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The Woz to Keynote at Next HOPE Conference 145

Posted by michael from the fanboys-rejoice dept.
An anonymous reader writes "The next HOPE (Hackers on Planet Earth) conference will feature Steve Wozniak as one of the keynotes according to conference organizers at 2600. Mitnick's also got a keynote spot, and there's more to be announced."
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The Woz to Keynote at Next HOPE Conference More

The Woz to Keynote at Next HOPE Conference

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  • Question (Score:3, Insightful)

    by YanceyAI ( 192279 ) * <IAMYANCEY@yahoo.com> on Friday April 23, 2004 @10:44AM (#8949788)
    This conference marks the 20th anniversary of 2600 Magazine and the 10th anniversary of the first HOPE conference. You can visit our official conference website here.

    How is it the 10th anniversary, but the "Fifth HOPE"? Was there lag between some of them. I thought HOPE was an annual event. It least it has been since H2K. Anyone?

    • From the home page:

      Welcome to the main page for The Fifth HOPE, sponsored by 2600. Yes, it's our fifth conference in New York City and this one threatens to be the best yet. It all takes place July 9-11, 2004, at the Hotel Pennsylvania in Manhattan So perhaps thats why they call it The Fifth Hope?

      At least The Fifth Hope's website does not say anywhere that its the 10th anniversary...

    • Re:Question (Score:5, Informative)

      by menn0nite ( 699138 ) on Friday April 23, 2004 @10:53AM (#8949926)
      It's biennial...

      Probably because most people can only afford one con a year, and most of the 2600 folks like going to CCC (which happens every year hope does not).
    • It's bi-anual. Being lucky enough to work in NYC and commuting into Penn Station, which is right across 7th ave from the Hotel Pennsylvania, I first became aware of the banners in 2000. Saw some great events that year. 2001? No banners, no conference. H2K2 happened. It was greater than H2K. I surmise this means bi-annual. ;)

  • Woz (Score:5, Funny)

    by Ctrl-Z ( 28806 ) <timNO@SPAMtimcoleman.com> on Friday April 23, 2004 @10:44AM (#8949797) Homepage Journal
    Looks like Woz has come out of hibernation again. Two stories in one day? Must be the spring weather or something.

    • Re:Woz (Score:4, Funny)

      by NonSequor ( 230139 ) on Friday April 23, 2004 @10:56AM (#8949959) Journal
      So what does it mean if he doesn't see his shadow?

  • Mitnick (Score:3, Insightful)

    by DanThe1Man ( 46872 ) on Friday April 23, 2004 @10:46AM (#8949812)
    What does Mitnick has to contrubite? Talk about how computers were seven years ago? Tell how to hind from the cops? What would his speach be about?

    • I agree, whats the deal? (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Eagle5596 ( 575899 ) <slashUser AT 5596 DOT org> on Friday April 23, 2004 @11:03AM (#8950057)
      I have to agree, I fail to see what Mitnick could ever contribute. All he is, is a criminal who got caught. He wasn't even much of a computer guru, just knew how to manipulate people well enough to steal some data.

      Mitnick's fame is something I can't comprehend. I don't see why we're showering him with honors and treating him like someone who has valuable input, or is worthy of praise. Let him find a job and try and earn an honest living like the rest of us.

      • Re:I agree, whats the deal? (Score:5, Insightful)

        by Erwos ( 553607 ) on Friday April 23, 2004 @11:13AM (#8950158)
        The point is, though, is that he's the guy who really showed one of the fundamental issues of computer security: secure software is not enough. _People_ need to be security-concious as well.

        It's still a lesson people ignore to this day, so I don't think it's much of a stretch to claim him as a pioneer.

        -Erwos
        • People have known that humans are the most insecure link for much longer than Mitnick. Look up your WWI and WWII history, slogans abounded and posters covered public places about the importance of silence when you could have spies around you.

          Mitnick just exploited a well known hole that can't be properly patched. He no more pioneered a field than do Modern bank robbers.

          Mitnick is a criminal, and should be treated as such.
          • You don't necessarily have to be the inventor to be a pioneer. A pioneer is someone who opens up new ideas and areas of thought, research, production, etc. Linux torvalds didn't invent the first Unix clone but I definitely believe he's a pioneer in his field. Mitnick became a pioneer in social engineering if for no other reason than he broadened public and political awareness of it to an all time high. Just like Bonnie and Clyde weren't just your average bank robbers either.
          • People have known that humans are the most insecure link for much longer than Mitnick. Look up your WWI and WWII history,

            But the fact is that back in WWII, humans were not the weakest link! Technology and encryption techniques were. If the Axis had been smart enough to make more use of OTP and rely less on the ill-concieved Enigma machine, the outcome of the entire war could've been different. (Basically, no US invasion of France, so German and Japan maintain split control of Asia)

            By far more and mo

        • I don't think it's much of a stretch to claim him as a pioneer.

