As I sit here working, and watching Hackers on the 30th anniversary of its release, I can’t help but feel nostalgic. I watch Hackers every year before DEFCON, and am always amused, that even though the visuals aren’t an accurate representation of hacking, the attacks themselves are. You see social engineering, OT hacking, reverse engineering, and more. It is fun to look back at a movie that shaped my career, and love of computers, the Internet and the chess game that is cyber security.
There is something about this movie that makes me feel young again. When Razor and Blade come on and talk about Jolt Cola, I can still taste it. When Jolt Cola came back a few years ago I grabbed a bit to experience the memories again (even though I don’t typically drink soda). I have the soundtrack as part of my Hacking playlist, and when “Connected” by Stereo MC’s comes on I can’t help but dance in my chair. There are so many great memories aligned to this film.
In cyber security, I always find it interesting to hear what inspired someone get into the field. If it was a friend that showed them what they were working on, a movie or tv show, a book or some other path in. I have always enjoyed technology, and was lucky enough to have it around as I got into my formative years. I was also lucky to work at a telco startup (and many startups after that), and be able to get in with the information technology team which gave me access to many tools and mentors that helped me along the way. The movie Hackers inspired me through out with the knowledge that we are a community, and after spending the weekend at a wedding of some of my hacker family it still holds true. We are stronger than I.
I even made a shirt for DEFCON this year to honor the movie and the Gibson, which is a reference to one of my favorite authors (and the inventor of the word cyberspace).
So on its 30th anniversary, I raise a glass (or a can of Jolt) to the movie that taught me to see the world not just as it is, but as it could be — a place where a handful of hackers can change everything. Hack the Planet!
Now to get some popcorn and enjoy the rest of this movie.
