3 April 2003
See related threats for posting this document elsewhere:
http://cryptome.org/threats/01-13-03complaint.pdfhttp://cryptome.org/threats/01-14-03AUPnotice.pdf
[AKA: Arthur Murphy, Ion Murphy, Captain Zap, Ravenswood,
IAM/Secure, IAM/Secure Data Systems,
IAM/SDS Secure Data Systems, Covenstead Farms, Ravenswood Farms, Brooms Crossing,
Continental
Telephone, ravensceo, raven, ravenceo, ravenceo1, ravensceo1, raven1, covenstead,
iamsecure,
iamsecuredata, iam, ianamurphy, ianmurphy, arthurmurphy, wajapoco, wajapococpu,
wajapocomputer,
and dozens of aliases]
In the 70's the Ian Murphy was active in, and repeatedly arrested for:
shoplifting, vandalism, and petty theft (mostly at Radio Shack), however;
his parents position in the community allowed them to protect him from
prosecution. In 1981 he was found guilty of felony fraud and theft. Simply
put, he was having high school students steal computer equipment for him.
He would them remove the serial numbers and "fence" or sell the stolen equipment.
He was eventually caught, convicted, and spent considerable time in prison
and/or on probation. Ian claims to have "been the first convicted hacker",
and the "first hacker ever convicted of a crime" (which is of course blatantly
false). His felony convictions had nothing to do with hacking, but instead
felony theft and felony fraud. He has repeatedly tried to capitalize on his
felony (and other) convictions. Since most people neglect to verify his claims
they take him at face value and falsely believe him to be some kind of hacker
or security expert.
Ian A. Murphy is nothing more than a middle aged convicted felon, con artist and petty thief with a long history of running scams. He has virtually no technical skills (which should be obvious), no formal education, no computer training, and no security training. He knows just enough computer lingo and jargon to baffle his audience (provided they lack a technical background). He claims to have been employed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as a member of a covert assassination team, and also claims to have been a Navy SEAL. Subject claims to have been taught information warfare by the National Security Agency (NSA). His tradecraft is very poor, and the official records indicate that his claims are totally false. Official government documents indicate that he was never an employee, nor a contractor. It should be mentioned that the subject has been committed to psychiatric facilities several times for "being delusional".
Official Navy documents indicate that the subject enlisted for duty on 6/27/74 in Philadelphia, PA. However, he never made it through boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Ian was thrown out after several weeks, and listed as "unsuitable for military service". Officially since he never graduated from Boot Camp the Navy never offered him any type of job. He was given an General Discharge (which is bad news), and was never given any awards or decorations. The Navy confiscated all uniforms, clothes, and equipment from him and literally tossed him out with only the clothes on his back, and a one way bus ticket home. Navy records indicated the he was a high school drop out with no technical training. Despite what Ian has repeatedly claimed, he was never a Navy SEAL, never a Green Beret, Ranger, Spec Ops, etc.
Ian has also claimed on numerous occasions, to multiple people, and on a printed resume he was passing around in 1996 that he is a retired Navy SEAL, that he is a CIA Agent, a covert operative, claims he was awarded two Congressional Medal of Honor, a Silver Star, numerous purple hearts, and so on. The only problem is that he was only in the Navy long enough for them to toss him out during the first two weeks of boot camp.
He knows how to pretend, is a fluent liar, and easily cons those victims who take him at face value. If the scam victim had performed even the slightest due diligence they would have found that the subject had used a bogus address and business name. The subject has a long history of computer and Internet fraud, and commonly sets up multiple bogus accounts with an ISP (often using a stolen credit card or check). He will then run up hundred of dollars in charges and never pay a penny on the account.
One of his favorite scams is to contact an attorney or private investigator, and engage them for some type of investigative or harassment project. Of course the victims never see a penny from the subject, and will usually just write it off as bad debt (even though it involves thousands of dollars). More often then not, he will go to an attorney and beg them to take his harassment case on a Pro Bono basis, if the attorney agrees to represent him they get a tough lesson on dealing with an out of control felon and mental patient and end up quickly dropping him as a client before they get officially sanctioned for misconduct or terrorized by Murphy when they refuse to break the law.
The victim will usually opt not to sue Ian or pursue criminal fraud charges as security people tend to be really upset when THEY are the con victim. If the victim tries to pursue the matter Ian will then attempt blackmail and will threaten to make public how easy it was to con them (which could be bad for the victims business).
Ian Murphy has a history of making terroristic threats including specific threats to sabotage and blow up a Nuclear Power Plant, and has a history of threatening and attempting arson. He has also threatened to kill federal law enforcement officers (FBI and Secret Service). Subject has made numerous bomb threats, and has made comments regarding his proficiency with and access to high explosives (stolen from a coal mine). Subject also has a history of making bomb, burglary, murder and arson threats.
The subject is fearful of the police, and of the judicial system (due to his numerous arrests, criminal convictions, and periods of being institutionalized). While he does exhibit tremendous "fear of the law" he also has a history of abusing law enforcement officials (who generally consider him a crank and crackpot). Many law enforcement agencies in the Philadelphia area and Tampa, Florida actually have special coffee mugs for him to use as he visits so often (usually complaining about Covert Conspiracies, UFO's, CIA Buggings, Alien Implants, Alien Abductions, or whatever else strikes his fancy that day).
He has a history of fabricating wild (and delusional) claims and accusations. Often he will threaten lawsuits, and legal action or will forge court document to try to scare a victims. His threats are those commonly used by career criminals. He is big on threats, but nothing actually happens.
Ian Murphy has a serious pathology which lends itself to violence (mostly against women and young girls), and has been arrested numerous time for assault and domestic violence. He has a long history of yelling and screaming (like a four year old) when he doesn't get his way, and will often resort to physical violence after one of his "screaming fits".
Ian A. Murphy also has a very extensive history of criminal telephone harassment, and typically calls several dozens times a day (often late at night, and in the early morning hours). He also likes to fax victims long multi-page raving threat and harassment letters. Over the years Ian Murphy has repeatedly harassed, threatened, slandered, libeled, and generally annoyed and stalked the author of this page. Ian has communicated multiple bomb threats, threats of murder, assassination threats, arson threats, and stalked the author. The tone of these communications has gone from insults and harassment to more recent threats involving cyber-stalking and threats clearly of a terroristic nature. On several previous occasions, he has called the authors office and late at night and launched into a screaming fit.
He has made many of these threats via direct email, via guestbook entries, and on his website. Ian Murphy has also repeatedly called the author with obscene and harassing calls laced with screaming threats and has stated things that any normal person would find disgusting. On several occasions Ian Murphy was stupid enough to leave these messages on voice mail when someone didn't answer the phone, he provided clean recordings of this criminal behavior (which are in the hands of police). Copies of these voice mails absolutely prove that Ian Murphy has been engaging in a long term course of harassment, and have been stalking the author of this page. When this is combined with the email messages, postings and so on a solid felony case can be made against Mr. Murphy.
During these threatening tirades he also took the time to send numerous similar email messages of an obscene and harassing nature (with much of the same verbiage as his phone calls), and visited the authors website signing the guestbook with similar obscene and harassing materials. The IP address he was using for the email and guestbook threats where traced to his girlfriends Earthlink account (in St. Pete Beach, Florida).
Several years back, when he was living in Plymouth, MA; Ian Murphy contacted the author and tried to gain employment. Even the most basic of interviews or meetings was refused as he obviously lying about his credentials and trying to defraud the author. Ian's resume was fully of absolute falsehoods, and his list of credentials was obviously bogus. When he was refused employment or even an interview, Ian initiated a series of harassing phone calls against the author and launched into numerous screaming tirades over the phone.
A few weeks later Mr. Murphy attempted a publicity stunt with the Boston Globe which back fired on him (re: U4EA and Boston Globe hoax covered further in this page), and when that failed he went on a stalking campaign against his landlord and actually tried to burn down her house (in Plymouth, MA). When he found out the Police Department in Plymouth, MA and the District Attorney wanted to talk to him about the arson attempt he committed himself to a psychiatric hospital. After the psychiatric hospital discharged him he again moved back into his elderly parents house in Philadelphia, and when they tossed him out eventually moved in with another girlfriend in Upper Darby, PA.
A short time later Ian Murphy was arrested (in pink bunny ears no less) on an outstanding bench warrant for jumping probation and fleeing to another state (on a second felony). The author later found out that Ian had jumped probation, moved to Mass., and was trying get the author to hire Ian while he was actually a fugitive from justice (and a twice convicted career felon). Ian Murphy blamed the author of this page for "ruining his life" when he refused to hire him, which caused him to have a mental breakdown, caused him to get evicted, got him sued, and in turn forced him to move back to Philadelphia and get picked up on the outstanding arrest warrants.
When Ian got out of prison (for jumping probation) he started a harassment campaign against the author via the Internet, and committed a variety of criminal deeds including sending bomb threats and threats of murder. According to his ex-girlfriend (who he beat up) at one point Ian actually tried to hire a hit man to kill the author, but had problems getting together enough money.
On a related matter, during the Fall of 1997 Ian Murphy stole a number of copyrighted graphics and text from this authors website, and blatantly copied them to his own site. Not realizing that the site was his (it was under an alias), the author sent the site owner and ISP a series of email politely requesting removal of the offending materials (which where ignored). After several weeks the author contacted the ISP where the files were hosted, and proved to them that the materials being used constituted a criminal violation. They investigated, agreed, and promptly deleted the materials in question, and further discovered they were hosted on a fraudulent account which they shutdown. Mr. Murphy then cranked up another round of series of obscene phone calls, and harassing e-mail/messages which where all traced to him using aliases. In turn this resulted in him be bounced off dozens of ISPs (where he had set up fraudulent accounts).
He has clearly violated both FSA 784.048-2, and FSA 784-836.10. He has also violated FSA 365.16, and along the way committed numerous misdemeanors, several second-degree felonies, and at least one third-degree felony. As he has already been convicted twice of felonies this would represent his third round of felony convictions. As it applies to FSA, 784 he has clearly harassed the author and exhibited a long term course of conduct while in Florida. He has exhibited a credible threat, and he has placed the author in reasonable fear of death or bodily injury. Also, he has both composed and sent threats to kill the author or do bodily injury.
