_______________________________________________ _________________ \_ __ \_ \ / \ / \_ \ | __/ ____/ \ | \| | __/ _| |/ / = \| |/ = \| / | ___/_ _ | | | /___ _ \________/___|___\__|_|__/___|___\_____|______/|_| \__|__|\__|_____/|_| ======================== "The name speaks for itself!" ======================== Damage, INC. FAQ v1.20 "Frequently Asked Questions" http://surf.to/damage_inc Written by BLACKENED Last Updated 03/13/00. Preface: The intention of this Damage, INC. FAQ is to educate and inform its readers about Damage, INC. as well as our releases and various other projects. It does not contain specific information on h/p, our members, our activities, everything else that we are involved in etc. No future versions of this FAQ will contain that type of information either. Therefore, if that's what you were hoping to find out, I suggest you look elsewhere or hire a private investigator to do the job for you. It only contains the information that is needed. I also hope that this FAQ clears up any misinformation/disinformation that exists concerning the group affectionately known as Damage, INC. and dispels the rumours and myths. If you read this entire FAQ and you have some intelligent questions relating to Damage, INC. that you want to ask, contact us. We'll try to answer any relevant questions that are asked. The reason that I decided to write and release a Damage, INC. FAQ was out of necessity, not due to laziness or the pursuit of fame. Basically, it can become really annoying having to constantly answer the same questions. Thus, I finally made the decision to create this small FAQ and publicly respond to the Frequently Asked Questions in order to eliminate the majority of Email that I receive and reply to. Replying to repetitive messages isn't a very enjoyable experience to say the least. Hopefully, this FAQ will solve that problem and alleviate the need for these questions to be asked again and again. ;) Frequently Asked Questions: What is Damage, INC.? Damage, INC. is a diverse group of individuals that have many talents. We are involved in the h/p scene, exchange information and share knowledge. Some Damage, INC. Members also program utilities, viruses and trojans. The group itself was founded by BLACKENED in 1993. It was formed for the purpose of joining enlightened minds together, strengthening their existing skills and abilities and developing new ones in different areas. Everyone has varying levels of experience in a different aspect of h/p, thus those in Damage, INC. have greatly benefited from their involvement in the group. We've been dedicated to programming and releasing useful utilities, text files, and information through the Damage, INC. Newsletter etc. for a relatively short amount of time in comparison to some other respected and established groups. However, we don't measure our contribution to the h/p scene in years, nor do we ever put quantity above quality. I can assure you that quality is paramount to Damage, INC. Nothing else is considered to be more important than producing quality releases. That'll never change as long as the group exists. We intend to fight against the greedy, the corrupt, Big Brother, the politically correct, big monopolizing corporations, the political fat cats, the affluent, the unfair and enslaving laws, the followers (zombies), the misinforming and lie ridden mass media, censorship, the conspiracy filled government, the misinformed, ignorant lamers and most of all those that go with the grain and joyfully support all that is classified as being "society" until the end. Conformity and mainstreamness is a disease. We expect it to be a long, bitter battle with many casualties. Personally, I believe that it's a fight worth fighting and I'm willing to die for the cause. Afterall, freedom is not free. And "the system" doesn't give a fuck about individuals, but they despise groups such as Damage, INC. and label them "gangs", "corrupt organizations" etc. In their eyes (law enforcement, prosecutors, the public) we are nothing more than common "criminals" merely because of our thirst for knowledge. They stereotype us as being power hungry, bragging, boasting, teenagers that use computers and modems to commit federal crimes that are well beyond normal teenage mischief. They automatically assume that the majority of hackers/phreaks are white, middle classed, male teenagers that are obsessed with computers or have nothing else better to do. Yet, they don't know who we are, or what we are about. In fact, I honestly believe that *they* don't want to know. And that is where their own logic fails and where their fault lies. They act the same as each other, and are the ones that are always attempting to classify us (hackers and phreaks) as all being the same. They try to portray us as all being "computer terrorists" with too much free time. Meanwhile, if that were true, if we were all the same then they'd have absolutely no trouble predicting our every move, by following a profile or simple behavioral pattern until they could organize and execute a massive crackdown on