NEMO was a private BBS that was restricted to an elite few. Those who qualifications and reputations allowed them entry into the exclusive domain of hacking. NEMO was born into this world by Steve and a few of his friends while they were in high school in Darien. NEMO was a private club, for a few close friends who enjoyed their new hobby, computers. NEMO's Menu was designed for the professional hacker. 1. PASSWORDS 2. NEW NETS 3. DANGER ZONES 4. CRACKING TOOLS 5. WHO'S NEW? 6. PHREAKING 7. CRYPTO 8. WHO ELSE? 9. U.S. NETWORKS 10. INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS 11. FOR TRADE 12. FORTUNE 500 DOORKEYS He selected (8), WHO ELSE? Steve wanted to see who else was 'on- line' now. He wanted to talk about this Chase guy who was giving hackers a bad name. The computer responded: CONVERSATION PIT: LA CREME, RAMBO. DO YOU WANT TO JOIN IN? That was great! Two of the half dozen of NEMO's founders were there. La Creme de la Creme was KIRK's college roommate, but he had not yet returned to San Diego for the fall term. RAMBO, 'I'll get through any door' was the same age as Kirk and Creme, but chose to study at Columbia in New York's Harlem. Hackers picked alter- ego monikers as CB'ers on the highways did; to project the desired image. Steve and his cohorts picked their aliases when they were only fifteen, and kept them ever since. Steve typed in a 'Y' and the ENTER key. WHO ARE YOU? NEMO was asking for an additional password. Kirk Steve typed. A brief pause, and the computer screen came to life. WELCOME TO THE CONVERSATION PIT, KIRK. HOW HAVE YOU BEEN? That was his invitation to interrupt any conversation in progress. Steve typed in, Dudes! HOW'D EXAMS GO? <<LA CREME>> Greased'em. Ready to come back? FAST AS THE PLANE WILL GO. PICK ME UP? 7:20 ON AMERICAN?<LA CREME> Sure. Hey, what's with the Morris copy cat? Some phreak blowing it for the rest of us. SO YOU HEARD. CHASE IS REALLY GONNA SCREW THINGS UP. <<RAMBO>> What the hell really happened? I read the Times. Said that he claimed it was accident. ACCIDENTAL ON PURPOSE MAYBE <<LA CREME>> HOW MANY WAYS ARE THERE INFECT A NATIONAL DEFENSE NETWORK? ONE THAT I KNOW OF. YOU PUT THE VIRUS IN THERE. THAT'S NO ACCIDENT. <<RAMBO>> Ten-Four. Seems like he don't wanna live by the code. Must be some spoiled little brat getting too big for his britches . . . BEST GUESS IS THAT HE DID IT TO IMPRESS HIS OLD MAN. HE SUPPOS- EDLY CREATED AN ANTIDOTE, TOO. HE WANTED TO SET OFF A BIG VIRUS SCARE AND THEN LOOK LIKE A HERO WITH A FAST FIX. THE VIRUS WORKED ALL TOO WELL. THE ANTIDOTE, IF THERE WAS ONE, SUCKED. SO INTERNET HAD GAS SO BAD, COMPUTING CAME TO A HALT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS TILL THEY CLEANED OUT THE PROVERBIAL SEWERS. <<LA CREME>> SURE SOUNDS LIKE A PUBLICITY GAG TO ME <<RAMBO>> Jeez. Anyone else been hit yet?