As it applies to FSA 365.16 Ian A. Murphy has clearly placed telephone calls from Florida that any a normal person would find lewd, disgusting, obscene, filthy, vulgar, etc. Since there were multiple phone calls he clearly violated the law with the clear intent to harass, annoy, threaten, and terrorize (in both Florida and Mass.). Also, Mass General Law c. 269 s 14A was clearly violated as he made three or more calls, his language was both indecent and obscene, and his contact was clearly to harasses and molest.
We have collected thousands of pages of records on the subject and his associates.
These records consist of court documents, interviews, criminal complaints, civil complaints, restraining orders, psychiatric commitment records, incident reports, arrest documents, bench warrants, parole applications, birth certificates, probation records, military records and hundreds of pages of related documents. What follows is a very small fraction of what we have indexed to date.
We have had numerous requests for the "1981" documents, low resolution versions have now been placed on-line for fast browser loading and direct downloading. Please Email if you would like high resolution versions of the documents provided to you. This is only a partial list of legal, police, and court documents regarding the subject, and it is by no means inclusive. Please contact us if you need any further information.
Ian is currently living in Florida in the Tampa area, and is believed to be once again involved with Winn Shwautau and his various business activities. His current occupation is that of a baby sitter minding an 11 year old child in exchange for his rent.
When Ian initially sets up a new Internet account he typically tells the new ISP that he is a "computer security expert" and that cyber-terrorists have been stalking him. He will then launch into long paranoid rants and raving diatribes about how people are spoofing his IP address and how "they" keep getting him into trouble with the authorities. The subject will usually "lay low" for a few weeks with the new ISP, but after a short time he will be up to mischief again (usually when he's off his psychiatric medications). The subject will then start sending out bomb threats, threats of grave bodily harm, and will threaten to crash and hack into a victims computers.
One of his favorite games is to forge Email headers and to sent out third party threat letters. However, since his computer and technical skills are very poor it is very easy to trace the headers back to his accounts. Often these messages are sent under a false name, but the end result is that Ian Murphy will approach the victim (he has been harassing under an alias) and offer to "catch the person terrorizing them for a small fee". Eventually he engages in so much mischief (or doesn't pay his bill) that his ISP cancels his account. The subject will then call the customer support line (usually late at night) and try to "social engineer" the technical staff to get his account re-activated.
Ian A. Murphy also has a history of "Social Engineering" other people accounts, and more than a few times has set up a bogus account using this method. He also has a history of calling an ISP and conning them into modifying someone elses account, and "pretexting" them to illegally obtain confidential information about the account holder (usually billing and credit card information). He often falsely claims to be the victim of electronic harassment, which he will of course be unable to prove or provide any specific details regarding his claims. More than a few times he has called an ISP and claimed to be an FBI or Secret Service agent and demanded that they provide him with confidential user information.
He loves to claim that tormenters are engaging in "Information Warfare" against him, and will claim "they" are doing this (whoever "they" are) because he is a computer security expert. Of course when he is asked to provide specific evidence of this activity none is produced. One thing to keep in mind is that Ian Murphy has been clinically diagnosed as being severely delusional, and has been classified as have a "stalker obsession". There have been multiple restraining orders issued against him, and has been arrested numerous times for assault, domestic abuse, stalking, etc.
Ian has very poor technical skills, and has humiliated himself more then a few times when a customer (or reporter) asked him a simple technical question that he was unable to answer. While he claims to be a computer expert his computer skills are so poor that he lacks the basic ability to install PC cards, initialize a hard drive, or to perform simple repairs or technical support. Ian often hauls his entire CPU down to his local computer store and begs them to fix his computer. These stores have indicated that they consider him a real joke, and refuse to help him unless he pays cash-in-advance for all work. His most common technical problems are virus infection, and file structure corruption.
Recently, the subject was evicted by his landlord for nonpayment of rent and for stealing and illegally using the landlords credit cards (and other things). During the eviction the subjects computer was "lost" for several months (something about money he owned the landlord for phone bills). By the time the subject "found" his computer (after the phone bills were paid) someone had gained access to the CPU and copied all of the hard drive contents (and installed sniffer software).
Subject has recently used the following fraudulent company names:
According to the government agencies the businesses either never existed, or were shutdown by the State Attorney Generals office due to fraud. None of the above companies actually exist at this time, and are/were a complete figment his imagination. Of course the he likes to talk about his "world wide divisions of corporations", and his "fine family of companies", but remember that he has a long history of being delusional and of psychiatric commitment and treatment.
In an attempt of obtain pity, subject often scams victims with stories that he suffers from various types of terminal medical problems (ie: Brain Tumor, Heart Attack, Cancer Spleen, Throat Cancer, Hemorrhoids, Prostate Cancer, Rectal Problems, Lung Cancer, etc.). When his claims of physical problems fail to gain him pity he tells stories about how he was sexually molested in boarding school or by his older brother, or father, priest, janitor, etc...
1981 Third Degree Felony Conviction for Theft
Montgomery County Criminal Justice System (PA)
There is no mention of any computer hacking in any of these cases. The only mention of anything remotely related to computers was petty theft (he had children steal for him). There is no indication of hacking, phone phreaking, or any type of computer break-in activity as claimed by the subject, just stealing, fraud, and theft.
Court documents indicate that Ian was an "Unskilled, and Unemployed Air Conditioning Installer" (not a computer expert) at the time of his 1981 arrest, and that while on probation he was either unemployed, working as a taxi driver, or working for a vending machine company (filling candy and coke machines). His formal education is limited to the first few years of high school (he was kicked out early).
Ian's "career as a master hacker" was fabricated in 1986 after he and his unemployed wife decided to form some type of business. Ian had reportedly been "unable to keep a real job." His wife had been a public relations specialist, and she helped him to capitalize on his (ignominious) 1981 conviction. Due to this heavy public relations campaign by his wife, Ian was able to obtain "exaggerated" magazine and newspaper interviews.
Mrs. Murphy has since publicly renounced Ian and has worked to expose him as a con artist and thief "...who has never done an honest thing in his life".
In any event; apparently, none of the reporters verified what Ian and his wife had told them, and the (dubious) "legend" was hit upon. A number of reporters were strongly rebuked by their editors for not verifying their stories before running the articles.
However, we have verified everything, and have thousands of pages of documents...
As you can see by reading this Bill of Information, Ian Murphy was never charged with any type of computer and phone phreaker crimes. Instead, he was charged with theft, period.
Synopsis:
Subject (Ian A. Murphy) and his associates created a series of fictional companies and set up mail drops under a variety of false names. The subject then issued bogus purchase orders for goods and services under the names of the fake companies using the mail drop addresses. He and his associates contacted Dun and Bradstreet and "social engineered" a decent credit file with fraudulent documents.
These ordered materials were then delivered to the mail drop address. Materials were picked up by juvenile high school students and delivered to the subject. Subject then removed the external serial numbers, and then transferred the goods to his associates in exchange for other stolen goods, services, drugs, etc. Purchase orders, identification documents, business cards, letterhead, and other bogus corporate documents were forged in furtherance of the frauds.
Court documents indicate that the subject is a petty thief, forger, fence, liar, and con artist (not a hacker or phone phreaker). There is no mention in any of these court documents of any type of computer hacking activities or phone phreaking activities (only theft of computer equipment and supplies).
Ian Murphy utilized a variety of false name including "John Livingston". He also utilized a series of fake company names including "Continental Telephone Company".
Ian has bragged (to reporters) that he and his associates were able to steal over $412,000 dollars in merchandise (court records indicate it was more like $87,500).
Docket - Transcript B876615-5
Criminal Complaint B876615-5
This criminal complaint only mentions theft, not computer crime, and most certainly nothing about hacking into the White House, Ma Bell, tweaking of phone company billing records, or anything else.
Bill of Cost/Fines
December 1992 - Arrest for Falsification, Felony Forgery, and other
charges
Montgomery County Criminal Justice System (PA)
Police Report
Incident Report
Arrest Record
Criminal Complaint 863-93
Transcript 863-93
Bills of Information
Docket - Transcript 863-93
Guilty Plea 863-93
Suspension of Drivers License
Incarceration Record
Parole Violation (03/21/94)
Bench Warrant (03/21/94)
Parole Violation (08/05/94)
Bench Warrant (08/05/94)
Parole Violation (11/07/94)
Bench Warrant (11/07/94)
Arrest Record (11/07/94)
Bail Record (11/07/94)
Parole Violation (02/12/96)
Bench Warrant (02/12/96)
Parole Violation (03/26/96)
Bench Warrant (03/26/96)
Arrest Record (11/07/96)
Bail Record (12/03/96)
Probation Record
April 94 - Vehicle Theft, Drunk Driving, Driving on a Suspended License,
Montgomery County Criminal Justice System (PA)
Police Report
Arrest Record
Bills of Information
Waiver of Arraignment
Docket - Transcript 02416-94
Criminal Complaint 02416-94
Guilty Plea 02416-94
Revocation of Drivers License
Parole Violation (11/06/95)
Bench Warrant (11/06/95)
Parole Violation (5/13/96)
Bench Warrant (5/13/96)
Arrest Record (11/07/96)
Incarceration Record
Application for Parole
Bail Record (12/03/96)
Probation Record
Spring 1996 - Arson, Commitment, Restraining Order
Plymouth, MA
Incident Report - Attempted Arson(4/26/96) (Plymouth Fire Department)
Involuntary Psychiatric Commitment (4/26/96) - Dr. Felman
Incident Report (5/10/96) (Plymouth Police Department)
Incident Report (5/13/96) (Marshfield Police Department)
Criminal Complaint - 123397 - (5/13/96)
Petition for Abuse Prevention (5/15/96) (Docket# 96-59RO210)
Application for Emergency Restraining Order (Docket# 96-59RO210)
Ex parte Temporary Emergency Restraining Order (5/15/96)
Affidavit (5/15/96)
Affidavit (5/16/96)
Return of Service of TRO (5/16/96) (Docket# 96-59RO210)
Notice of Appearance (5/16/96) (Docket# 96-59RO210)
Motion for Short order of notice (5/16/96) (Docket# 96-59RO210)
Motion to Vacate (5/16/96) (Docket# 96-59RO210)
Hearing (5/20/96) (Docket# 96-59RO210)
Grant of Restraining Order (Docket# 96-59RO210)
Affidavit (5/20/96)
Criminal Complaint - 9654CR4307 - (5/20/96)
Arrest Warrant - Ian Murphy - 9654CR4307 - (5/20/96)
June 1997 - Commitment Proceedings
302 Psychiatric Commitment Proceedings
November 1997 - Felony Theft and Larceny
Upper Darby, PA
Incident Report
December 1997 - Arrest for Assault and Battery
Upper Darby, PA
Just before Christmas 1997 Ian and his landlord/girlfriend had a serious confrontation. She told him to get out, and he responded by grabbing her (and seriously hurting her).
