-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERVIEW WITH THE WIZARD / THE WIZARD'S LAIR / IR SWEDISH HQ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Give me a short description of who you are! - Well, I guess I will put it real short then. ;-) I'm the sysop of The Wizards Lair (the board with all the aka's). And I guess I'm also a little part of Immortal Riot since I'm running as their HQ! I guess I also can say that my board is located in Swedens capital Stockholm! Why did you picked that alias, The Wizard? - Perhaps because wizards is probably the most negative pool of what I will ever be! Because I'm WAY to lazy to be called a wizard! But I guess I also choosed that handle because alot of friends of mine, those who doesn't know anything about computers, always keep calling me "wizard" on computers. When did you discovored the world of computers? - It was NOT "back in the good old C64-days". Nope. I first discovered computers in 1981. Back then IBM was marketing a new computer called PC (and I guess everybody out there knows about it). And one of my neighbours had had as a hobby making computers since the sixties. And when he bought his first PC I begged and nagged on my parents 'till they bought me one as a birthday present. This was in the spring of 1982 and the computer was an IBM PC 4.77Mhz with a 8088 processor and one 360Kb floppy diskdrive! Well time went on and I was pooking around with the PC to leanr what I could do with it. Then about a year later, in 1983, I got my hands on a harddisk, now this was great. The capacity was 5(!)Mb and I thought that I never could fill it up! Then, in the fall of 1985, I also got a modem from my neighbour and it was a manual RACAL-modem at the amazing speed of 1200 baud! Now it was time to conquer the world!! How long have you been scene active, and how has it grown? (totally, and in the HVP scene)? - I have been active in the "scene" since 1985. And back then there really wasn't any "scenes", every board had everything. And since everyone calling with computers mostly where big enthustiacs of computers and then also, of course, interested in everything about calling for free and how to crack and diskcopy games. Then in 1987-88 something happend... A couple of boards started that only allowed commercial games and programs that were cracked. And with these boards several "cracking-groups" began to popup. Well... since the games where getting bigger and USR released their HST-standard, and I couldn't afford such a modem, I lost contact with the growing "scene". So I resigned to the PD/Programming-scene instead. Ofcourse I was still hooked up with a bit of hacking, but not as much as earlier. But then in 1991 I bought a USR HST 14400. Now I could call again. But now alot of things had happend. Many boards had opened and there were not only "cracking-groups" but also "courier-groups". And after that the "warez-scene" has just been going down the drain! Worst was it at some point in time when INC, which was the biggest group then, came up with the idea that only persons in "cracking- groups" were allowed to get all the new cracked games! But luckily no other groups hooked up on the idea. Well, this was my look at the "scene". How did you come into the "underground" scene? - Hmm.. I guess that my last question answered that question. But WHY I came into the "underground" scene was because I was finding it exciting, fun and more interesting than the PD scene that was back then. What part of underground needs improvments (mainly Sweden!) - I guess both the virii scene and the hacking/phreaking scene needs more people interested. And until I started my board it needed one. But now that I have started one I guess what's needed is more people interested in viruses and hacking/phreaking. Right now I guess that there are pretty many people in Sweden that are interested in viruses and calling for free but they are more like - Yeah! Gimme an CC and I will supply YOU!!! - Just the old 3LiT3-D00DZ to cut it short. But still there must be some people that doesn't call around, but are interested in viruses and hacking/phreaking... I hope they reads the mag and try to find the number. One important thing to remeber is: ASK AROUND! That's the best way to find the number to my board, because I don't advertise for it. Which groups have you been involved with? - Since this isn't my original handle and since I don't want to give out my real handle at this moment. I'm afraid I can't tell you all what groups I've been involved with. :-( How would you describe the underground scene today, comparing to one-two year(s) from now (mainly Swedish!)