WAR:Warning from FIDO over improper use of Echos

   Date: 27-NOV-85 and afterwards

   To: All Sysops

   Subject: Improper use of Fido and life threats

   Fellow Sysops:

   I had a user sign on and deposit a bomb. Fortunatly it was de-fused
by me prior to it going off. It is an IBM BASICA program and will not
run properly on the Rainbow anyway.

   The user used the following alias:

   Name : Harry Blackstone City : New York, NY Password : Magic

   He logged on to 102/110 on 17-NOV-85 at 3:55pm. The program he
deposited is called FUTR2.BAS. It attempts to kill all files on A, B,
C, & D drives. It is poorly written, as though by a 6th grader. It is
easy to spot. It is about 2600 bytes long. Be aware of this user's name
and password. Spread this message around. Keep a log of where and when
you've seen him and his actions.

   About one month later, on 19-DEC-85, he came back. He saw a little
note I had posted in my Free Message Area about him and his program. He
also noticed that I had twitted him. He came back under the name of
'Blackstone Harry'. He had info about a home I own and people that is
on file at the County Clerk's Office and free for all to see. He said
he was going to put a bullet into a relative's head, and rape and
sodimize another relative. Neither relatives are alive today as they
both passed away about 6 months ago. The house mentioned is not
occupied by me but by tennants. However the threat was REAL. The police
have a file on him. Other users have reported to me that they have seen
him. The FBI knows about and has a file on him. The phone company knows
about him. The FBI and the phone company offered to set line traps for
him. I accepted the offer.

   One week later, he left messages containing Visa and American
Express card numbers on them. These were turned over to the
authorities. He claimed to have broken into a VAX 8600 and was trying
to 'crash' it. Good luck. The FBI was involved because interstate crime
may have been committed. They since suspect that he is operating out of
the Los Angeles Area or has contacts here. In exchange for phone line
trapping I have agreed to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the
law if captured. He wants to use the name Harry Blackstone. He gets
upset if he cannot use it. Please report any contact with him to either
this Fido or preferrably the FBI. I am all for a good joke, and it is
true that no harm was done so far by his program or him. But threats
like he made (if it is a 'he') cannot be tolerated. Passing Visa card
numbers around puts our Fidos in jepordy as well. We are to a certian
degree responsible for what's on our boards.

   A short time afterwards, he called my voice number and posed as a
beneficiary to a good cause. He wanted to come collect a donation. The
only donation he gets from me is Pb in capsule form. It should be
mentioned that he has called at least one other local Fido here and
made the same public threat to me on that system.

   One thing this proves is that as Sysops we all have to be careful
with other's uploads. Check everything, as I do. Sometimes a machine
language program will get through so check these extremely carefully.
The program STRING.COM available everywhere will assist you in doing
this.

   If you are on any board and see Public Messages from him before I
do, please inform me immediatly. Ignore the messages. If he causes you
trouble, do as I did and call the police, FBI and telephone company.
You will be surprised as I was to see that these people are very
helpfull. Computer crime is easy to trace if you have a log as we do
and keep your evidence updated. I will let everyone know how this turns
out, and ignore it if he never calls again and makes no more threats.
As for now, I keep my S & W loaded and ready for use. The police agree
with this concept. I will not hesitate to use it if he finds my newer
address and comes here. My house is overlooked by 6 others higher than
it, and all neighbors are in tune to this message.

   Good luck in catching this nerd on your system!

   The Dental Connection