A little while later things got a lot uglier. Ian "beat himself up, threw himself into the wall several times, and then nose dived down a stairway" he then called the police screaming, begging, and crying that his girlfriend was beating him again.
Incident Report/Affidavit
Arrest Record (Docket# 116-97)
Bills of Information (Docket# 116-97)
Report of Criminal Judicial Proceedings (Docket# 116-97)
Docket - Transcript (Docket# 116-97)
Restraining Order (Assault and Battery, Threats, Continued Harassment
January 1998 -
Upper Darby, PA
Restraining Order (to retrieve "50,000 dollars worth of computer equipment")
Order of Eviction
Service of Eviction
January 1998 - Forgery, Making Bomb Threats, Terroristic
Threatening
Philadelphia, PA
Police Report
Basically, Ian got all frisky, called someone on the phone and sent them a series of emails that he was going to blow up their home and vehicles with a pipe bomb. The Philadelphia Police went out to visit him a few minutes later, and he confessed to making the calls, but claimed to be mentally ill, etc...
March 1998 - Credit Card Fraud
Philadelphia, PA
Friday evening, on May 1, 1998 Ian Murphy used a stolen credit card to set up a fraudulent ISP account on America Online (his "disposable account"), and a second at netreach.net (a Philadelphia ISP) under an alias of "Floyd Murray."
He then used this ISP account to send a series of threatening, harassing, and obscene messages. When his ISP realized that the account had been set up on a fraudulent credit card they contacted the bank, who shut down the credit card and contacted the owner. When the bank reviewed the other credit cards, their customer had with them they found a pattern of activity suggesting several stolen cards were in use.
The bank finally was able to talk to the owner by the name of Daniel Ingster. Mr. Ingster stated that he was unaware of the use of his cards, and that he had not authorized any of the suspect activity on his accounts. He further advised that he had recently taken in a homeless "close friend" by the name of Ian Murphy, and that Ian was known to him to be a convicted felon with a history of fraud.
The bank then filed a complaint for Credit Card Fraud with both the Philadelphia Police Department, and the United States Secret Service. Daniel Ingster declined to pursue criminal charges against Ian as Ian had promised to pay back the money. On the other hand, after the incident Mr. Ingster tossed Ian out of his house in a matter of hours, and then the next day tossed all of Ian's possession into a truck, drove the truck to Ian's parents house and dumped it in a pile on their lawn (Ian was livid).
The staff at netreach.net (a Philadelphia ISP) was actually told by Ian that "A ring of international cyber-terrorists has been stalking him for over a year, and has been terrorizing victims, hacking computers, and blaming it all on Ian." The ISP stated that Ian s voice actually cracked and was quivering when he was telling the ISP about it. The ISP further stated that they did not believe Ian as their logs of his online behavior prove that he had committed the misdeeds, and provided hard proof that he was lying, committing fraud, and engaging in criminal behavior. When the detailed logs at his ISP were compared to dozens of messages Ian had sent to victims; there was a 100% match and absolute proof of what he was doing. Many of the messages which Ian sent to victims contained threats of murder, threats of arson, and threats of stalking and of a terroristic nature.
These are a few of the user names he used during this time frame:
After this Ian moved in with friends (this time in Ardmoore), but even they tossed him out eventually. His "deal" as it were was that he had to leave there once he is finished doing a web page for he people he was staying with, but they tossed him out early.
More Bogus Press Releases
(September 18, 2000 - Oldsmar, Florida)
Ian would eventually move to Saint Petersburg, FL to live with Betty O'Hearn, and later to live with his new girlfriend Pamela Jo Braukman in Oldsmar, Florida. In early Fall 2000 ian would set up another fraudulent newswire account using the alias of "Thomas Dee", and on September 18, 2000 he posted a puff piece to pump up his own ego. Ian would later threaten suicide and endlessly whine about his love life on his AOL page (see elsewhere on this dossier).
Press Release
"Captain Zap" Announces New Internet Security Initiative
OLDSMAR, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 2000--Ian A. Murphy (a.k.a. ``Captain Zap''), a former professional hacker and founder of IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc., announces an initiative to educate the general public in Internet security threats and provide products for protection.
Mr. Murphy stated, ``There is no real Internet security or control. The public is grossly out of touch and patently ignorant about Internet security issues that affect them each and everyday. The threat to individual privacy has reached unprecedented levels. Our new initiative is twofold: first; educate the public and second; provide them with the tools to protect their privacy.''
According to Mr. Murphy, educational programs termed Computers And Responsible Ethics (C.A.R.E.), are designed for a number of groups including: schools aged (K-12); large and small businesses; seniors; and adult Internet users. Captain Zap approved security tools, in the form of computer software and hardware, will be sold through a web site that will be announced soon.
Mr. Murphy will draw upon his extensive network security experience in developing and marketing a uniquely sophisticated line of products for the Internet user. Mr. Murphy expanded, ``We believe a limited number of products available today offer only a limited degree of protection from viruses and hackers.
The truth of the matter is that an individual's computer is protected from viruses that have been found, assuming your virus protection software is updated; it does not protect you from future viruses, at least to my present knowledge.
Also, the advent of cable modems and broadband technologies has opened up all kinds of really scary intrusion threats to those users.'' Currently, IAM Secure Data Systems is testing and evaluating various software/hardware programs for performance against threats. Product testing results are expected to be completed in six to eight weeks.
IAM Secure Data Systems, formed in 1982, specializes in computer security analysis, threat detection, countermeasures, and surveillance. IAM Secure Data Systems clients include U.S. Government, Department of Defense, major airlines, banking, telecommunications, and software engineering firms.
Ian Murphy gained national recognition in 1982 when he was convicted of being America's first computer hacker. Mr. Murphy was responsible for tapping into the AT&T mainframe computers and changing the clocks so phone customers would receive the lowest available rates. The movie Sneakers, starring Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd, and Sidney Poitier is said to be based on the activities of ``Captain Zap.''
Murphy has made multiple appearances on Nightline, 60 minutes, Good Morning America, Eye on America, and CBS This Morning. Murphy is regularly contacted for his unique commentary by such industry journals as Information Week, Computer World, Investor Business Daily, and others. He has been profiled in the Wall Street Journal, Omni, People and other leading magazine and newspapers. His published papers include the bellwether paper on ``Classified ''Tempest`` Eavesdropping Techniques - Who's Listening?'' and the ground breaking electronic surveillance expose ``E.D.I.T.: The Radio Shack Reality!''
IAM Secure Data Systems is located in Oldsmar, Florida. The company develops computer and facility security services worldwide. For additional information on IAM Secure Data Systems call 727-772-xxxx.
Contact:
IAM Secure Data Systems, Oldsmar
Thomas Dee, 727/772-xxxx
Note: During this time Ian was actually located at:
Scamming the Tampa Tribune #1
http://www.s2f.com/fistick/zap.html
The Tampa Tribune got scammed by Ian in 1999, right after he moved from Philadelphia, PA to Tampa, FL. He then went on to leverage this initial media coverage into similar puff pieces that also ran in the Tampa Tribune over the next few years.
Murphy now runs a legitimate business, IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc., which helps corporations guard against hackers.
Michelle Delio and Wired gets scammed... again
http://wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,41630,00.html
The Greatest Hacks of All Time
by Michelle Delio
02:00 AM Feb. 06, 2001 PT
Captain Zap: Ian Murphy, known to his friends as Captain Zap, was the first cracker to be tried and convicted as a felon.
Murphy broke into AT&T's computers in 1981 and changed the internal clocks that metered billing rates. People were getting late-night discount rates when they called at midday. Of course, the bargain-seekers who waited until midnight to call long distance were hit with high bills.
Murphy, now the chairman of IAM/Secure Data System, was the inspiration for the movie "Sneakers."
[Ian Murphy (AKA: Captain Zap) is nothing more then an unemployed psychiatric patient with no technical skills, and no credentials. Mr. Murphy has a really long history of being delusion, and of pulling similar hoaxes dating back over 20 years.]
[He has been banned from every Major Internet service provider in Philadelphia due to fraud. AT&T, GTE, and MCI all have extensive fraud files on him (he runs up a big bill and then "skips"). Mr. Murphy is nothing more than a middle aged petty thief and con artist who has spent the majority of his adult life either in prison or on probation.]
[Ian has always been considered a major embarrassment to his family members, his parents have effectively disowned him. They're Philly blue blood with the money coming to them via the grandfathers estate (Murphy Steamship Lines). When Ian get really hard up (every few years) his parents let him move in with him, but more recently they have forced him to live on the street (after he violently attacked his 80 year old mother).]
[Ian is a Public Relations monster (his ex-wife worked at a PR firm in Philly). He knows how to twist the media, and how to lie to reporters. He seeks the limelight and craves the attention of others, he loves to talk to reporters, police, secret service agents, etc... It doesn't matter to him who he is talking to so long as they "bow down and worship him" as some type of deity of security expert.]
[Mr. Murphy is a career criminal, thief, and con artist.... and Wired magazine would appear to be one of his latest victims.]
[snip]
The 1987 Wall Street Journal Hoax
11/03/1987
The Wall Street Journal
PHILADELPHIA -- It is almost 2 a.m., and the room is dark but for the phosphorous glow of the computer screen that illuminates the cherubic face of Capt. Zap. He taps the keyboard in his lap and searches for "hackers" who break into computer systems for fun or malice.
"We got one," Capt. Zap says. He starts an on-screen dialogue with the hacker and asks for phone numbers to corporate data bases that might be fun to hack into. The hacker advises that the best place to look tonight is the "Holiday Inn," a secret electronic bulletin board that lists such numbers. The captain heads thataway.
Capt. Zap, actually Ian A. Murphy, is well-known as one of the first convicted computer-hacker thieves. He has since reformed -- he swears it -- and has been resurrected as a consultant, working the other side of the bulletin boards and the right side of the law. His detractors doubt it.