? - If you go back just one year, then your at the break up of hacking and phreaking in Sweden. But if you go back two years, then your at the beginning of the end of the Tormentor era. And right now there is a new era in virii and H/P in Sweden that is growing. So I'm not sure whether it was better in the earlier days when the scene was about to break up. Because then, atleast, no one knew it was breaking up! But I still think it is better now, since we're looking at a new great era in undergroundcomputing that is growing in Sweden right now. How would you describe the Swedish underground comparing to the American? - In the US everyone is let in a board. There are also ALOT of under- ground-boards. And some boards only allow H/P and some boards only allow viruses. That's the BIG differance between the US-scene and the Swe-scene. And also in Sweden the AV-guys think they are such hot-shots that they probably get a hard-on everytime they think they will caught a virus-board and gets able to report it to the police! Positive/negative aspects of the scene? - I guess it's pretty good. One negative thing is that I just can't let anyone on my board as I'd like to, just because of all the AV-guys. This also puts another negative aspect since I can't put up my board's number everywhere since that would draw the attention to the AV-guys! I can only say I hate them! Which virus group do you personally consider as the one who have pushed up the scene most? - I really don't know. I guess it's Phalcon/Skism or perhaps TridenT. But I really don't know since other groups like ARCV made alot of viruses. And also I don't think I'm the one to judge since I've missed alot of things when I'm not into programming viruses myself! What's your oppinion in using generators such as VCL, PS-MPC for making "own" viruses? - I guess it's a way for the non-programmers to make "their own viruses". Perhaps they are nice to look at and to show what you can do. But since there really isn't any differance between the viruses made with them I think they are pretty worthless. And using polymorphic engine's like to make viruses harder to get rid off? - That I think is better, much better than generators. Since engine's are not especially easy to include if you don't know how to program. And that's the key to the whole thing; If it's an easy thing to use and then it makes all those warez-guys to use it, and that's not good! How do you think a magazine should look in general? - I'm not sure really... since I haven't read any magazines lately I'm not sure what I like... But earlier I know I hated those graphical magazines. Text-magz where much better. But also if the user- interface is bad in the magazine. Then the texts gets bad too! And in such cases I think it's better with just plain textfiles! Why do you think it is important for groups to release a magazine - If they don't release files at all, then the people wont notice them, and whats the meaning to have a group if not to be noticed by someone, eh? And then we also have those who releases several hundred files in a short while. In such cases it might be better to gather them up in collections like magazines. So that people easy can get their hands on all the texts, and not only a couple of them. What do you think should be included in a magazine? - It all depends... It all depends whether it's a local magazine, for local buddies. In such cases, perhaps a couple of interviews with local dudes could be nice. But one thing to remember is, no replicating! I mean whats the use of replicationg stuff? Ofcourse, if it's a local magazine I guess replicating "hard-to-find" texts could be good... But never in the long run! Which magazine do you think is the best one available today? - I really don't know. But I know I like this mag, and I also like NuKE's Info-Journals... else I don't know really. Which magazine would you like to leave the scene? - I really don't know, since I haven't had the time to read lots of magz lately. But I really do HATE all the persons that think their hot-shots and starts a mag. And then releases ONE issue and then just dissaperes right away again! Are you considering yourself as "criminal" while doing stuff like VX, phreaking, etc? - Nope.. Why should I? I'm not doing anything wrong. I have my board mainly as an information-exchange... And hopefully my board wont go down because of that! Why do you run a Vx-bbs? - Why!? - Because I worship all those little creatures running around the world, infecting different computers! Also, if you're into writing viruses, or if you're just as dedicated as me, then, by all means! CALL MY BOARD and help me starting some new interesting virus- discussions! What do you think about board-crashing? - I can't say I love persons that are into board-crashing.. But sometimes it's the only thing to do to stop some PD-boards, or even worse.. AV-boards! How would you describe the (lame, greedy and corrupt!) AV-community? - Well... I don't know really... But I guess that GREED is a good word to use to describe them, although... not strong enough. But else, I really don't care about them! I just laugh at all the crap that Winterkvist and his fagget-friends keep telling the press. About the new laws coming up sometime (31/6-94???), what do you think about that? - I think it's weird and totally wrong! I mean, aren't you allowed to do what you want on your own computer?!? I consider programming as an art. And in such case aren't you allowed to paint whatever you like?! And how about the so-called 'freedom