          The fact that he drew attention to flaws in security due to his exploit shouldn't garner him any credit - if it did, we should be crediting bin Laden right now, too, for making the FBI and CIA at least pretend to talk to each other more.

          I'm not saying he's that bad, he never killed anyone, but face it, he was either doing things he knew were wrong, or he was sociopathic enough not to understand that fact.

      • Let him find a job and try and earn an honest living like the rest of us.

        Looks like he's done just that [defensivethinking.com].
      • My boss went to the RSA conference in SF last year and Mitnick was talking specifically about social engineering and other meat-space problems like dumpster-diving.

        As I understand it, he's making a career of the things he did back then, because guess what? People are still the weakest link...

      • Mitnick's fame is something I can't comprehend. I don't see why we're showering him with honors and treating him like someone who has valuable input, or is worthy of praise

        Mitnick was just another computer thug, as you say there's nothing impressive there. The only reason for Mitnick's fame is not what he did, but what was done *to* him.

        After his arrest he was held, without charges, for over two years. It was the first of the anti-American arrest practices that Mr. Bush and the misnamed USA PATRIOT ac

        • As was posted elsewhere (take the time to read the thread, it's not that long!):

          Mitnick's lawyers asked for him to be held longer, this was his choice, and in the end the time was taken off of his prison sentance. His extended incarceration was done as his own request. Read your history, even statements from Mitnick himself, this belief you hold is a common misrepresentation of what really happened.

          This isn't "The Man" putting someone down but a cheap trick by mitnick.
      • So once a criminal always a criminal is that your point? No such thing as redemption, huh?!
        I also seem to recall the charges being brought against him as being somewhat blown out of proportion. How about letting the punishment fit the crime. As far as his skill set goes, I have no way of knowing that seeing as how I have never met the man or had an indepth conversation with him regarding it.
        • Read the other posts in this thread, I'm getting tired of posting and reposting the answers to Slashbot misinformation and ignorance. The charges weren't blown out of proportion, Mitnicks media team blew the perception of them out of proportion. The punishment fit the crime, Mitnick's legal team kept him locked up at his request because of the defense they were pursuing.

          And while there is such a thing as redemption, he still should not profit from having been a criminal, he can get a real job, but maki
          • Actually I did read your other posts, but I found myself wondering what exactly you consider "their misinformation" is this just your opinion or do you have some proof of this statement?
            • No it isn't just my opinion. His lawyers pushed the pretrial to unusual lengths, fighting for various things that Mitnick asked for. As he was arrested for not only his crimes but also for jumping bail, and going on the run after his previous arrest, then committing more crimes, no bail was allowed, he'd already had a bail hearing and proved that he wasn't going to stick around for a trial.

              Meanwhile his lawyers kept pushing to have some charges dropped or reclassified and even to just let him have a la
              • Actually junior, I'm more than familiar with his trial and the case and while yes his lawyers were making lots of requests on his behalf, here's a news flash, that's what lawyers do. And not being allowed a hearing because of past indescretions is still against the law. You have to get hearing, they can deny you, but you have to have it. There's a crime for you. My point is you're twisting the facts. You make it sound like his lawyers legal manuevering some how justifies his treatment. BS! That's our
                • Actually Mr. Slashbot, you're talking out of your rear. One week after Kevin's arrest he agreed to the following terms:

                  a) no bail hearing;
                  b) no preliminary hearing;
                  c) no phone calls, except to his attorney and two family members

                  He himself has stated this many times. He agreed on this so that he could be held outside of solitary for a bit. Later he decided he would rather have had the bail hearing and decided to spread FUD, rarely mentioning the original agreement. Get your history straight.

    • Re:Mitnick (Score:2, Flamebait)

      by darthcamaro ( 735685 ) *
      ha! right you are. Mitnick is old school in a bad way..What was the essence of his scam again? A bunch of SOCKS chained proxies ? There isn't a script kiddie on the planet that can't replicate that today.

    • Re:Mitnick (Score:4, Interesting)

      by dr_dank ( 472072 ) on Friday April 23, 2004 @11:25AM (#8950318) Homepage Journal
      What would his speach be about?

      Mitnick is best known for his social engineering skills. Pick up a copy of "The Art of Deception" and you'll see what I mean. The Social Engineering panel is the highlight of any HOPE convention.

      Mitnick was also made into a martyr when he was held for over five years without so much as a bail hearing (not that he'd get it for being a flight risk, but a hearing is due process just the same).

      The commonly-held explaination for Mitnick being in such lockdown is that he would still be able to con people, even fears of Mitnick launching nuclear attacks by dialing the right phone number and whistling.