Other consultants, many of them graying military veterans, try to flush out illicit hackers. But few boast the distinction of being a real hacker -- and one with a felony among his credentials. Capt. Zap is more comfortable at the screen than in a conversation. Asked to name his closest friend, he shakes his head and throws up his hands. He has none. "I don't like people," he says. "They're dreadful."
"He's legendary in the hacking world and has access to what's going on. That's a very valuable commodity to us," says Robert P. Campbell of Advanced Information Management in Woodbridge, Va., Mr. Murphy's mentor, who has hired him for consulting jobs.
The 30-year-old Mr. Murphy is well-connected into his nocturnal netherworld. Every night till 4 a.m., he walks a beat through some of the hundreds of electronic bulletin boards where hackers swap tales and techniques of computer break-ins. They trade passwords. They debate the fine points of stealing long-distance calls. They give tutorials: "Feds: How to Find and Eliminate Them."
It is very busy these nights. On the Stonehenge bulletin board, "The Marauder" has put up a phone number for Citibank's checking and credit-card records, advising, "Give it a call." On another board, Mr. Murphy finds a primer for rookie "hacklings," written by "The Knights of Shadow." On yet another, he sifts out network codes for the Defense Department's research agency.
He watches the boards for clients and warns when a system is under attack. For a fee of $800 a day and up, his firm, IAM/Secure Data Systems Inc., will test the security of a data base by trying to break in, investigate how the security was breached, eavesdrop on anyone you want, and do anything else that strikes his fancy as nerd vs. spy.
He says his clients have included Monsanto Co., United Airlines, General Foods Corp. and Peat Marwick. Some probably don't know he worked for them. His felony rap -- not to mention his caustic style -- forces him to work often under a more established consultant. "Ian hasn't grown up yet, but he's a technically brilliant kid," says Lindsey L. Baird, an Army veteran whose firm, Info-Systems Safeguards in Morristown, N.J., has hired Capt. Zap.
Mr. Murphy blames corporate "stupidity" and laziness for the hacker problem. He says companies aren't alarmed enough over the lapses, and he blares the blunt message on "Good Morning America," at industry seminars and in technical papers.
His kinds of services are much in demand these days, even if his blunt criticisms aren't. Computer break-ins cost companies millions of dollars each year in corporate espionage, fraud and hassle. The accounting firm Ernst & Whinney puts computer-fraud losses at more than $3 billion a year.
Other experts say any figures are bogus because most thefts of data, software and such things as credit-card information aren't reported. Companies don't like admitting they were outfoxed by techies barely old enough to vote.
Lots of hackers have been busy lately. Agents recently busted "Shadow Hawk," 17-year-old Herbert Zinn of Chicago. He hacked into American Telephone & Telegraph Co. systems and allegedly heisted software worth $1 million by "downloading" it to a home computer.
This summer, hackers in West Germany tapped into the U.S. space agency's European computer network, peeking at files on booster rockets and shuttle contracts. One of them changed a variable in a scientist's equation from pi (3.14159265) to 7, ruining two months of research.
Capt. Zap views this underworld from a frighteningly cluttered apartment on the city's ragged north side. Short and pudgy, he hovers at the screen surrounded by an electronic arsenal: closed-circuit video, printer, police radio, TV, eavesdropping gear, auto-dialer, shortwave radio, oscilloscopes and other gizmos.
"He's in control, it's his little world," says his wife, Carole Adrienne, who uses her psychology training to analyze the hacker mind-set. The place is so messy she refuses to live there. When they were first separated, Mr. Murphy admits he spied on her. "I'm an extremely jealous man," he says, "and I have the technology to stop any man." Says she: "You never know when the surveillance ends."
Mr. Murphy's electronic voyeurism started early. At age 14, he would sneak into the back yard to tap into the phone-switch box and listen to neighbors' calls. (He still eavesdrops now and then.) He quit high school at age 17. By 19 he was impersonating a student and sneaking into the computing center at Temple University to play computer games.
From there it was an easy transition to Capt. Zap's role of breaking in and peeking at academic records, credit ratings, a Pentagon list of the sites of missiles aimed at the U.S., and other verboten verbiage. He even left his resume inside Bell of Pennsylvania's computer, asking for a job.
The electronic tinkering got him into trouble in 1981. Federal agents swarmed around his parents' home in the wealthy suburb of Gladwyne, Pa. They seized a computer and left an arrest warrant. Capt. Zap was in a ring of eight hackers who ran up $212,000 in long-distance calls by using a "blue box" that mimics phone-company gear. They also ordered $200,000 in hardware by charging it to stolen credit-card numbers and using false mail drops and bogus purchase orders. Mr. Murphy was the leader because "I had the most contempt" for authority, he says.
In 1982, he pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods and was sentenced to 1,000 hours of community service and 2 1/2 years of probation. "It wasn't illegal. It was electronically unethical," he says, unrepentant. "Do you know anyone who likes the phone company? Who would have a problem with ripping them off?"
Mr. Murphy, who had installed commercial air conditioning in an earlier job, was unable to find work after his arrest and conviction. So the hacker became a hack. One day in his cab he picked up a Dun & Bradstreet Corp. manager while he was carrying a printout of hacker instructions for tapping into Dun's systems. Thus, he solicited his first consulting assignment: "I think you need to talk to me." He got the job.
Now Mr. Murphy treads a thin line between the hackers he reveres and the corporate clients he reviles. The line is so thin that critics doubt that his reformation is real. "Ian is a nice guy, I like him. I just don't trust his ethics. I think he's still on both sides of the law," says Carl Jackson, a security executive at Ford Motor Co.
Some say Mr. Murphy is more loyal to hackers than clients. He claims to employ the nation's top 10 hackers to break into client computers. This gives executives the jitters. Once hackers find a way in, while getting paid to do it, what is to stop them from breaking in again later on? Mr. Murphy won't disclose who is behind a break-in and won't help catch the culprit. He even advises hackers how to detect bugging by the feds. "I am not a bounty hunter," he says.
As a consultant, Mr. Murphy gets to do, legally, the shenanigans that got him into trouble in the first place. "When I was a kid, hacking was fun. Now I can make money at it and still have a lot of fun." He loves "tiger teaming," testing a client's security by breaking into his computer by any means necessary.
In tiger teaming, Mr. Murphy has even crawled through garbage bins in search of carelessly discarded passwords. (To demonstrate this on a moonlit walk at 3 o'clock one morning, he rips open a dozen trash bags outside an office building and exposes reams of papers.) Wearing a yellow slicker labeled "Bell of Pennsylvania," he bluffed his way into an insurance office posing as a repairman. Once inside, he made a beeline for the computer room. The inspiration for such capers? Old reruns of "Mission: Impossible," he says.
Some clients get queasy over his methods. Mr. Murphy had a row with Peat Marwick when one official balked at his criminal record and how he tiger-teamed the insurance office. Mr. Murphy says the accounting firm at first wouldn't pay him $24,000 he was owed, but it relented. Gary G. Goehringer, a Peat Marwick manager, confirms he hired Mr. Murphy for two jobs and stresses he was under close supervision at all times.
Now Ian Murphy looks to his next job. A Chicago company in a patent-infringement dispute suspects that a rival stole secrets by hacking into its computer system. Mr. Murphy may tiger-team the client's system to see whether getting in is doable. Better yet, he may break into the rival's computers to see whether the client's data are stored inside. He must check the legalities, or lack of them, for doing this.
Capt. Zap can barely wait.
Ian Gets Bitch-Slapped at the "Computer
Technology Showcase" in Tampa, Florida
On Thursday, October 18, 2001 there was an huge ugly fiasco when Ian Murphy got flat out busted in the middle of a presentation on security at a computer security conference in the Tampa, Florida. It seems that the "Computer Technology Showcase" had a show in Tampa on the 17th and 18th ( http://www.techshows.com/tampa/tampa.html ), and that several of the seminars at the show was given by "Tech Street Training Solutions" ( http://www.techstreettraining.com/ ), who in turn presented Ian Murphy (AKA: Captain Zap) as their computer security guru.
Ian went on a rant about how special he was, about how he could bring down the entire national infrastructure, bragging about his elite skills, etc, etc, etc... He then went on to give a PowerPoint presentation laced with porn and nudity, Most of his presentation was material concerning RIAA posted on SlashDot three days prior.
He kept talking around security without actually discussing techniques and relied almost exclusively on nebulous phrases and non-specific methods. Ian kept picking on people in the session berating them for being stupid, and kept slamming "the stupid women" in the room.
During the presentation one of the attendees had quite enough and publicly called Ian out on some specific technical issues, challenged his "hacker" claims, exposed him as nothing more then a con-artist, and completely humiliate him. Ian responded by going in to a screaming rant. As a result the conference organizers and his sponsor had to evict him from the conference (after they interrupted his presentation and screaming mid-way though).
It is a perfect example of what happens when a consulting firm brings in a con artist and their expert is publicly exposed as a fraud. "Tech Street Training Solutions" was in major damage control mode, and was devastated when they found out they had been victims of a con (which serves them right).
After he was tossed out of the show he started harass and terrorize the people who exposed him. He kept calling people in the company, launching in a screaming fit, then when he runs out of breath and starts sputter he hangs up, regains his composer, calls back, launches, and the cycle repeats itself. This is the same cycle that he has practiced dozens of times on numerous other victims.
Two of Ian's groupies (Betty O'Hearn and Linda Becnel) were following him around at the conference and ran to his defense. At least one of them flipped out when they heard about Ian getting thrown out of the conference, and contacted the show organizers throwing a fit, attempting to negotiate some way for him to get back in.
Ian then started a fax and phone barrage of his typical "legions of fine lawyers" comedy act against the show organizers, and the person who called him out during the show, and his employer. Ian called, Ian yelled, Ian screamed, Ian sent a barrage of e-mails, then a barrage of fax... and yet everybody laughed at him... and then Ian cried.
Physical Profile of Ian A. Murphy
Ian A. Murphy is about 5' 3" - 5' 4", a lot shorter than average, and is about 190-210 (short and really fat). No muscle whatsoever, a complete "flabmeister". He has recently grown a beard in an attempt to modify his physical appearance. He can appear "angelic, cherubic, cute and appealing", that is what often fools the victims he cons.
