Inside the Billion-Dollar Hacker Club

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Inside the Billion-Dollar Hacker Club

Posted by samzenpus on Sunday March 2, 2014 @09:00AM from the twist-of-fate dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Here's an inside look at the personal successes of the elite hacking group "w00w00". From the article: 'For this group of old friends, assembled for an impromptu reunion, the venue would feel familiar: an online chat room running on a secure private server. Each were former members of the elite hacking group "w00w00" and they had reconvened that afternoon to celebrate and share in the success of one of their own. In some ways it was just like old times. But rather than success being the discovery of a new software exploit or penetration of a computer network, this was something more extraordinary. One of the group's former members had just sold their company for $19 billion dollars."

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Link in summary is ballsed... by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 09:04 · Score: 1

Not much to add...
The link in the summary is broken.
1. Re:Link in summary is ballsed... by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 17:03 · Score: 0
  
  Not much to add...
  The link in the summary is broken.
  Doesn't take too much to figure out who it was. It's the guy who just sold that chat application to Facebook for $19billion.
2. Re:Link in summary is ballsed... by invictusvoyd · 2014-03-02 17:37 · Score: 2
  
  Doesn't take too much to figure out who it was. It's the guy who just sold that chat application to Facebook for $19billion.
  Correction : It's the guy who just sold everybody's "contacts list" to Facebook for $19billion.
  
  ___________________________
  And everyone cheered ...
Uhh by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 09:05 · Score: -1

#1 Troll
Link is broken by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 09:06 · Score: -1

Wouldn't be broken if we didn't have BETA
TL;DR: FUCK BETA
the missing url by Idimmu+Xul · 2014-03-02 09:06 · Score: 4, Informative

http://techcrunch.com/2014/03/...

--
The problem with slashdot is that most of its users were bullied and stuffed into lockers as kids!
1. Re:the missing url by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 09:14 · Score: -1
  
  Damn, those w00w00 guys are good. Dice's IT just pushed aside.
2. Re:the missing url by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 09:42 · Score: 0
  
  They're giving this group more credit than they're due. They haven't released any advisories in a while, and back when security bugs were at its peak, they were nowhere near as important as other groups. Take gobbles for example, which released many very important security flaws, but still remain anonymous. w00w00 was nothing, and all this attention is just because someone wrote an app.
3. Re:the missing url by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 09:43 · Score: 0
  
  No, that's the link, not the URL.
4. Re:the missing url by Taco+Cowboy · 2014-03-02 13:09 · Score: 1
  
  Damn, those w00w00 guys are good
  
  There were a lot of groups that were equally great or even greater.
  Back then sky is the limit and there were an endless supply of enthusiasm.
  From Blackhat research to Whitehat to every hue of color in between, a lot of guys/kids were hopping from one chatroom into another, opening up multiple chatrooms and participating on all of them all under one screen is not uncommon.
  THat was before them Moslems brought down the WTC which gave the NSA and all the other spooks their legitimate claim to spy on everyone.
  In fact, a lot of NSA researchers (fulltime/partime) were recruited from those groups.
  
  "We liked to tinker with things,â says Bowie. "We liked to create, manipulate and, most importantly, discover technology. We researched everything from discovering and exploiting software vulnerabilities, security tools ranging from password analysis to packet generation to exploit platforms."
  How times have changed.
  Nowadays all the 'ploits have price tags on them.
  
  --
  Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
5. Re:the missing url by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 17:03 · Score: 0
  
  From Blackhat research to Whitehat to every hue of color in between, a lot of guys/kids were hopping from one chatroom into another, opening up multiple chatrooms and participating on all of them all under one screen is not uncommon.
  It's those mauve hat hackers you have to watch, those guys are always looking to exploit a backdoor!
That doesn't sound much like hackers by Casandro · 2014-03-02 09:06 · Score: 1

Only like the criminals the news likes to call hackers.
1. Re:That doesn't sound much like hackers by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 10:00 · Score: 0
  