      • Re:Mitnick (Score:5, Informative)

        by Eagle5596 ( 575899 ) <slashUser AT 5596 DOT org> on Friday April 23, 2004 @11:33AM (#8950427)
        Mitnick is best known for his social engineering skills. Pick up a copy of "The Art of Deception" and you'll see what I mean. The Social Engineering panel is the highlight of any HOPE convention.

        Whoop-de-freaking-do. "Social engineering" is not a new skill, nor was it something perfected by Mitnick. It's been around for a very VERY long time. The phrase "Loose lips sink ships" ring a bell? Mitnick is, and always was a second rate hack who got a lot of publicity for his crimes because he lived in the age of the internet where a lot of misinformed would-be-hackers rallyed behind him. He was an artificial flash in the pan, and has nothing real to add to such a discussion. You want someone with something to add? Hire an ex-NSA or ex-CIA to be your keynote. They knew more about "social engineering" during the world wars than Mitnick will ever know.

        Mitnick was also made into a martyr when he was held for over five years without so much as a bail hearing (not that he'd get it for being a flight risk, but a hearing is due process just the same).

        Mitnick's lawyers asked for him to be held longer, this was his choice, and in the end the time was taken off of his prison sentance. His extended incarceration was done as his own request. Read your history, even statements from Mitnick himself, this belief you hold is a common misrepresentation of what really happened.

        The commonly-held explaination for Mitnick being in such lockdown is that he would still be able to con people, even fears of Mitnick launching nuclear attacks by dialing the right phone number and whistling.

        This "fear" was never held by those who were holding Mitnick, rather it was FUD spread by Mitnick's own lawyers and representatives as part of a campaign to villify the US govt for arresting Mitnick.

        Mitnick is a criminal, plain and simple, with nothing new to add. Lets put him back where he belongs, working for a living, instead of fueling his thirst for fame and easy money.
        • Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trust the guy as far as I could throw him. You never know if dudes like that are making you a pawn or mark in some kind of Social Engineering type scam. He wasn't thrown in jail for no reason at all, of course.

          If any positive is to be said about him, it's raising awareness about this type of thing. After reading the book and bearing in mind the myriad ways of manipulating & scamming people out of seemingly harmless info that could be assembled for the bigger picture, I'm

        • Re:Mitnick (Score:4, Insightful)

          by Moeses ( 19324 ) on Friday April 23, 2004 @12:21PM (#8951077)
          You know, I think the poor guy has paid his debt to society. Yes, he made some big mistakes, but now he's moving on and he IS earning an honest living.

          What would you do in his present situation? Go work a crappy job or make the most of the situation? I know what I'd do and I don't blame him for doing the same.

          The guy is not the hero people make him out to be, but he also does not need negative creeps kicking him down any more. His debt has been paid, grow up.

        • Re:Mitnick (Score:1, Funny)

          by Anonymous Coward
          I would have to say he has socially engineered you into an unusually strong opinion of him.


        • Dead on man! Wish I'd have said it that well.
      • ...is undoubtedly getting so many people to actually give a damn about him.

        As a phenomenon within the hacker community, it nearly defies understanding.
    • I met Mitnick when he showed up at dc2600 a few months back. While he's not the best in the field, he was the person that got rallied around when he was caught. He's gone from black-hat to white-hat, and by publishing the books so that they're aimed at amateurs and people who don't know about hacking/social engineering he expands the field.

      Basically he's something of a recruiter. Even the people that read his books and don't become hackers will at least know what a hacker really is, and not the media inter
    • Obviously you've never been to a HOPE conference, because talking about computers from 7 years ago and how to hide from the cops would definitely not be out of place or out of the ordinary.
      Besides, keep in mind that while Mitnick's exploits aren't overly grand by today's standards they weren't exactly script kiddie material in their day.

  • speakers (Score:5, Informative)

    by MikeHunt69 ( 695265 ) on Friday April 23, 2004 @10:47AM (#8949829) Journal
    Interestingly, there is also a request for speakers. [the-fifth-hope.org]

    • "the-fifth-hope"? My man, I think you've just given Lucas the title for upcoming Star Wars fiasco. He'll be paying you in Domino's Pizza.
      • "the-fifth-hope"? My man, I think you've just given Lucas the title for upcoming Star Wars fiasco. He'll be paying you in Domino's Pizza.

        Thats okay, because I like pizza!

        Hey, a programmer's gotta eat.

  • Go! (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 23, 2004 @10:47AM (#8949837)
    If you ever get a chance to hear Woz speak, by all means GO!

    He has hundreds of great stories. You will not be disappointed.
  • Real hackers don't call themselves hackers...


    They know better than to stain themselves with negative pejorative Labels ;-)

    • <soapbox>

      Real hackers were calling themselves hackers back when to most people "hacker" either meant someone who drove a taxi or who was a poor golfer.