Hair is longish, and is very light brown/dirty blonde, but he likes to "go full blonde" when he gets into trouble, Normally worn in a short pony tail. he has a serious problem with soap or shampoo, and commonly has dirty greasy hair and reaks of body odor as a result. Occasionally subject wears reading glasses, but only because they make him look "sophisticated and important". Subject does NOT look his age of 46 (DOB: 01/25/57).
Ian has a history of cocaine and other drug usage, his pupils are often totally dilated, even in full sunlight. He currently using anti psychotic drugs, and antidepressants, and tells people that these are is his heart medication. He claims to have had 4-5 heart attacks (which is a falsehood); in each case he was committed to a psychiatric institution for cocaine induced psychosis, attempting suicide, depression, being "delusional", etc... Several of his associates have witnessed him purchasing, selling, and consuming large amounts of cocaine (and other drugs), and has been admitted to the hospital several times for overdose problems.
Subject has a very high potential for suicide, and has a history of self inflicted injury (he then claims that someone beat him up, and then tries to have them arrested). Subject like to burn himself with scalding liquids, and/or "throw himself" to cause injuries (he usually jumps out a window, "flies" down a flight of stairs, or rams his head into a wall).
Subject also has a long history of being involuntary committed to psychiatric institutions, and mental health facilities. His cognitive functions have radically deteriorated since 1993, and he appears to be rapidly "self destructing".
Ian has a severe thyroid dysfunction, and liver disease as a result of long term drug and alcohol abuse. Due to these health problems he has great difficulty regulating body temperature and often wears three and four layers of clothing (even in hot weather). Drinks and smokes heavily (heavily addicted), teeth are badly stained with tar. Multiple drunk driving convictions, and drug and alcohol related incidents.
Subject illegally owns (or has owned) a small caliber handgun, but has very poor gun handling skills. He carries his handgun front right hand pocket (nothing in the chamber), but will often conceal it in a hand carried portfolio, or bank bag. Subject does not currently own or wear body armor. He is known to carry "Butterfly" or Bali-Song style of knives, and has a serious fetish with edged weapons and fire.
Subject also has a history of wearing a shoulder holster (with a fake gun or paint ball gun in it) under a jacket to flash during an interview or to "impress the ladies". He also likes to carry and flash "plastic" guns in the holster, and has shown off a fake police badge. He knows virtually nothing about combat, martial arts, military operations, and/or self defense. His weapon of choice is either a club, roll of change, or "soap-in-a-sock" (prison yard weapons). He has also assaulted victims with a small canvas pouch of change which he keeps in his pocket.
He enjoys wearing expensive looking jewelry; but it's actually cheap costume jewelry, a fake Rolex, and a fake diamond stud in his ear. He also likes to wear lots of bracelets on his wrists.
Subject typically "launders" funds received from victims by assigning the checks (or other instruments) over to third parties. Subject normally does not have or use bank accounts (and has been banned by most banks from opening an account due to fraud). His associates often deposit the checks written to him into their accounts, and give then him cash.
The subject like to "move in" to a victims house (usually someone who feels sorry for him). He then runs up huge phone bills (hundreds of dollars a month), and refuses to pay any rent. He will refuse to get a job, and the few dollars he gets from his scams he spends on CD's, computer games, drugs, alcohol, prostitutes, etc...
He will often steal mail, credit cards, and valuables from his victims. He also has a long history of fraudulently transferring utilities into his name (to make it more difficult to evict him). If the victim is female then he will start telling people that they are married, or are boyfriend/girlfriend. He likes to target women who live alone (easy to con), who have control of a piece of property (free rent), and are employed (free expenses).
Since he has no income, and can't find any type of work (according to court documents) it's important that he gets free (or almost free) rent and utilities. When his victims realize that he has simply conning them for free rent, he will refuse to leave. If his landlord try to evict him he appears in court with copies of the utility bills in his name. He like to scream, yell, and beg the judge not to evict him and will fabricate all kinds of stories why he shouldn't be evicted.
One of his more common tricks is to get the landlord/girlfriends utility bills transferred into HIS name. This way when he gets hauled into court for eviction he will try to claim that they are engaged in a common law marriage, and that he cannot be evicted from his own home. He also has a history of stealing his landlords/girlfriends mail.
On an added note, Ian has a particular penchant for conning the wifes and families of deployed military personnel. The veteran returns from the deployment to find out his wife is divorcing him, Ian is banging his wife, and all of his savings are drained. The poor GI (usually a Marine or Navy Seamen) gets his life destroyed because Ian is still mad that he got tossed out of boot camp. This is one of the reasons he is currently in the Tampa, Florida area... lots of lonely military wives with husbands on deployment.
Subject has been using the following false address:
The Gladwyne address is that of his elderly parents house. The subject has been banned from the address, except for brief occasional visitations during holidays (when his older siblings are also there).
When mail is sent to this address (under the subjects name) it is returned as undeliverable. His parents have stated that when they receive mail addressed to the subject they either return it, or throw it into the trash.
Any usage of the Gladwyne address by the subject should be considered fraudulent.
That said it should be pointed out that Ian is sometimes homeless and ends up moving back into his parents house until he can find someone else to live with. For example a few years back Ian got evicted from the place he was staying and had to move back in to his parent house. During this time he posted a "Looking for a Job" on an agricultural website in Canada. Note the address he was using.
Welcome to Looking for a Farm Job
Mixed
Hello,
I am a 40 yr old male looking to find employment and education in farming. Now some will say that I must be nuts to want to get into this, but I am looking to learn as I earn. If you have any information please contact 215-739-4315
Thank You
Our actual offer:
Contact informations
Farm or Company name:
Name: Ian Murphy
Mailing address: 1258 Country Club Rd
Gladwyne, PA 19035
USA
Phone: 215-739-2357
Fax:
Email: ravenceo@snip.net or ravenceo@worldnet.att.net
Farm-Online Main Menu
Classified
Last updated on: Feb 1, 1998
Sadly, Ian Murphy didn't get a farming job; even though he has vast knowledge, considerable expertise and years of experience in moving huge piles of bovine feces. For some reason farmers don't look kindly to someone who is trying to mooch free room and board, and actually believe that you should earn your keep. However, the local sheep were somewhat relieved that their chastity was saved.
Subjects recent physical addresses are:
(610) 642-2478 (Ian's Primary Number)
(610) 642-3005 (Ian's Computer/Fax Number)
This traces to an address and phone number registered to:
K.C. Baldadian
Uniglobe Wings Travel
Kaleidescape Travel Service
330 Fairhill Road
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 642-6002 (Primary Business Number)
(610) 642-4731 (Fax Number)
(610) 642-2478
(610) 642-3005
Note: Casey (or K.C.) appear to be the subjects "girlfriend-of-the-moment" and is obviously not aware of his extensive criminal background, heavy drug/alcohol usage, history of fraud, and history of violence.
It has been confirmed that the subject is currently living with K.C. Baldadian at the above address, and is currently employed by Uniglobe Wings Travel. It has also confirmed that the subject was actively dating Ms. Baldadian for quite some time to "moving-in-with her".
When the subject was moving from his last address he kept telling his ex-landlord that he was going to be doing "computer work" for a "big travel agency". This would tend to confirm that he planned to work for Uniglobe Wings Travel.
The post office confirmed that the subject has been receiving mail at the 330 Fairhill Road, and that he is using both his real name, a number of aliases, and a large number of company names.
It's curious that the subject now has access to the SABRE computer system, customer credits cards, and related materials as he has a long history of computer and credit card fraud.
When Ian first moved down to Florida, he lived with at the following addresses for a while:
Dena Palmer
300 Capri Blvd 14
Saint Petersburg, FL 33706
Betty G. O'Hearn
Winn Schwartau
InfoWar
InfoSecurity
11511 Pine Street
Seminole, FL 34642
813-360-6256
813-392-4821
Betty G. O'Hearn
3120 Knox Mcrae Drive
Titusville, FL 32780-4551
407-269-0568
Winn Schwartau
1511 Pine Street
Seminole, FL 34642
813-393-6361
Saint Petersburg, FL 33708
813-393-6361
Later he would have a relationship with women which ended up with Ian threatening suicide and endlessly whining about his love life on AOL (see elsewhere on this dossier):
Ian's recent parole officer:
Her E-mail address is: karmstro@montcopa.org
The Chief Adult Probation Officer is Michael F. Hamel, and his E-Mail
address is: mhamel@montcopa.org (he is Karen Armstrong's
supervisor).
Ian A. Murphy and the Enforcers/PRNewswire Hoax (1998)
In the Spring of 1998 Ian Murphy set up a bogus account with the Philadelphia office of the PRNewswire (and still has not paid for the account). A short time later Ian started posting "Press Releases" via his new account and started harassing members of the media to interview him (instead they laughed at him).
Ian has a history of issuing similar press releases, which are obviously excessively complementary, highly unprofessional, and full of "blarney" (to put it politely). He usually starts this type of garbage after he runs out of money from his last "enterprise".
Ian A. Murphy, Pres. and CEIO of IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc., today issued a warning to the nation stating that this is just the first wave of the Digital Warfare that has been demonstrated by the youngest and brightest of our Information Age
GLADWYNE, Pa., March 4 -- Ian A. Murphy, Pres. of IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc. today stated the current wave of computer hacker attacks has shown just how vulnerable the nation's Information & Electronic Infrastructure has become. The nation's computers systems and networks are not ready to withstand any assault or attack, let alone simple penetrations undertaken by youthful interlopers at this time.
"The current wave of Information Systems 'Open Warfare' has shown that the Federal, State and Local governments, along with multiple agencies of Federal and State Law Enforcement are not prepared or fully versed in Information Security and Privacy. The Security and Privacy needs of industry, banking, hospitals and insurance which touch each and every person's lives is in jeopardy.
"This day in Information Warfare will stand as a maker of history of the lack of security being exercised by those who collect and sell our 'Informational' lives as so much chattel in the marketplace. How much longer we will as citizens stand for the complete disrespect of our lives being traded as if baseball cards in the school yard for all to see? Are we to allow our private credit, medical, employment, criminal, drivers or other personal data to be examined by those who are not authorized or legally entitled to such information without our expressed permission? Do we stand for this type of invasion of our lives?"