  They aren't criminals, they published security advisories publicly, not sell them to the mob.
2. Re:That doesn't sound much like hackers by lesuth · 2014-03-02 10:23 · Score: 1
  
  Only like the criminals the news likes to call hackers.
  Blurred lines that requires the clarity of ethics to make sense.
  I submit the thought that there are more than one type of 'hackers'. In a classroom or in a setting where the effects can be reversed, then hackers can be beneficial, ala the recent article Teach hacking in high school. Even Mitnick's extreme actions had the benefits of highlighting the ineffectual.
  But this thought has been common. Affecting the hacker's morality with something like the Association of Computing Machinery's Code of Ethics is a tough challenge, but worth it.
3. Re:That doesn't sound much like hackers by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 15:30 · Score: 1
  
  But this thought has been common. Affecting the hacker's morality with something like the Association of Computing Machinery's Code of Ethics is a tough challenge, but worth it.
  Strike out 1.5 and I'll buy in. 1.6 is enough.
4. Re:That doesn't sound much like hackers by CauseBy · 2014-03-03 06:29 · Score: 1
  
  What does your dictionary say? Here's mine:
  hacker (n.) a person who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to data.
It would be nice to include a working link by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 09:09 · Score: -1

instead of a blank link
http://techcrunch.com/2014/03/02/w00w00/ by dale.furno · 2014-03-02 09:16 · Score: -1

http://techcrunch.com/2014/03/...
Why does /. have so many problems with links these past few days? can anyone explain what happened? Never noticed this problem before.
1. Re:http://techcrunch.com/2014/03/02/w00w00/ by dolmen.fr · 2014-03-02 09:34 · Score: 0
  
  You're too young (at least here)...
Who Who? by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 09:20 · Score: 1

Fuck these grey beards - don't they know the internet belongs to facebook and twitter now?
1. Re:Who Who? by Samantha+Wright · 2014-03-02 09:31 · Score: 1
  
  The founder of WhatsApp, which was just bought by Facebook. Sorry, Mario, but your stereotype is in another castle.
  
  --
  Bio questions? Ask me to start a Q&A journal. Computer analogies available for most topics!
2. Re:Who Who? by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 09:50 · Score: -1
  
  Trolling slashdot is hard work - do you really expect me to read TFA (TFS as usual is useless)?
  PS - do you have a pair of 'elf' ears and do you keep them on when you're having sex?
3. Re:Who Who? by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 10:02 · Score: 0, Offtopic
  
  I don't always wear elf ears when having sex, but when I do, it's at the insistence or your mother.
I like that plan by cold+fjord · 2014-03-02 09:29 · Score: 0

One of the group's former members had just sold their company for $19 billion dollars.
I like that plan, maybe I'll have to fit it a shot.

--
much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
1. Re:I like that plan by cold+fjord · 2014-03-02 09:31 · Score: 0
  
  ... give it a shot.
  I hate Otto Korrekt and his cruel invention.
  
  --
  much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
Enough with the beta for Classic users by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 09:32 · Score: -1

I have been a /. reader for over a decade and I understand that the classic button is there for those of us who don't like the beta, that is why I click on it - but it seems that every day, logged in or not, I get the new site and have to select classic again even tho SD and Dice have browser cookies kicking around my HDD. Please respect my selection of /. Classic.
That is all - thanks
1. Re:Enough with the beta for Classic users by Soulskill · 2014-03-02 17:45 · Score: 1
  
  Sorry, that preference should stick. Would you mind providing some details about your browser and OS so we can try to track this down? You can post it here if you're comfortable, or email us directly at feedback@slashdot.org.
the TMZ of tech by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 09:32 · Score: -1

we don't need any TMZ thank you
1. Re:the TMZ of tech by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 09:37 · Score: -1
  
  this
19 billion? by ThatAblaze · 2014-03-02 09:33 · Score: 1

I think the article must have gotten it wrong.. I've heard several other places that WhatsApp sold for 16 billion.
I know it may not seem like much.. but, personally, I consider a $3 billion discrepancy to be something.
1. Re:19 billion? by justMichael · 2014-03-02 09:37 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  The other 3 billion is for retention bonuses http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/...
2. Re:19 billion? by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 09:38 · Score: 0
  
  I think the article must have gotten it wrong.. I've heard several other places that WhatsApp sold for 16 billion.
  I know it may not seem like much.. but, personally, I consider a $3 billion discrepancy to be something.
  16BN purchase, 3BN retention. 19BN total.
3. Re:19 billion? by rmdingler · 2014-03-02 10:32 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  It sounds like a lot of money, but I understand about $12 billion is in bitcoin, er, facebook stock.
  
