Computer Security & Viruses/Expert Profile

Expertise

I cover Windows, Unix, TCP/IP and Ethernet security questions. I do not cover Mac, Palm Pilot, or other networking issues.

Experience in the area

Books by Carolyn Meinel: wrote a chapter for The Hacking of America book (see http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567204600/happyhacker) My article Code Red for the Web for Scientific American was reprinted in the book Best American Science Writing 2002 (see http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060936509/happyhacker). My book The Happy Hacker: A Guide to Mostly Harmless Hacking is now in 4th edition with a Japanese edition (see http://happyhacker.org/hhbook/).

What do you like about this subject?

We are a threat to anyone who is an enemy of freedom in cyberspace. What they try to hide, my friends and I reveal. What they try to keep secret, we broadcast to the world.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

Learning without limits! "I teach you the superman. Man is something to be surpassed." -- Friedrich Nietzsche in Thus Spake Zarathustra

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

"Meinel describes how a fictional hacker might penetrate a corporation's computer system. Is publishing it irresponsible? Obviously, we think not? We can best inform readers about how to defend themselves by explaining what attacks to expect." Editor-in-chief John Rennie explaining his decision to run an article by Meinel, Scientific American, Oct. 1998 issue, pg. 6.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

"Carolyn P Meinel is its [the Hacking for Girliez gang] public enemy number one." Adam Penenberg, "Tracking the Hack," Forbes, Nov. 16, 1998, page 136. "Carolyn Meinel taught us how to hack?" Hacking for Girliez gang message left on the New York Times web site, Sept. 13, 1998 "What were you doing the morning of Sept. 13?" FBI's Doug Beldon questioning Meinel, Nov. 12, 1998.