Ian A. Murphy is considered one of the nation's leading experts on Information Warfare, Security and Privacy today. Known as Capt. Zap, he offers unique, colorful and insightful views of today's Information Society in a clear, concise manner for everyone. Please contact IAM/SDS for more information: 215-739-xxxx or xxxx now.
SOURCE IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc.
CONTACT: Ian A. Murphy, Pres. & CEIO of IAM-Secure Data Systems,
215-739-xxxx or 215-739-xxxx, or ravensceo@mcione.com
Several weeks later (after nobody would take him seriously) his "Press Releases" took on a more threatening and prophetic tone.
He claims that a hacker group had been issuing threats, and had been engaging in cyber-terrorism. The interesting thing is that there are no records of these alleged attacks.
However, Mr. Murphy has a long history of violence and making harassing and terroristic threats (including bomb and murder threats). We have copies of a number of restraining orders which his victims have been forced to obtain against him.
Several members of "The Enforcers" were quite amused by Ian's claims as they were only uploading HTML pages to open FTP directories (a very old, and very harmless prank).
The Enforcers were never on any "offensive", nor was there any "cyber-terroristic attacks" (except by Ian Murphy).
The "Full-Fledged Assault on the Internet by International Cyber-Terrorists" was a pure fantasy and utter fabrication by Ian Murphy in an flagrant attempt to gain attention (and to convince some gullible fool to hire him as a security expert or to give him an interview).
IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc.: Computer Hackers on the Offensive After the Hacker Analyzer is Arrested in Israel Multiple Government and Corporate Web Sites Under Massive Retaliatory Cyber-Attack; International Cyber-Terrorism Raising Its Specter in This Full-Fledged Assault Upon the Internet GLADWYNE, Pa., March 24 -- Ian A. Murphy, Pres. of IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc., today issued a terse warning to the Systems owners connected to the Internet: After the recent arrest of the "Pentagon Hackers" in the US and Israel, certain cyber-terroristic factions of the computer underground have taken an active offensive role in the defense of the arrested hackers. The Underground Hacker group known as the Enforcers have undertaken a massive assault upon the Internet and Information Systems worldwide. Corporate and Govt. web sites have been attacked and defaced in such a manner, that no system should be left without full security procedures and policies firmly in place. Internet sites that have been attacked can be found on a listing at the web site http://www.antionline.com. This current example of cyber- terrorism will continue to excalate in the near future and is showing just how vulnerable we all are to these types of Cyber-Terroristic attacks. These Cyber-Terrorists, only armed with average desk-top computers and connections to the Internet, have shown that any system connected to the Internet may fall prey to these intrusions. Call it the Cyber-version of a home intrusion and you get a better idea. These attacks offer a unique view of the power of the Internet to reach out and touch all lives in many manners yet unseen by the general population. In addition, such blatant attacks only serve to underscore the complete lack of overall Information Security provided to these systems that contain all of our Personal, Business, Medical, Insurance, Criminal & Educational Information. Without the complete and total assurance of such systems, we can never be safe from such assaults upon our lives, our incomes and our National Security. This glowing example should be a warning to all that use and depend upon the Internet for Commerce, Research and Entertainment. IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc. is the nation's leading Information Systems Security consulting firm. With clients ranging from Govt., Military and Industry, IAM/SDS leads the way to a secure Internet presence. Contact IAM/SDS today to learn more! SOURCE IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc. CONTACT: Ian A. Murphy, President & CEO of IAM/Secure Data Systems, 215-739-xxxx, or 215-739-xxxx, or e-mail, ravensceo@mcione.com Web Site: http://www.antionline.com
On March 22, 1998 a very drunk Ian called a member of "The Enforcers" and barraged him with a series of terroristic threats for over 90 minutes. The individual who Ian harassed was not a spokes-person, negotiator, or leader of the group.
Mr. Murphy's comments that people should "...bow to the wonderment of the hackers and their alleged silent, awesome power" is a interesting insight into the way his mind actually works. HIs mental defects makes him hunger for people to "bow to the wonderment of Ian Murphy and his awesome power".
Notice that he made contact with the "Cyber-terrorists" on March 22, but issued "prophetic warnings" and negotiation notices on March 24, and 26 (a rather interesting coincidence).
'Capt. Zap' Ian A. Murphy Stands as Chief Negotiator in Talks to End Unauthorized Actions Against Internet Web Sites and Corporate Systems Enforcers Computer Hackers Spokesperson States That Peace Terms Will Be Abided By and Calls for Computer Hacker Community to End Current Attacks GLADWYNE, Pa., March 26 -- The following announcement was released today by IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc.: Ian A. Murphy (a.k.a. Capt. Zap, the nation's first arrested computer hacker), President of IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc., today stated that, after successful negotiations between Mr. Murphy and the hacker community, peace communications with members of the Enforcers computer hacker group have ended and the Enforcers will issue a cease and desist order of all offensive hostile actions on the Internet. Mr. Murphy issued a statement today stating that all hostilities will cease at 00:00 GMT, March 26, 1998. Negotiations were finalized after hours of long discussion with the leader of the Enforcers. "It is our understanding that all activities of a hostile nature will cease and all attacks will come to an end as of the time issued in this decree. Cyber-peace is attained and will be maintained for the immediate future. It is up to all of the parties to maintain this negotiated peace treaty of cyber-warfare. This is the first cyber- peace treaty to be enacted in our modern times, and stands as a model of the 'Silicon Times' to ponder within." In a statement issued by Mr. Murphy, "It is high time that the alleged powers that be in Information Security bow to the wonderment of the hackers and their alleged silent, awesome power. It is time that we as a society realize that one individual is equal to an entire armed nuclear offensive force and is able to bring about global chaos if they choose to, from a simple computer keyboard. It strikes me as being so simplistic and yet so invasive of all society that such things may occur. And we have become so dependent and enamored with -- and our society so rests upon -- our silicon lives and slaves. We have become the servants of our own information society and still do not see the reality of the situation at hand." SOURCE IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc. CONTACT: Ian A. Murphy, President & CEIO of IAM-Secure Data Systems, 215-739-xxxx, or 215-739-xxxx, or ravensceo@mcione.com
Mr. Murphy issued another bogus Press Release concerning "The Enforcers" via his fraudulent PRNewswire account.
It's obvious that the following "News Release" by Mr. Murphy is pure and utter fantasy, and that its only purpose is to make Ian Murphy look important (he likes to, and has to feel important).
Enforcers Computer Hackers Spokesperson Defends Assertive Actions, Claims of Helping Systems Administrators 'Fix' Systems Flaws GLADWYNE, Pa., March 26 -- The following was announced today by IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc.: Ian A. Murphy (a.k.a. "Capt. Zap," the nation's first arrested computer hacker), Pres. of IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc., today stated that the communication issued by an alleged member of the Enforcers (from a contact identified as Adam at adamb1@flash.net, web page: http://come.to/paralyse ), sent a defense today of the actions of these cyber-terroristic attacks. In a statement issued by Mr. Murphy, "Their spokesperson's defense of their actions against systems as valid reason for their unauthorized excursions was clearly a way to diminish their alleged damage to systems worldwide. This is clearly a way to legitimize their hacking as justified. The destruction of Information Systems for an alleged cause is not the way to go about such things in defense of Hackers or Crackers." In addition to the statement, Mr. Murphy stated that the recent arrest of the "Pentagon Hackers" in the U.S. and Israel, certain cyber-terroristic factions of the computer underground have taken a continued active offensive role in the defense of the arrested hackers. The underground hacker group known as the Enforcers have undertaken a massive assault upon the Internet and Information systems worldwide. Internet sites that have been attacked can be found on a listing at the web site http://www.antionline.com. This current example of cyber-terrorism will continue to escalate in the near future and is showing just how vulnerable we all are to such cyber-terrorism. These attacks offer a unique view of the power of the Internet to reach out and touch all lives in many manners, yet unseen by the general population. In addition, such blatant attacks only serve to underscore the complete lack of overall Information Security provided to these systems that contain our personal, business, medical, insurance, criminal, and educational information. Without the complete and total assurance of such systems, we can never be safe from such assaults upon our lives, our incomes, and national security. IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc. is the nation's leading Information & Internet Systems Security consulting firm. With clients ranging from the Federal Government, military, and industry, IAM/SDS leads the way to a firmly secure Internet presence. Contact IAM/SDS today to learn more. SOURCE IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc. CONTACT: Ian A. Murphy, President & CEO of IAM-Secure Data Systems, 215-739-xxxx or 215-739-xxxx, or ravensceo@mcione.com
The following "Press Release" was posted to the PRNEWSWIRE via Ian's bogus account in Philadelphia. (It's obvious that Mr. Murphy was the actual author).
When "The Enforcers" were contacted to confirm "The Statement" they indicated that it was a complete fabrication, and that they had no idea what Mr. Murphy was talking about.
The Enforcers then provided a statement which pretty much sums up what happened and their feelings about Mr. Murphy and his falsehoods:
The Enforcers indicated that the statement found in the Interpact Press Release was a pure and utter fantasy which they knew nothing about.
An interesting detail is the identical wording between "The Threats" listed in the InfoWar release and Ian's previous "prophetic" warnings.
A second interesting detail is the fact that Ian Murphy and Betty O'Hearn of Interpact (aka: InfoWar), have a long "intimate" history together. She is a romantic sycophant who has "assisted" him several times when he got arrested or got into other trouble (such as his landlord evicting him). Psychologists, social workers, and security professionals refer to relationships such as this as "Co-Dependant and Enabling", which is usually highly destructive.
The business called InfoWar, Info-Sec, The Security Experts, Interpact (and a few others) is actually run out of the apartment (Capri Isle Garden Apartments) of Betty O'Hearn. The organization does not list any business address, and the phone numbers all trace to residential addresses and apartments.
Whatever legitimacy Winn Schwartau, InfoWar, Info-Sec, The Security Experts, and Interpact had prior to this release was destroyed when this "Press Release" appeared on the wire service.
