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"... We accessed [an operator's] systems through their x25 network which they never knew was running because the network vendor never disclosed it -- it was just underlying technology ..."

Old school. X.25 allowed Julian Assange to attack NASA with the WANK worm via X.25

"... Tencati was sure he could show the WANK worm attack on NASA originated in France. But he also knew he had to document everything, to have exact answers to every question and counter-argument put forward by the French secret service agents at the FBI meeting. When he developed a timeline of attacks, he found that the GEMPAK machine showed X.25 network connection, via another system, from a French computer around the same time as the WANK worm attack. ..." ~ http://suelette.home.xs4all.nl/underground/justin/chapter_2....

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We accessed [an operator's] systems through their x25 network which they never knew was running

I remember a presentation on x25 security from not too long ago that articulated this very point: "Everybody “forgot” about their X.25 direct links":

http://dl.packetstormsecurity.net/hitb05/BT-Raoul-Chiesa-X25...

Personally I had thought all of the public x.25 networks like Sprintnet/Telenet, Datapac, etc. had been shut down at the beginning of the last decade. I'm guessing these must be private networks still running x.25. It would be interesting to hear from anyone not in the US or Canada if their x25 networks are still up - can you still dial into a PAD? Here in the US you used to be able to dial into a 1-800 number and login with phones/phones (or something like that) to get a directory of local dialups in your area which you could then call locally (so you wouldn't get hit with long distance charges).

I think I down-voted you by accident. I meant to upvote! Clumsy mouse movements. Great link.

"... I think I down-voted you by accident. I meant to upvote! ..."

don't worry about the karma. The book is good & I was reading it just before this film was shown locally: 'Underground: The Julian Assange Story' ~ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2357453/ set in Melbourne late 80's.

Yeah I'm in Australia too :). Melbourne. I saw "Underground" on TV and became bored very easily. I read two paragraphs of the text version that you linked and I was hooked! Makes me wish I was 20 years younger. I suppose we have our own movements now, but the physical computer bazaar's and the culture sound awesome.

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