the entire underground. The busts of "Operation Sundevil" in 1990 would look small and insignificant in comparison. That is, they'd do that *if* it were that easy to accomplish such a wide spread crackdown on all of the h/p boards and groups. Obviously, "the system" doesn't know as much about us as they so proudly, boastfully claim they do. Is "the system" not guilty of stereotyping and overly-generalizing in order to spread panic, fear and profit? Yes, they most definitely are in my opinion. Don't allow them to manipulate the truth. Damage, INC. wasn't formed out of boredom like they suggest. It wasn't created for purely malicious purposes, to scam or ripoff poor, innocent people by means of carding, telephony etc. We don't blatantly flaunt and brag about what we've done. We're simply on an honourable quest for knowledge. Thus far, it has been an interesting and enjoyable journey. More than anything else, this world needs more freedom fighters that will voluntarily wage war against that which they are against or don't believe in. Use technology to your advantage. Communicate, exchange information, and exercise your rights such as freedom of information. That single word which is so very eloquent, carries great importance and meaning can also be used to efficiently describe Damage, INC. That word is freedom. It should not be lost or forgotten. I suggest that you learn its true meaning and apply it to every area of your life, not just the portion that involves h/p. All forms of enslavement should be banned. Experimenting and learning is innocent and shouldn't be discouraged or "illegal". Freedom should be practiced and included in every aspect of life, because in reality it's what makes life worth living. If we are able to succeed in opening some closed minds and provoking thought in our readers, then we've achieved our goal. If our opinions, ideas and perspectives are considered and respected by our loyal readers, then perhaps that's the most we can ask for. I would be satisfied if that became the only lasting legacy of Damage, INC. Lastly, we politely ask that you refrain from forming opinions or making any assumptions concerning Damage, INC. until you've at least thoroughly read this entire FAQ, along with the issues of the Damage, INC. Newsletter that we've released. What is the Damage, INC. Newsletter? The Damage, INC. Newsletter started as a fairly small monthly h/p zine. It has evolved and grown since its humble beginning in August 1997, which was the month before the first issue was released. At the end of that summer, I started to think seriously about releasing a newsletter since the local h/p scene was dying and I felt that it could generate some interest, at least in this area. I then discussed my idea with Shatazar, Blackie Lawless and a former member called The Journalist. After planning and sharing some ideas with each other about what it should be about, we began writing articles and decided to release the first issue in September 1997. The original sections were created and everyone was enthusiastic about our new undertaking. It was clear to us early on that improving distribution to other area codes was a priority. Thus, I began contacting people, searching for potential Damage, INC. Distribution Sites etc. Since then, we've added several new sections (some of which were suggested by our readers) and the Damage, INC. Newsletter has overall been improved. But I can't accurately describe "what it is" in a single paragraph. The best way to learn what the DIN is all about is to read through the issues that have been released thus far, since each issue has its own theme and is unique. Our intention was never to compete with any of the established publications, nor was it to prove ourselves. Basically, we just wanted to publicly express our views, share some information, techniques, knowledge and experience with our readers. Our main goal was to get people to think about things and become actively involved. In that, I believe we have been successful. That in itself is an achievement. What is Blamerica Phreaky Industries? Blamerica Phreaky Industries is actually part of the group Damage, INC. It was started by Blackie Lawless and BLACKENED as a "scanning division". However, it was never meant to be serious. In fact, it was never more than an inside joke, rather than an actual group. Nevertheless, it spawned the Phreaky Field Phreaking List, which is definitely a worthwhile project. Anyway, the origin of the name is a spoof of the television show, Seinfeld's Kramer character's 'Kramerica Industries', and L0pht Heavy Industries combined. We took those names, the first three letters of our aliases, replaced Heavy with Phreaky, and voila... there you have it -- Blamerica Phreaky Industries was born. ;) What is the Phreaky Field Phreaking List? The Damage, INC. Phreaky Field Phreaking List is a large compilation of numbers that were collected through various means. It is, without a shadow of a doubt, the phreakiest damn list in existence today. It contains an extensive array of toll free numbers to everything