The Enforcers Hackers Group -- Enters Into Cyberspace Agreement SEMINOLE, Fla., March 27 -- Infowar.Com was notified today by the "Enforcers" Computer Hackers Group, that an agreement was reached with chief negotiator Ian A. Murphy, aka Capt. Zap, to cease and desist their cyber destruction witnessed in the recent attacks and intrusions that have rocked the Internet in past weeks. The Enforcers began their massive assault on corporate and military websites after the arrest of "Pentagon Hackers" here in the US and Israel. Ian Murphy, CEO of IAM/Secure Data Systems, and the first US hacker arrested back in 1981, issued press releases during negotiations which are captioned below. Murphy began the process to begin deliberations out of a sense of duty. Murphy's dialogue with members of the Enforcer group pointed to the fact that the destruction was counter productive. He urged the group to consider halting this activity. "The destruction of information systems for an alleged cause is not the way to go about such things in defense of Hackers and Crackers." Murphy has been pontificating for years that the government and corporate entities need to take the powers and strength of hackers seriously. With the attacks and intrusions on the rise, and information losses at an all time high, Murphy added, "It is high time that the alleged powers that be in information security bow to the wonderment of the hackers and their alleged silent, awesome power. It is time that we as a society realize that one individual is equal to an entire armed nuclear offensive force and is able to bring about global chaos if they choose to, from a simple computer keyboard. It strikes me as being so simplistic and yet so invasive of all society that such things may occur. And we have become so dependent and enamored with -- and our society so rests upon -- our silicon lives and slaves. We have become the servants of our own information society and still do not see the reality of the situation at hand." The Enforcers defended their activities with claims that they were calling attention to system administrators to wake up and 'fix' their system flaws. Statement Of The Enforcers
...and there were even more Press Releases later that week
P.A.V.I.B. Headquarters, Maryland Source: Reuters Date: 27 Mar 1998 Press Release P.A.V.I.B. today issued a terse warning to Ian A. Murphy (Captain Zap), his numerous fake corporations, and to his customers. This is the first wave of vengeance, and information warfare by the brightest modern technological shadow warriors of the Information Age! CYBERSPACE, EARTH (Reuter), 03/27/98 -- Today a group of information warriors, security experts, military special operations personnel, and intelligence agents called "P.A.V.I.B." have vowed a wave of "Open Information Warfare" against Ian A. Murphy, President of IAM/Secure Data Systems, Inc. (AKA: "Captain Zap"). During the week of March 23, 1998, Mr. Murphy issued a series of false and misleading statements. Many of these lies were posted to the various newswires and news databases via a series of accounts which had been obtained by Mr. Murphy through fraud. Government documents have now come into the possession of P.A.V.I.B. which reveals that Mr. Murphy is nothing more that a Petty Thief, Gross Liar, Con Artist, Public Drunkard, Forger, Shoplifter, Fence, and Woman Beater. Ian A. Murphy is currently on probation for some of his more recent criminal activities (which were not computer related). He has spent over half of his adult life either institutionalized, in prison, or on probation. These documents reveal that Mr. Murphy was arrested in 1981, not for hacking computers or phone phreaking, but for petty theft. (Mr. Murphy was having children steal computer equipment, he would then remove the serial numbers and then sell the equipment or give it away to his friends). Mr. Murphy has never been arrested for any type of hacking crime, or for any offense related to technology (other then stealing equipment). He has lied hundreds of times in order to betray others, and has earned the moniker of "The Judas Hacker" by several of his clients. He has been deemed "a crank" by numerous law enforcement agencies who are familiar with his rantings. Since 1986, Mr. Murphy has been grossly lying about his background, and credentials. His corporate customers have been lulled into a false sense of security by following his advice. Their computers, databases, networks and systems are not ready to withstand any assault or attack, let alone simple penetrations undertaken by youthful interlopers at this time. This day in Information Warfare will stand as a marker in history of the lack of security being exercised by those gullible corporations who neglected to verify Mr. Murphy's background and credentials. He does not possess any type of formal computer training, and is incapable of performing even the most basic of technical tasks. Ian A. Murphy has created a series of bogus companies, bogus references, and completely fabricated credentials. His "fine family of companies" have been found to be fraudulent. His claims to have been a Navy Seal, CIA operative, FBI agent, and Secret Service contractor have been verified to be totally false (he was thrown out of the Navy after only two weeks). P.A.V.I.B. has deemed Mr. Murphy, and his "fine family of companies", a complete and utter fraud. He has a considerable criminal history, and should be considered a "Grave Security Risk" both to the public and to his customers. Mr. Murphy has been banned from almost every Internet service in Philadelphia, and all major Internet Service Providers nationwide. P.A.V.I.B. is an international network of professional computer and telecommunication security experts who have been commissioned "Walk a Beat in Cyberspace". Their function is that of the Silent Warrior who quietly work in the dark shadows to protect the public against Electronic Terrorism and Fraud such as that practiced by Ian A. Murphy. Mr. Ian A. Murphy is an unemployed taxi driver who has never engaged in any type of legitimate business. He is currently under investigation for numerous felonies, and is suspected of multiple unauthorized intrusions into various computer systems. He currently resides in a third story apartment located in a very poor ghetto section of Philadelphia, PA. Head Spook, P.A.V.I.B. /// -- END -- ///
U4EA Attack on BerkshireNet and Boston Herald (1996 Hoax)
In 1995 Ian A. Murphy jumped criminal parole and probation in Pennsylvania, was evicted from his apartment and then spent sometime at the Psychiatric ward of the Ravenswood Hospital, and then moved to the Boston area.
Subject then moved in with friends in Brant Rock/Marshfield, MA (and was promptly thrown out after a short time. Subject ran up $900 in long distance charges to Chicago and Canada and then refused to pay the bill. He then moved into a small basement apartment in Plymouth, MA which he then tried to burn down.
While living in Brant Rock the subject set up another bogus corporation and named it Ravens Wood, Inc. (after the Ravenswood Psychiatric Hospital where he had just spent some time).
In February 1996 subject started wearing T-Shirts with the phrase U4EA on it, and started showing people materials where he called himself both Captain Zap, and U4EA. Subject also collected and displayed posters and other paraphernalia regarding the rock group known as "U4EA".
Several people (including his landlord) all indicated that Ian had no visible means of income, and that all of his possessions could fit in the back of a station wagon. They indicated that all Ian did all day and all night was play on his computer and dabble in the occult.
Ian also tried to dabble in the South Shore hacker and phone phreaker community (mostly around New Bedford, MA) without very much success. His only "audience" were a few juveniles who wouldn't take him seriously (they believed that Ian was "trying to set them up").
He also applied for employment to several Boston area companies (none of which took him seriously and promptly tossed him out). Several of these firms were security companies who recognized him as a fraud within minutes.. In some cases he actually stalked employers, and showed up at their homes and offices demanding interviews. We have copies of the resume and credentials he was circulating (in which he claims to have been a SEAL, CIA Agent, etc).
Ian has a long history of sending email with spoofed headers in an attempt to harass victims. He also has a very long history of mischief and related activities on several IRC channels. He also has a history of being a Media Whore as the press make him feel important.
For several months BerkshireNet (a small New England ISP) had been having serious problems with someone spoofing email headers and causing them a great deal of aggravation. When the ISP shutdown the "exploit" which was being used to allow the abuse of the mail server the culprit came forward and identified himself as "U4EA". "U4EA" then baited the system administrator into talking to him on an anonymous IRC channel, where he tried to terrorize him for several hours. In an attempt to scare the ISP "U4EA" modified the kernel on one of the machine via an open FTP port (BerkshireNet had virtually no security).
Several days later Ian started calling various newspapers and television stations in the Boston area and insisting that they talk to him about the security problems at BerkshireNet. The only reporter who would talk to him was Mark Mueller at the Boston Herald. (and Mark was more then amused by Ian's childish behavior).
The Boston Herald sent a photographer out to take a few pictures of Ian, and ran a short story about the BerkshireNet problems (but didn't mention Ian). Ian pushed and screamed that he wanted to be mentioned in the article and wanted his picture to be taken at the BerkshireNet facility (but they refused).
What was really curious is that nobody at BerkshireNet had the slightest idea of who Ian Murphy was, but they were interested as to why he knew so much about their security problem (which had not yet been made public).
There is a very strong correlation between Ian moving to Boston, and the problems starting at BerkshireNet.
Boston Herald (3/1/96) Page 3 Elusive Superhacker Shuts Down Mass. Computers PITTSFIELD - A superhacker with a sociopathic streak and a worldwide reach temporarily shut down computers of a small western Massachusetts Internet provider and sent off white supremacist messages in its name. Officials of BerkshireNet said the electronic break-in climaxed a three-month escalating duel of hacking and security countermeasures. "He's got a God complex, and he thinks he's invincible," said Jason Hatch, administrator for BerkshireNet. The same hacker has penetrated a number of Internet sites of government agencies, universities and companies from coast to coast, according to computer system administrators. The FBI is now on the case of the mysterious hacker. But the hunt is difficult because he has covered his electronic tracks well. When BerkshireNet tried to stop him, the hacker turned increasingly nasty, bragging of invulnerability and making personal threats. Hatch said the hacker once told him: "I am a dark-side hacker; I have no code". In his latest foray at BerkshireNet, the hacker sneaked into the system Tuesday and erased two of the three computers, shutting down the operation. he also planted swastikas and white racist texts on the company's subscriber log-on and the e-mail of its system administrator. "We are trying to rid the Net of Zionist presence," he wrote, using Hatch's name and e-mail address. "Keep the white in the American Internet." The message asked readers for a donation and gave Hatch's address. Appalled Internet users, including a Jewish group, contacted BerkshireNet. Company President Michael D. Bathrick said the e-mail message apparently traveled world-wide.
After the initial Boston Herald article ran "U4EA" become bolder and started making specific threats targeted at the employees at the ISP. He also threatened to disrupt networks, destroy network backbones, and to cripple the computers at the Boston Herald.
Of course his threats were never carried through, BerkshireNet patched a minor security hole. BerkshireNet and the Boston Herald never experienced any kind of network outage or further problems from the hacker. In an attempt to track the hacker down the staff at BerkshireNet continued to communicate with "U4EA" via a IRC chat channel.
A technical analysis of the incident revealed that it was more a case of bragging and empty threats than actual hacking. The spoofing of Email is a very old prank, as is corrupting or modifying the kernel on a UNIX machine.
