w00w00

   by dave920

   So I decided it was time to release HYPE : Issue 2. I sent notice to
   BME Online's mailing list that I was looking for another candidate to
   honor for their contributions, and sure enough I was contacted by an
   online friend (that I've actually met in person as well): xm of
   geekmafia. He suggested that I take a gander at w00w00.org, a web
   address that I had not even heard of before. Since I didn't even
   recognize it, I decided that I would follow his suggestion and see
   what w00w00 was all about.

   I was welcomely surprised. I learned that this organization was one of
   the largest of its type (which made me feel a bit inferior for not
   knowing about them before this). w00w00 is a compliation of many
   things, mainly focused on being a computer security forum, "where
   people could share technical information and become involved with some
   of the top people in the industry." I was immediately interested.
   w00w00 is a very relaxed organization and always expanding. It grew
   because there was nothing like it that preceded its existance. In the
   words of shok, which I agree with tremendously, "w00w00 is a freedom
   and not a restriction."

   I contacted shok with my request to have w00w00 be the cover for
   this issue of HYPE, and he agreed. The following is the interview that
   took place.

   dave920: What caused w00w00 to arise as an organization?

   w00w00: Well, it was not intentionally created. However, the reason
   that it succeeded, was the lack of technical security forums, where
   people could share technical information and become involved with some
   of the top people in the industry. w00w00 is serving as something of a
   Studio 54, where acceptance into the group is based on technical
   knowledge and not reputation. There are limitations to other forums
   such as Phrack, L0pht, and BugTraq. Phrack is a zine, not a forum.
   L0pht serves a similar purpose but has been "closed" to all but a
   small few. BugTraq is a moderated and fairly uninteractive email
   forum. w00w00 is the only one offering technical information on such a
   wide scale. All members have a very different background (different
   areas of knowledge, different countries, different languages, etc.).

   What was the original focus of w00w00, and how has that changed since
   its foundation?

   At first we tried to keep things very technical. Over time, it became
   relaxed and people published work when they felt like it. The group
   grew tremendously as a result of it. w00w00 is a loose association, in
   that people can continue to work where they do or affiliate with other
   groups. w00w00 is a freedom and not a restriction.

   How do you feel that your organization has benefitted the Internet
   community? In the same regards, how has w00w00 benefitted from it?

   We've offered a forum unparallel to any other for the security
   community. We've allowed all kinds of people to get together for a
   common cause (very similar to a security conference, but online and
   available 365 days a year). Without the Internet, w00w00 wouldn't be
   possible, as we're entirely Internet-based.

   What specific steps have you taken to further the advancement of
   w00w00?

   We intentionally went for diversity, so that each member could grow
   from the others. We've always allowed bright people to get involved,
   and we've had key involvements with other groups and companies to
   increase the commonwealth of the group and share resources.

   How has your understanding of the computer underground changed through
   the development of w00w00?

   Hmm, interesting question. I would say that it allows us to see the
   computer security community from both a corporate (many members work
   for large security firms) and a security group view, that large
   corporations don't have access to. It's allowed us to interact with
   both sides. As far as how its changed our understanding, I can't say
   it has. What I would say is that it brought the different
   understandings of different members and merged them into a common one.

   What would you say is the most significant accomplishment that w00w00
   has made?

   Growing into not only the world's largest non-profit security
   organization, but by far the most diverse in geographic distribution,
   ethnic distribution, and technical distribution.

   What do you plan for the future of your organization?

   Continue to share information, continue to publish or work, and
   continue to grow, grow, grow.