from telcos, computer companies, to test numbers and payphones. If you're a field phreak, or you've been looking for certain numbers and can't find them, this list is definitely what you need. It also includes handy International Codes and NPA references that are updated with each new edition released. What are the Damage, INC. Utilities? The Damage, INC. Utilities are a collection of utilities that were programmed by us and released freely for anyone to use. Certain utilities were requested by people, while others were created because any existing similar utilities were lacking features or didn't do the job. So, instead of continuing to use inferior utilities, we decided to program small, fast, utilities that are superior in our opinion. They were all tested extensively on several different systems. The "NUKE series" is a set of utilities that we're very proud of, as their usefulness has been demonstrated to many people. If you would like to become a Beta tester, contact us. What other projects/activities are Damage, INC. involved with? Damage, INC. is always working on new projects. Therefore, even though this particular question is often asked, answering it in this FAQ would instantly condemn the answer to being outdated and obsolete. As for other activities, obviously hacking/phreaking are prominent. Other than that, we're trying to promote h/p, raise awareness and help newbies that are willing to learn. My answer has been intentionally vague since I don't want to discuss any specific things that we're involved in. But you can be sure that we're always scanning, trashing and adding numbers to the Phreaky Field Phreaking List. ;) What is scanning? Scanning takes many forms and can mean several different things. There's frequency scanning, port scanning, carrier scanning, local and toll free scanning, hand scanning, etc. The form of scanning that I normally engage in is called hand scanning, or manual scanning. It's the process by which someone manually dials a set of numbers in order to identify them and record the results of their findings. By doing this, you find numbers to things that you otherwise wouldn't, or couldn't find. And it's all very interesting. ;) How do I apply to join Damage, INC. as a Member/Writer? Contact us via damage_inc@disinfo.net. If possible, send an article with the message if you're applying to become a Damage, INC. Writer. Most Damage, INC. Members are invited to apply for membership. In other words, they are people that are already known by us. However, anyone that's interested in h/p and wants to contribute to the group can apply. Just don't expect to be accepted. Does Damage, INC. have a web site? Yes, the URL is http://surf.to/damage_inc and a mirror is www.phreakiest.com The Damage, INC. Newsletter issues can also be downloaded from http://morehouse.org/hin/din/ How can Damage, INC. be contacted? You can contact Damage, INC. via Email at damage_inc@disinfo.net Any article submissions, comments, suggestions and questions should be sent to the above address. Credit is always given to the author for any articles, information or source code that's submitted and subsequently published. BLACKENED can be contacted via blackened@disinfo.net or blackened@phreakiest.com You can send us voice mail via Damage, INC.'s VMB by dialing 1-800-222-6000, Box "NUKE YOU". How can I join the Damage, INC. Newsletter mailing list? If you want to be added to the Damage, INC. mailing list in order to receive updates, news about releases and be notified whenever a new issue of the DIN is available to download, visit our web site's main page and join. This is a low volume mailing list. We won't spam you and fill your Inbox with useless shit either. If you join, expect to receive about two or three update messages per month, maximum. Closing: Damage, INC. is continually re-inventing itself, evolving and changing. We always want to remain creative and don't want to get stuck in a rut doing the same things. The pursuit of knowledge is how it all began, and it is what continues to lead the group into the future. That direction is critical. Damage, INC. doesn't want to lose sight of our goals as a group. We are motivated and inspired by the comments made by our readers. We're committed to excellence. Damage, INC. isn't content with what we've done thus far, although we do believe that we've released some quality material. We won't be deterred from achieving our goals and accomplishing what we set out to do. We aren't all "malicious hackers". We are only interested in harmless exploration. What crime is in the pursuit of knowledge? Is learning now a crime? Are we anti-establishment or are they anti-knowledge? That's a question that you'll have to ask yourself...and find the answer to on your own. Some of the most intelligent, brilliant, creative, free thinkers that I've ever met have been in the h/p scene. They're skilled innovators, willing to exchange information... learn, teach and increase knowledge and awareness. They aren't concerned about their image or reputation. They don't care what "society" thinks of them. They aren't ego driven. Their thinking isn't limited to the constraints of what they are told to believe. They don't want to be idolized and praised. They don't pretend to be role models. They are themselves, genuine and real. They aren't what "society" perceives them to be. They aren't stereotypical "hackers", like fictional characters right out of a typical Hollywood movie. They are very unique, inspirational people. Many of them enjoy teaching others and passing their knowledge down to newbies that are just entering the h/p scene. However, they aren't hand holding, spoon feeding babysitters that will give you all of the answers. Nothing is unthinkable. Embrace the true reality and meaning of h/p. Explore your mind. You're capable of ideas that have never been thought. Become humble and let your humbleness guide you. Don't give in to the oppressive establishment. Don't ever become one of them. Once I reach a state of paranoia, and it's no longer an enjoyable experience, then I'll officially "retire" from the h/p scene. Until then... never pass judgement on anyone based solely upon what you perceive them to be. Your own perception can be clouded. Remember to always keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer. I hope these words have made an impression upon you. Words of advice for novice hackers/phreaks: Don't start off trying to attain a certain level as a hacker or phreak. You have nothing to prove and nobody to impress, except yourself. You should only h/p for information, knowledge purposes and your own gratification. If you achieve and discover amazing things then that's something you can be proud of without bragging about it. Just as, if you painstakingly develop your own techniques, find holes and backdoors in non-default systems etc. then don't alert anyone (sys admins and the like) that can and will quickly disable/fix/ patch them by posting publicly about it. Be wise, cautious, stealthful and always hack/phreak safely in anonymity. Always remember that experience alone and by itself won't prevent you from getting busted. If you aspire to become a hacker/phreak, don't just read text files, put what you've read and learned into practice. Become involved in the h/p scene and evolve into an enlightened, advanced, revolutionary. If you're already an experienced hacker/phreak then contribute towards its growth by sharing your knowledge with newbies. Interesting Quotes: "Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein "Maybe I should've killed four or five hundred people." "I don't kill people. I *think* it." - Charles Manson, in parole hearings. "I don't know what's gonna happen man, but I wanna have my kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames." - Jim Morrison, while he was on stage during a concert. "Turn on, tune in, drop out." - Timothy Leary "You see, you brought ya bunch of guys out here and you killed some of my children, We told ya we wanted to talk. How come you guys try to be ATF agents? How come you try to be so big all the time? Now there's a bunch of us dead. There's a bunch of you guys dead. Now, now that's your fault." - David Koresh, during the standoff in Waco, TX. "The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race." - Theodore Kazcinski (Unabomber's Manifesto) "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." - Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943 "But what ... is it good for?" - Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip. "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." - Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977 "I am only a patsy." - Lee Harvey Oswald "We need some patriots in this country, not people trying to make a name for themselves, trying to expose some drug runners, because those are just the bag-men. The real crook is in the White House!" - Milton William Cooper "What happened to Randy Weaver can happen to anybody in this country." "This is a murder case, but the people who committed the murder are not here in court." - Gerry Spence "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us." - Western Union internal memo, 1876. "Everything that can be invented has been invented." - Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899. "Cypherpunks: These people think a good way to bollix "The System" is through cryptography and cryptosystems. They believe widespread use of extremely hard-to-break coding schemes will create "regions of privacy" that "The System" cannot invade." - Erich Schneider "Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it." - George Orwell's book 1984. "For some people, this freedom is the very breath of oxygen, the inventive spontaneity that makes life worth living and that flings open doors to marvellous possibility and individual empowerment. But for many people -- and increasingly so -- the hacker is an ominous figure, a smart aleck sociopath ready to burst out of his basement wilderness and savage other people's lives for his own anarchical convenience." - Bruce Sterling, from his book The Hacker Crackdown. - EOF