Boston Herald (3/5/96) Page 5 --------- Hostile Hacker Irate At Herald By MARK MUELLER Enraged by media coverage of his crimes, an FBI hunted hacker has threatened to take revenge by crippling computer networks across Boston, including the one used by the Boston Herald. "All of Boston is going down," warned the man known as "u4ea," a skilled but "sadistic" hacker suspected of disrupting networks from coast to coast. 'lf you're in Boston and you're linked to the Internet, you're (expletive deleted)." He specifically singled out the Herald for publishing several stories about his computer assaults, saying, "The Boston Herald goes down" yesterday. The threat, which had not been acted on by last night, came at 2 a.m. yesterday during an Internet conversation between the hacker and Jason Hatch, the system administrator for a western Massachusetts Internet provider whose company has been harassed by "u4ea" since November. Hatch saved the hour long, typed conversation and provided the Herald with a copy. "These are certainly serious threats," said Susan Lloyd, a spokeswoman for the FBI's Washington field office, where the agency's computer crimes squad is based. "This is something the computer squad would like to look at." Whether "u4ea" follows through with his threat remains to be seen, but Hatch and other victims have said he has the know-how to crack almost any computer system in the world. "He's very skilled," Hatch said. "He can pretty much go anywhere he wants to go." The FBI will not comment on its investigation into the hacker, but system administrators and others say he is believed to be operating from Canada, easily bilking phone companies and making his calls virtually untraceable. In the wide ranging conversation yesterday, the rogue hacker repeatedly crows about his skills and condemns Hatch for speaking with the media. "Don't talk to any more media people," he told Hatch. "Tell them I said they're all lackeys. And if they (expletive deleted) with me, I will own them all." He also threatened Hatch personally, telling him, "If you speak to the media again, I will involve your family." Though conceding the threats frighten him, Hatch said he continues to cooperate with the press because he wants to see "u4ea" caught for the attack that crippled his company, BerkshireNet, on Tuesday. The hacker also repeatedly taunts the FBI, at one point saying, "Tell the FBI they will have more luck finding Elvis than finding the mighty u4ea... The FBI cannot touch me." He signed off from the conversation with a final threat: "You have yet to see true electronic terrorism. This is a promise."
After Ian harassed the reporter at the Boston Herald for several days they agreed to run a story about him and his offer to help BerkshireNet catch the hacker known as "U4EA".
Ian Murphy claimed to be coming out of retirement, but the truth was that he had just gotten out of prison, jumped parole, and was hiding out from police in Plymouth. What kind of a Moron would be hiding from the police (on a felony warrant no less), and then run to a local newspaper for publicity and to have his picture taken.
Ian Murphy spent a great deal of time talking about just how evil the hacker was, and how much havoc he was capable of (havoc which never happened). He also spent a lot of time trying to convince his audience that he was the Internet's only salvation.
Much to his credit the system administrator at BerkshireNet refused to give Ian access to the system, and refused to discuss any security related issues with him.
Effectively everybody involved was laughing at Ian, and refused to take him or anything he said seriously.
Boston Herald (3/6/96) Page 1 Internet WiZ Vows to Zap Hacker Captain Zap' girds for war against computer superhacker By MARK MUELLER A former hacker known as "Captain Zap' said yesterday he's coming out of retirement to hunt down the lawless cyberpunk who threatened to cripple computer networks across Boston on Monday. "I'm stepping into this war. This kid needs to be taken down," said Ian Murphy; whose story of hacker-turned-security expert inspired the movie, "Sneakers." "He's a ticking time bomb, a digital time bomb just waiting to go off. He's a mad dog in the cyber community and he needs to be put down quick." Murphy, 40, who moved to Plymouth just last month after retiring from the company he founded, Philadelphia-based Secure Data Systems Inc., called the hacker "downright dangerous" because of the man's willingness to destroy data and disrupt systems. "He can strike worldwide," Murphy said. "He can cause damage in the billions and billions of dollars if he wants to." The FBI acknowledges it is seeking the hacker. who uses the computer handle "u4ea" and who is suspected of disrupting systems nationwide over the last three years. The hacker struck at BerkshireNet, a Pittsfield Internet provider, last week, sending out racist e-mail to thousands of people and paralyzing the company's system for 12 hours. Enraged by media coverage of that attack, the man promised further "electronic terrorism" on Monday, telling BerkshireNet's system administrator, Jason Hatch, that he planned to strike at networks in Boston, including the Boston Herald. "All of Boston is going down," the hacker warned in the hour long, typed conversation over the Internet. "If you're in Boston and you're linked to the Internet, you're (expletive deleted)." By last night, "u4ea" had not followed through on his threat, but he sent e-mail to Hatch yesterday morning, calling the media "liars" and saying they "neglect their responsibility." 'They should learn from their mistakes," the mail read. Murphy, one of the first Americans to be charged with computer crimes when he was arrested in 1981 for creating dummy corporations and ordering thousands of dollars' worth of computer equipment, says he wants to stop "u4ea" before he gets the chance to act again. Murphy's company normally pulls down $5,000 a day or more for such a job, but the former "Captain Zap" said he's launching this search gratis. 'The Internet is not your own personal soapbox to vent your spleen in this manner," he said. "Frankly, we don't need this crap flying across it." That assessment was shared by John Perry Barlow of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a computer issues group known more for defending hackers than for criticizing them. "I hope they catch this little miscreant as soon as possible," said Barlow, one of the group's founders. In conversations with Hatch and other system administrators, "u4ea" concedes he has no "code," calling himself a "darkside hacker." He also has repeatedly crowed about his "elite" talents and claimed membership in a hacker group called "BoW," telling Hatch at one point, "When people hear the word 'BoW' they start to bleed from the places where I was nailed to the cross" Other hackers on the Internet have told Hatch they believe "u4ea" is operating from Canada, though ne the FBI nor the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will say whether they are searching for him there. The trouble for Murphy is the hacker could be anywhere 'He could literally be in Francisco, then go through Canada and back to the U.S.," Murphy said. But the "slow, laborious" process of tracing the outlaw doesn't daunt him. 'I consider it a personal challenge because of what he's done and hackers like challenges,' Murphy said.
Epilogue:
After the article on Ian appeared in the Boston Herald several security professionals contacted the editor of the Herald and provided him with documents concerning Ian Murphy and his actual background.
The editor of the Herald was embarrassed to learn that Ian was actually a convicted thief and con artist (not a hacker or computer person) with a long history of pulling security related hoaxes. (Needless to say the Herald did not run any further articles concerning Ian Murphy).
Further technical analysis of the incident indicated that there was a very high probability that Ian A. Murphy was pretending to be "U4EA". Analysis also indicated that boasting about the attack on BerkshireNet was an attempt to gain publicity for a security consulting company he was trying to start after his release from prison.
Additionally, Ian's technique of scaring his victims with stories of "Computer Based Death and Carnage" and then appointing himself as the customers only salvation is a very old con and textbook scam.
Shortly after the "U4EA" incident the subject attempted arson, and was committed to a psychiatric institution. Upon his release he started threatening people and communicating terroristic threats (including threats to blow up a nuclear power plant). His victims finally obtained emergency restraining orders on him and "he promptly disappeared".
When several law enforcement officers went to "visit" Ian (to discuss his involvement in the "U4EA" hoax) they found that he had already fled the state. (They were also interested in the bomb threats he called in and sent to people).
He was apprehended six months later on four separate outstanding felony arrest warrants when he reappeared in Philadelphia wearing Pink Bunny Ears and cradling a stuffed rabbit (no kidding).
Several months later Ian confessed (or claimed) to one of his associates that he was actually behind the "U4EA" attacks, and that he was forced to flee the Boston area "when they came to arrest him". In reality the police came to arrest him on the outstanding felony warrants, and after he tried to burn down his landlord's house, tried to molest her child.
The entire incident is generally considered as a hoax foisted on the public by Ian Murphy in another one of his attempts to drum up new business (he has a history of such activities).
It was eventually determined that another person was responsible for the actual hacking incident, and that Ian Murphy was simply trying to gain attention and exploit the media converage.
In a sad stroke of irony, Mr. Murphy's list of references and corporate clients now includes both BerkshireNet and the Boston Herald. However, both companies have stated that they are not, nor have they ever been his "clients".
Typical bogus "Corporate Letterhead"
This is the letterhead which Ian has used to impress targets, send out threat letters, and to obtain goods and services on credit. This is just one example of how Ian creates and uses fake company names (and fake letterhead).
In the event that you receive a document which appears to be similar to the following you should be very suspicious and carefully verify all details of what you are told.
An investigation indicated that the companies do not exist actually (they are fake), the phone numbers are bogus, and the address for the "corporate headquarters" is actually Ian geriatric parents home address .
The "Our Other Fine Family of Corporations" which are listed are fake, none of them are registered with any state, county, or city government agencies (as required by law). The locations of "Covenstead Farms", "Hereford", and "Lancashire" are all bogus and used to "lend a air of sophistication to the stationary".
Typical Threat Letter - Forged Headers
On January 26, 1998 the author of this page (Jim Atkinson) received the following "mystery letter", an analysis of the message very quickly indicated that most of the E-mail headers had been forged. However, the sender of the E-mail obviously lacked the technical ability to fully cloak his (or her) true identity.
The message was easily traced to a WorldNet dial-up account registered to Ian A. Murphy located at 131 W. Girard Street, Philadelphia, PA. Further analysis of log files at WorldNet indicated that Ian's account had been active for over four hours prior to this message being sent (and was active for two hours afterwards). The SMTP logs indicated that there was a perfect match between the headers on the E-Mail of the WorldNet SMTP security files.
If you very carefully read how Ian talks about himself in the third person you can gain an interesting insight on his insecurities, and how he really feels about himself (which is really quite pitiful).
Several people have come forward and reported receiving similar "third person warning letters" from Ian. These letters all talk about just how "bad" Ian was, and how evil things were going to happen to them.
It is amusing how Ian goes to such great effort to warn about lawsuits, and how he tries to scare the person receiving the E-mail. Of particular interest is the seventh paragraph which contain threats of grave bodily harm (including murder). A linguistic analysis of the message indicates that the sender suffers from severe paranoia, and a probable psychiatric pathology.
Notice how Ian signed the letter "Peter H. Winston", he has a long history of using false names, and sending people letters signed by "third parties". Compare the format and the linguistic content with that of other E-mail message which Ian has sent out, the results are always the same.
We have confirmed that did indeed Ian sent the following message, and appropriate actions were taken to ensure that this behavior would not be repeated. (Never bring a knife to a gun fight)
