must make it your own.

Tip: Shift-F7 in Microsoft Work opens the thesaurus on any word you have the cursor on. Use this a lot to use better enhanced words in copied text to make it your own with ease.

Chance the Johnson’s are doing it: 1-in-3

Chance of getting busted: Low

Baby Cams: Wireless cameras simply transmit over a standard frequency. Just get in range, adjust your frequency, and you’re in. This happens a lot by accident. My neighbor uses a similar baby cam and at the right angle and time we can see their crib/baby and we know that the reverse is true too. The cam is only on the crib so it doesn’t worry me much, but it does capture audio too…. scary. This goes for standard wireless cams too.

Tip: Use WIFI enabled cams and always turn on WPA!

Chance the Johnson’s are doing it: 1-in-50

Chance of getting busted: Low

Wireless Phones: Modern cell phones run a higher frequencies and often scramble data, but generic wireless home phones are notorious for snooping capabilities. So notorious that Radio Shack and the industry as a whole stopped selling scanners that could pick up many 8-900MHz frequencies that these phones and old cell phones run on. That doesn’t stop you from finding an old one on eBay, though. It’s mildly entertaining to hear random phone conversations.

Tip: Protect yourself and use gigahertz frequency wireless communication devices and employ encryption if possible.

Chance the Johnson’s are doing it: 1-in-100000

Chance of getting busted: Low

Hacking Networks: Wireless networks using WEP or no encryption are easy hacks. Use your neighbor’s connection and stop paying an ISP. Of course, reliability is always a concern and Mr. Johnson may just decide to wisen up and check the box for WPA someday too. Instead, crack open the phone box outside his house and tap in to free DSL and phone service. While you’re at it, run a power line and water main too. You can always just walk around too, wireless networks are abound, no hack needed.

Tip: Mostly kidding here. While you could rape your neighbors utilities you will be found out eventually… it’s pretty obvious. Instead, strike a deal with MR. Johnson to share Internet access costs.

Chance the Johnson’s are doing it: 1-in-25

Chance of getting busted: High

I’ve always been in love with money. Since the days of Monopoly money and checking every public phone and newspaper machine coin return for change as a kid. The picture to your right is entitled “my hand on my nuts and a fist full of money… it all started here; that sums it up.

It’s not a greedy love, nor is it materialistic. It’s a love of being smart about the money you earn and making it work for you.

I can easily say that most people have no idea how to handle their money and end up wasting most of their lives working for waste. So, I thought I would take a minute and list a few simple tokens of advice in regards to personal finances.

Tip Number One - Use Financial Management Software: Since 1985 (I was just 10 years old), I’ve been using spreadsheets I created on my 386SX personal computer to track finances related to my businesses. Since 1994 when I started another one of my many small business ventures, I also started using Quicken and Quickbooks to keep track of personal and business finances. It’s the best thing anyone can do for themselves. Sure, nowadays your online bank statements are fresh and well designed, even including categories for expense items, but that’s not enough. You need a long term picture to really see what’s going on in your life, your budget and your future retirement. By combining all your accounts into Quicken and tracking every expense, income event, and investment you can see long term analysis of how you are making,, spending and investing money. Without this information you are consistently running blind and leaving your “should I buy it” decisions to the bottom line on your ATM receipt.

Tip Number Two - Create a Personal Budget and Stick to It: Once you have mapped out at least 3 months in software like Quicken or MS Money you can easily create an income and expense report that shows exactly where all your money went. From here you can start creating your budget based on the trends you see and those trends you would like to see changed. Analyze your expenses and see where you could cut back or consolidate, it can save you thousands.

Then, create a new spreadsheet in Excel and break up your expenses into categories such as Home (mortgage, utilities, phone, Internet, cable TV, etc.), Living (daily food, dining, and a misc category for entertainment, etc.), Auto (loan, insurance, gasoline), Loans and Credit Cards (any debts go here).

Below expenses, create a region entitled Investments to track IRA’s, 401k’s, College Funds, etc. Then, create a Personal Savings category to track emergency savings, vacation savings, new car savings, etc.

Finally, create an Income and Cash Flow area. Here you can track your monthly income from salary, contracts, allowance… whatever you receive on a recurring basis.

Import the data from your financial management software into the appropriate categories. When complete you should see a good picture of what you are doing with your money and be able to make adjustments that you can stick to. Remember, this is a living budget estimate and it will change as you see fit so you may be making adjustments to it often until you find that right mix of fiscal responsibility and reality.

Tip Number Three - Always Save for Emergencies: A portion of your income every month needs to go towards an interest bearing savings account (eTrade has 5% savings accounts) to be used in case of emergencies. This amount should be equal to what it would theoretically cost you to find another job. That might be 3 months or 9 months depending on what you do for a living. Keep in mind that you may spend $3/mo. on expenses now, but it may only be $2k/mo. when unemployed due to cutbacks. Figure out this number and start saving until you reach it. You can thank me later.

Tip Number Four - Keep Everything Separate: If you are married or co joined in some fashion, NEVER COMBINE ACCOUNTS! This is a fatal mistake that leads to divorce frequently. If you keep your money separate and simply split expenses based on the percentage of derived income, you never argue about money. I make a bit more than my wife so we split everything 60/40. We look at our budgets often and make adjustments as necessary to keep it fair. Our 14 years together is a testament to keeping finances separate.