  --
  Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.
  Ernest Hemingway
4. Re:19 billion? by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-04 10:41 · Score: 0
  
  lol
All these hackers by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 10:00 · Score: -1

All these hackers, which one is Angelina Jolie?
1. Re:All these hackers by gmhowell · 2014-03-02 11:52 · Score: -1, Offtopic
  
  All these hackers, which one is Angelina Jolie?
  The one without boobs.
  
  --
  Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
2. Re:All these hackers by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 14:00 · Score: -1
  
  I feel kinda bad for getting this.
  I'm just going to imagine that you mean that the guys are big fat slobs with saggy manmaries, and Angelina is a fit young woman with perky breasts. Yes that's it.
3. Re:All these hackers by gmhowell · 2014-03-02 16:41 · Score: 0
  
  I feel kinda bad for getting this.
  I'm just going to imagine that you mean that the guys are big fat slobs with saggy manmaries, and Angelina is a fit young woman with perky breasts. Yes that's it.
  That's part of it, but it was also a shitty, obnoxious 'joke' about Jolie's preventive double mastectomy.
  
  --
  Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
ooh such mystery by slashmydots · 2014-03-02 10:06 · Score: 1

"One of the group's former members had just sold their company for $19 billion dollars."
Orly? Which one was it? :-P
1. Re:ooh such mystery by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 15:05 · Score: 0
  
  You mean what app was it?
Hackers. by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 10:18 · Score: -1

we don't need any TMZ thank you
Well, I WAS expecting an article about this. I am new here.
Posting as AC because I can't figure out how to create a new account here on 'backward-slash period'. I'd like to become a new member of this website for nerds. I'm a nerd about cats.
Hey why can't we paste pictures of our cats like Reddit? That's where I heard about this cool website! Dice has been telling us that all of us nerds should come here! Well, since I'm a cat nerd, I should be here!
And how come I can't get that really cool version that starts with bata or beata or ....something. I like it!
Then this version came up but it's hard to use.
I like kitties.
w00tw00t? by pepsikid · 2014-03-02 10:20 · Score: 1, Interesting

Are these the dicks who are constantly filling my weblog with:

140224 042320 69.174.245.163 - 69.174.245.163 /var/www/html/w00tw00t.at.blackhats.romanian.anti-sec:) 401 401
140226 084433 64.15.159.21 - 64.15.159.21 /var/www/html/w00tw00t.at.blackhats.romanian.anti-sec:) 401 401
140226 210354 122.49.0.220 - 122.49.0.220 /var/www/html/w00tw00t.at.blackhats.romanian.anti-sec:) 401 401
140301 232858 46.105.100.220 - ns382685.ovh.net /var/www/html/w00tw00t.at.blackhats.romanian.anti-sec:) 401 401
140217 122758 122.49.0.220 - 122.49.0.220 /var/www/html/w00tw00t.at.blackhats.romanian.anti-sec:) 401 401
140217 124326 67.215.248.8 - 67.215.248.8 /var/www/html/w00tw00t.at.blackhats.romanian.anti-sec:) 401 401
140218 081257 111.207.191.92 - 111.207.191.92 /var/www/html/w00tw00t.at.blackhats.romanian.anti-sec:) 401 401
1. Re:w00tw00t? by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 18:08 · Score: 1
  
  no, a simple google will reveal the cause of these.
  perhaps you should look for a new job...
2. Re:w00tw00t? by fsck-beta · 2014-03-03 00:40 · Score: 1
  
  you are a noob, as is anyone who modded you up. does nobody on slashdot work in IT anymore?
w00w00 startup by PushmeIfall · 2014-03-02 10:28 · Score: 1