of speach' then? I can only say... SUCKERS!! Do you really think that the AV-persons would try to STOP the virus- programmers from writing viruses, even if that would result in them being unemployed"? - Nope.. more on the way of helping virus-writers with new ideas and such.. and also I wouldn't be surprised if swedish AV-guys would want to by new viruses, and I'm sure that several other AV-guys, like McAffee and perhaps Fridrik Skulauson, buys new viruses or virus- sources. How do you look at the future for the virus-community? - Hopefully the virusprogrammers will come up with a new and far better encryption, that would make todays scanners way to slow to use. I also hope that more people will become interested in virus-writing. Especially under new OS' like OS/2, NT and normal Windows. I also hope more people starts writing viruses under other OS' that are a little bit diffrent than DOS, like Unix or perhaps VMS. (Because it would be great to have a couple of viruses to use when you're out there hacking different companies!) Do you close your board if some twit (Winterkvist alike) writes "bad" articles, about you and your board? - Well, at this moment, I'm pretty sure I wont quit. But you never know what I will do if the press gets to much involved. Perhaps I will only change the phonenumber and go down to a more secure way of working (ie. locking out all the persons I don't know to well!) But I'm pretty sure I wont shut the board down! Which "meaning" do you think that the virus-groups has for the future in the virus-scene? - I think it's much better if a virusprogrammer is hooked up with a group instead of working at his own. Because if you're in a group you have others to discuss with and to exchange ideas with. Ofcourse you can always call up a Vx and discuss things with others. But that's not the same thing! Any hints for newcomer's to the scene? - Learn to program assembler! (Don't work with Pascal or such.. it's of no use!) Don't try acting a big shot using generators or by making viruses in C or PAS! Try checking out other virussources that's all the advices I can give You since I really isn't into virus-writing myself! ;-O (Much to lazy!) Which virus-group/programmer do you look up to and why? - I don't know really... I still remeber the little blunder some weeks ago... when I chatted with a TridenT member and asked, seriosly, if they were any good! Gee... I must have had a complete blackout then! (Because I already knew that they made TPE!) But, else I don't know whom to look up at.. but now that I've heard some more about the old- timers in ARCV, I guess I look up to them a little bit too! How is the best way to contact you? - By calling my board! That's the absolute best way to contact me. But you can always try to reach me through any Immortal Riot member I guess... Just tell 'em what you want and, hopefully, they will pass it through to me! ;-) Do you think it's sick and a bad idea to include interview's with our "associates" when you risk to be called a "terrorist". Member of IRA (Immortal Riot Associates)? - HAHA!... No, I don't think so. Although that Winterkvist and perhaps some other AV-guys would like to bust my ass I don't think I have anything to worry about. Something more you wanna say, but never had the opportunity to say before? - Naah! Don't think so.. My REAL thoughts aren't worth writing down in this little magazine! ;-) Want to send any greetings? - Well I guess I can send some... (in no particullary order:) Mr Magic - Man, You're great hope that You will stay cool and not party too much in the future even if You broke it with Your girl! Himzo - Hope You will keep Your job... So that I can continue to recieve new numbers and codes to diffrent companies! The Flash - I just wants to say: Thanks Man! For helping me out with my board! And, hopefully, it will work better now that I've got a new modem. The Unforgiven - Thanks for complaining so much at me! So I learn that I'm not GOD or something like that! ;-) The Knight of Darkness - Gee! I HATE that long name of Yours! ;-) I think I will start calling You: Knighty! or perhaps Darky! ;-) Well, I hope SDCNET will get better, and that more people start writing more letters! Also, a BIG greet to ALL the dudes in Immortal Riot. Thanks for a great mag! And perhaps, in the next issue, I will contribute with some stuff too!!! (And I can only hope that there will be a next issue!!!) And now a BIG question that goes out to all Scandinavians! Where are You!?! Aren't there *ANY* H/P/V-dudes in Finland for example... I know it's hard time calling out in Norway right now with all the busts BUT if You get the chance, try calling my board and let's see if we can join You guys in on SDCNET! SunDevilsNet - The Scandinavian NET! And also a word for virus-writers all over the world. Keep on writing viruses. And if You like too; please call my board and upload them!! (Now with a fully working modem and a brand new harddisk to fill!) And last, but not least... A BIG thanks too everyone out there that's helping me to piss off AT&T and other phonecompanies!