Tip Number Five - Save Early, Often, and Use Your Tax Benefits: Start saving as soon as possible. This is common sense and the basis of compounding interest but we all know that times can be tough and you often need every penny. Sure, I didn’t save much in my twenties either, I needed every last cent to survive. But as soon as I landed a decent job and consolidated my credit card debt into my house I started saving early. I saved primarily through my company 401k programs. Do not forget this benefit… max it out every year if you can. It reduces your gross income and thus reduces the amount of income taxes paid while saving for your retirement. In 2007 the annual maximum contribution is $15,500/yr. and it goes up about $500 per year. Why there is a maximum I have no idea, but use it all if you can. If you have even more money left over send $3k to your IRA to adjust you gross income even more.

Tip Number Six - Never Carry A Credit Card Balance: I work in the credit card industry. I see what people do to themselves and its a shame. Sure, the banks should be ashamed that they are charging 30% interest, but it the consumer who should be most ashamed for accepting such rates and falling for scams. Don’t get me wrong, everyone should have credit cards to help their credit score, but do not carry a balance. Instead, get mileage cards, cash back cards, or affinity cards and make retailers pay you to use them! I average an income of over $500 a year by using my credit cards! For example, Discover gives you 1% cash back on all transactions. Use it for everything and pay it off every 20 days or less. It’s better than a second job delivering newspapers at 2am!

Tip Number Seven - You Credit Score matters… A Lot: This matters more than anything in our society and not just for getting a loan but it now also applies to getting a job too. Most employers now check your criminal history and your credit. ALWAYS 1. pay your bills on time, 2. check your 3 bureau credit report 2-4 times a year., 3. maintain available credit lines(e.g. unused credit cards and loans) NEVER 1. have > 70% of your available credit in use on a single credit card., 2. do not share your credit card with a wife, child or anyone. If they screw up it’s your life, not theirs.

Know your score, fix errors immediately, use credit wisely, pay all bills on time.

Tip Number Eight - It’s Easy to Make Money When You Have Money: This is what the rich won’t tell you. You may think your savings are paltry but it’s not how much you have but what you are doing with it. Never let money just sit in a savings account with little to no interest. Invest it in easily liquid able items like stocks, mutual funds, your education, your home, and anything that gains value. The rich let their money work for them and you should to. Use your new budget to save and put that money somewhere smart. I recently took a few thousand dollars of emergency savings and invested it in oil stock… I’m over 23% gain in just 6 weeks. That’s free money baby!

They call them “smart drugs” or “barbie drugs” because they are meant to be the cure all for improving memory functions or appearance in a single pill. I have a small fascination with them and want to be the first one on board to try them, but not because I’m a masochist. It’s kind of like Gattica, the movie; if you were not one of the genetically altered kids of the future your were placed lower on the societal scale and denied certain rights and benefits in society. So, if I can join the club sooner I have a better chance of surviving the future… in theory.

What I’ve been experimenting with and find interesting lately is Modafinil (wiki). What’s most interesting is that it has replaced standard uppers used in the U.S. military to keep soldiers awake and alert for more hours than usual. Why did they choose this new drug? Heck, not one scientist can understand why it works, it just does. That’s pretty scary, but it’s also FDA approved (thanks to a little push from our military, I’m sure). They selected this drug because it creates a long lasting sense of alertness, not a jumpy caffeine induced fit that causes you to vacuum your house for two hours and then pass out. It is sold as a medication for persons with narcolepsy (i.e. randomly falling asleep disorder) primarily, but has also be sold for those with ADD (Attention Deficit Dis… where’s my coffee?).

For me, I’m so busy these days with work, kid, wife, college, and multiple businesses to manage that I hardly have time for sleep anymore. I drive an hour each way to work and often find myself falling asleep at the wheel. I also fall asleep in the middle of meetings, over my lunch break, watching TV, and if I allowed myself I could fall asleep standing up and having a conversation. It’s a nice ability to have when you want to sleep through a long flight, but not when you want to be a productive member of society. Do I have Narcolepsy? I doubt that, I’m just an overachiever that sacrifices a good night’s sleep for some extra work or play time and I pay the price for it… that is, until now.

I originally purchased a box of 100mg pills from an online retailer because I can’t afford the time to make an appointment with my doctor, take a day off work, pay an outrageous co-payment, beg for the meds, fill the scrip for a million dollars, then have to do it all again in 3-6 months. No thanks.

So, the pills arrived but they are straight from India, not made by Cephalon but rather the Indian equivalent. That’s OK because I recently read a story of the owner in India who is producing generic equivalents of nearly every drug regardless of U.S. patents and the other drug companies are pissed. That’s OK by me, U.S. drug companies have enough money and the world needs cheaper meds. Anyway, for me, 100mg proved enough on day one, but thereafter the dosage had to keep increasing to notice a benefit. They state that person with severe Narcolepsy may take up to 600mg a day. That appears to be my dosage now; 400mg in the morning maybe another 200mg on the drive home if I’m on the verge passing out.

So, what’s my conclusion? It works… very well actually, and with no side effects (so far). Check out my liver’s blog for more information ;-). You are simply very, very alert, but not obviously so. I can still go to sleep if I want to or need to, but I can control it now and I’m far more productive on average. I can assume that the U.S. prescribed equivalent is probably much stronger (cleaner) since I’m already up to the daily maximum, but then again, maybe I really have a form of Narcolepsy…. whatever! It works and it’s probably the only thing that will get me through this stage of my life so I’ve purchased a crap load of the 200mg versions.

Next to try… Melanotan. Invented by accident at the University of Phoenix and gives Irish white boys like myself the ability to get tan without sun! And, the best side effect of it is increased sexual arousal (not that I need any more). The problems are cost, no FDA approval yet, and the fact that you have to inject it with a syringe. I may wait on a patch or something before I try this. For now I’ve been keeping up on the blogs of those who are more willing to be initial test monkeys than I am.