I think one of the most intriguing thing in the article is the mention of an "attention economy" startup, Belua. The name does fit belua (not bellua), ae, f a beast, wild beast, monster: fera: saeva, H.: Lernae, the Hydra, V.: in usu beluarum: quantum natura hominis pecudes reliquaque belua, lower animals. Hobbes' Leviathan comes to mind.
w00w00 by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 10:54 · Score: -1

w00w00 is p00p00.
Nuf said.
Time for another WhatsApp post! by pedantic+bore · 2014-03-02 11:21 · Score: 1

They haven't been in the press enough recently...

--
Am I part of the core demographic for Swedish Fish?
anyone can be a *illionaire by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 11:54 · Score: 2, Informative

I hate it when highly speculative and non liquid asset classes are reported in the media as cash. It shows genuine lack of good faith to do this.
By this metric, anyone can be a *illionaire. Just form your own company, then come up with ridiculous IP and have your company bond the IP (with UCC statement) to a "value" that you and your company agree upon! You can be a billionaire or whatever you like. What's that you say? Such shenanigans is acting in bad faith and nobody in their right mind would give you that amount in trade for your worthless UCC statement, so it is not fair to report its TRUE value as $1 Billion (CASH)? Ok, now you see my point --- the same is true with all these speculative asset classes that are backed by nothing.
Next news item by viperidaenz · 2014-03-02 13:18 · Score: 4, Funny

Inside the Billion Dollar Kindergarten - One of the kindergartens former students recently sold their company for $19B.
Inside the Billion Dollar High School - A former student recently sold their company for $19B. ...
1. Re:Next news item by kipkemoi · 2014-03-02 20:47 · Score: 1
  
  +1
2. Re:Next news item by TeknoHog · 2014-03-02 21:47 · Score: 1
  
  Inside the Six Billion Dollar Man - recently sold his cybernetic kidney for $19B...
  
  --
  Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
3. Re:Next news item by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-03 00:43 · Score: 0
  
  That was the Six Million Rupee man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... ;-)
No time for Kindergarten by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 15:59 · Score: 1

Inside the Billion Dollar Kindergarten - One of the kindergartens former students recently sold their company for $19B.
Inside the Billion Dollar High School - A former student recently sold their company for $19B. ...
Nobody who made a billion dollars ever completed Kindergarten. They all drop out and start their own firms early. If you're in Kindergarten you're doing it wrong.
"THE" billion dollar hacker club? by Ungrounded+Lightning · 2014-03-02 17:22 · Score: 1

"THE" billion dollar hacker club? Seems to me there are several of those.
Two instances just from the public record: First there's the Homebrew Computer Club, founded in '73, which includes a number of leading lights in the Silicon Valley part of the industry, including Jobs and Woz. (Apple alone has WhatsApp beat by a factor of neary 25, as of today's close.) Then there's the (invitation-only) Hackers Conference, Founded by in '84, whose membership may not have as high a percentage of people who made billions in high tech, but does have more than one just among those whose membership is publicly known.
I could go on for a while, and I'm SURE I don't know anywhere near all such organizations.

--
Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
Lars Ulrich by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-02 22:35 · Score: 0

In other news, Lars Ulrich deleted WhatsApp and his facebook account!
1 line added to your hosts file by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-03 02:48 · Score: 0

Can do the job -> 216.34.181.45 beta.slashdot.org
* :)
APK
P.S.=> That stopped the random redirects I was getting here for a good while (but not anymore after adding that to my favorite sites @ the TOP of my custom hosts file)... apk
In other news.... by gosand · 2014-03-03 06:28 · Score: 1

Thousands of hacker wannabes from the 90s haven't done much of anything with their lives, and are working in boring ass jobs with normal lives.

--

My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.
1. Re:In other news.... by Anonymous Coward · 2014-03-04 11:29 · Score: 0
  
  Hey! My job isn't boring!