      Real hackers don't find themselves overly pressured by societies "negative perjorative labels". While there is remorse that the general public has adopted the negative view of the term, there is no single word that better describes what a hacker does for the sheer joy of doing it. A real hacker doesn't particularly care if he is accepted or not by

      • No two hackers (or hackers-by-another-name) are the same. No two follow the exact same ideology. Some are young, some are old. Some like to associate themselves with "negative perjorative labels" and some prefer to try to change other's minds about those labels.

        And some just don't give a damn about any of it, love the technology (or whatever they happen to be a hacker of) and could care less what others think about it.

  • Mitnick's restrictions (Score:3, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 23, 2004 @10:48AM (#8949849)
    Due to conditions of release placed on him by the federal government, Mitnick is still prevented from touching any real computers. This is why he is expected to bring an Apple Macintosh to the event.

  • Will he be selling? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by toupsie ( 88295 ) on Friday April 23, 2004 @10:51AM (#8949891) Homepage
    I would love to get a Woz blue box. Sure it wouldn't work but it would be a work of art.

  • Magical (Score:5, Funny)

    by AvoidTheNoid ( 772246 ) on Friday April 23, 2004 @11:03AM (#8950068)
    We're off to see the Wizard The Wonderful Wizard called woz We hear he is a Whiz of a Woz If ever a Woz there was If ever, oh ever, a Woz there was The Wizard called Woz is one because Because, because, because, because, because Because of the wonderful things he does We're off the see the wizard The Wonderful Wizard called Woz


    The Great and all powerful Woz seems to be everywhere spreading his message...but what is he doing now?

  • SSSSSHHHHHHHH (Score:2, Funny)

    by WwWonka ( 545303 )
    ...The next HOPE (Hackers on Planet Earth)

    George Lucas may be reading this, and like SCO, may be sue happy since he has no real product of substance to push!

  • I'll bring my Apple ][ (Score:5, Interesting)

    by darthcamaro ( 735685 ) * on Friday April 23, 2004 @11:04AM (#8950080)
    Wozniak? Wonder what he thinks of Apple these days. I'll bring down my old Apple ][ and see if he'll autograph my duodisk.

  • Thank god (Score:5, Funny)

    by ValuJet ( 587148 ) on Friday April 23, 2004 @11:11AM (#8950141)
    they specified which planet. At mostconferences it takes me a while to figure out which planet they are talking about.

  • The Woz and blue boxing (Score:5, Informative)

    by br00tus ( 528477 ) on Friday April 23, 2004 @11:20AM (#8950254)
    Before Woz designed the Apple, he designed blue boxes, and he and Steve Jobs used to go around selling them to people [woz.org], with Woz even using some of the design tricks [woz.org] he learned from making blue boxes to build the Apple I and II [woz.org]. I seem to recall either him or Jobs once saying that if they never had built blue boxes, they might have never have built the first Apple (which would mean IBM may have never built a PC, and who knows if any of us would be using PC's right now?), but I forget which one of them said that, when and where.


  • HACK THE PLANET!

  • Woz (Score:4, Informative)

    by NilObject ( 522433 ) on Friday April 23, 2004 @11:37AM (#8950491)
    Woz is by far one of the best speakers I have ever heard. I saw him at MacHack a few years ago and the audience couldn't get enough of him. His stories and memories are some of the most colorful and interesting stories, and he has great speaking skills to back them up. I'm considering going to HOPE, and if I could go, I wouldn't miss the chance to be in the front row again.

  • I'm afraid I have to disagree (Score:3, Interesting)

    by ptomblin ( 1378 ) <ptomblin@xcski.com> on Friday April 23, 2004 @11:45AM (#8950584) Homepage Journal
    Some people have talked about what a great speaker Woz is. I saw him speak to the local Apple Users Group (AppleCIDER) and he's got a lot of stories about his interesting experiences and living in interesting times, but he is a BORING speaker. If he ever comes back to get to the topic he was supposed to talk about instead of wandering all over the map, I'd gladly go back, but I don't really want to hear a litany of all the mini-computers he redesigned on paper, saving a whole 5 capacitors.

  • Mitnick (Score:2, Funny)

    by pottymouth ( 61296 )
    I love the Woz but why the heck would anyone want to listen to Kevin Mitnick? If he's as informative on computer security as
    his book, his whole speech will be about how to lie to brain dead receptionists. Why won't this guy go away and get a real job....

  • Who is (Score:1, Funny)

    by iLEZ ( 594245 )
    this Kevin Mitnick guy? :D
  • I imagine he could contribute something along the lines of social engineering. After all, he teaches a course in it now through (I could be wrong) SANS Institute. It's a 3 day course.

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