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After 20 Years, Phrack's Final Issue Looms

Posted by timothy on from the don't-renew-your-subscription dept.

akahige writes "According to BBC News, the legendary phreaking/hacker magazine is set to close up shop after the publication of its forthcoming issue, no. 63 (which will be hardbound in commemoration). The editorial staff is stepping down, and no one has expressed an interest in taking up the reins. Bruce Sterling is quoted as saying, 'I'd be surprised to see the thing stay dead. They've got no fixed address and anonymous contributors.' If you've ever wanted to helm a magazine, here's your chance!" (See this earlier story as well.)

4 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. Slashdot should "helm" Phrack.. by inkdesign · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Why can't Shashdot add a "Phrack" section, being that Phrack content is contributed in a similar manor, and keep the party going?

  2. Goodbye Phrack by Afecks · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The editorial staff is stepping down, and no one has expressed an interest in taking up the reins.

    Each year the articles get goofier. However, I don't think that was really a bad thing, just not a very good source of technical information.

    Luckily there is still the 29A zine. Always a great read but it won't show you how to get free soda.

  3. How about Slashdot? by LS · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Anyone willing to take over Slashdot? They've been asleep at the wheel for a while here too...

    --
    There is a fine line between being a cultivated citizen and being someone else's crop. - A. J. Patrick Liszkie
  4. Re:Hacker mag quality decline by l0rd · · Score: 3, Interesting

    While I definatley agree with you that it takes a special mix of curiosity, technical enclination and perseverence to be technically capable you musn't also forget the gratification factor.

    But you have to admit, to do something cool or new is a lot harder now just because a lot has already been done. Almost every vulnerability out there is a buffer overflow.

    These days its a lot harder to just scew around with your computer within days of buying it and for example writing a crack in qbasic. You have to put in more effort than say 10 or 20 years ago.

    Saying that however, there is now MUCH more information available freely on the internet than in the old days. Anything you want to learn you probably can. The whole thing sorta balances itself out.

    BTW I get your point in that you don't call script kiddies hackers, but every since a certian movie about HACKERS came out it became cool and everyone and their mother wanted to do it. Therefore, I think there are a lot more clueless script kiddies out there now then before (or maybe it just feels like it ;-) )