Hacking into computer systems - a beginners guide

To get on IRC you need both an IRC client program and you need to connect to a Web site or Internet Service Provider (ISP) that is running an IRC server program. *********************** Newbie note: Any program that uses a resource is called a “client.” Any program that offers a resource is a “server.” Your IRC client program runs on either your home computer or shell account computer and connects you to an IRC server program which runs on a remote computer somewhere on the Internet. *********************** You may already have an IRC server running on your ISP. Customer service at your ISP should be able to help you with instructions on how to use it. Even easier yet, if your Web browser is set up to use Java, you can run IRC straight from your browser once you have surfed into a Web-based IRC server.

Where are good IRC servers for meeting other hackers?

There are several IRC servers that usually offer hacker channels. EFNet (Eris-Free Network)links many IRC servers. It was originally started by the Eris FreeNet (ef.net). It is reputed to be a “war ground” where you might get a chance to really practice the IRC techniques we cover below.

Undernet is one of the largest networks of IRC servers. The main purpose of Undernet is to be a friendly place with IRC wars under control. But this means, yes, lots of IRC cops! The operators of these IRC servers have permission to kill you not only from a channel but also from a server. Heck, they can ban you for good.

They can even ban your whole domain. ************************************ Newbie note: A domain is the last two (or sometimes three or four) parts of your email address. For example, aol.com is the domain name for America Online. If an IRC network were to ban the aol.com domain, that would mean every single person on America Online would be banned from it. ************************************ ************************************ You can get punched in the nose warning: If the sysadmins at your ISP were to find out that you had managed to get their entire domain banned from an IRC net on account of committing ICMP bombing or whatever, they will be truly mad at you! You will be lucky if the worst that happens is that you lose your account. You’d better hope that word doesn’t get out to all the IRC addicts on your ISP that you were the dude that got you guys all kicked out. ************************************ IRCNet is probably the same size if not larger than Undernet. IRCNet is basically the European/Australian split off from the old EFNet. Yes, IRC is a world-wide phenomenon. Get on the right IRC network and you can be making friends with hackers on any continent of the planet. There are at least 80 IRC networks in existence. To learn how to contact them, surf over to: http://www.irchelp.org/. You can locate additional IRC servers by surfing over to http://hotbot.com or http://digital.altavista.com and searching for “IRC server.” Some IRC servers are ideal for the elite hacker, for example the l0pht server. Note that is a “zero” not an “O” in l0pht. **************************************** Evil genius tip: Get on an IRC server by telneting straight in through port 6667 at the domain name for that server. ****************************************