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Inc. Technology readers comment on articles and topics, such as hacking and going paperless, featured in past issues.

Think Like a Hacker

I was impressed with the article " High-Tech Hoods" [1997, No. 1]. I am a former computer hacker who is currently serving a six-year prison sentence for my offenses. While hacking is a problem that is going to get a lot worse before it gets better, the situation need not be as grim as several law-enforcement officers quoted in the story make it out to be. The problem that computer-crime squads are having is that they think like police officers instead of the criminals they are trying to catch. At least in this instance, the old adage "If you want to stop using liquor, do you speak to a man who has never had a drink?" applies in depth. In short, no.

Andrew A. Rutberg
Lovelock Correctional Center
Lovelock, Nev.

Wrist-Averse

I have tendinitis in my right wrist. My husband presented me with the Microsoft Natural Keyboard for Christmas, and I must say my wrist is doing much better. Yes, it took me a couple of weeks to get used to the keyboard described in your review " All Keyed Up" [Off the Shelf, 1997, No. 1]. However, compared with the ramifications of continuing to type with a conventional keyboard, the rewards are innumerable.

Renee M. Anderson
reneeanderson@mindspring.com

I hope Microsoft never tries to make a Natural Piano.

Michael Yam
Yonkers, N.Y.
mmyam@msn.com

Digital Insecurity

In an otherwise fine article [" High-Tech Hoods," 1997, No. 1], you state that the new digital cellular telephones cannot be monitored. As researchers at my company have demonstrated, the much-touted digital cellular security is a sham. An organization as well funded as the Drug Enforcement Administration could easily build equipment to listen to conversations in real time, search the radio waves for a particular number dialed, and even pinpoint the location of a particular digital cellular phone. And that's using the digital cellular transmission; the conversation is completely unprotected on the telephone company's wires.

Bruce Schneier
President
Counterpane Systems
Minneapolis
schneier@counterpane.com

Paperless Problems

Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your article on Dan Caulfield's struggle to go "as paperless as you can" [" Pulp Addiction," 1997, No. 1]. Virtually every sentence reminded me of the headaches and heartaches I went through when I took my company paperless, back in October 1994. While I never burned any paper, I did disable the electrical plugs that our fax machines were plugged into and then told everyone that the electrician could not come in for two weeks.

Ivan C. "Nick" Camp IV
Director of International/Domestic Operations
Wellness International Network
Carrollton, Tex.
nickcamp@winltd.com

Revenge of the Gen X-ers

Dan Kennedy's stereotyping of Generation X-ers as having "few demands on their time and a parent's credit card in hand" [" Who's On-Line?" 1997, No. 1] is both ignorant and highly resented. A member of Gen X, I not only have my own apartment and credit cards but manage to minimize my free time by pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry. I suppose Inc. Technology and Kennedy are surprised that a Generation X-er reads this magazine. For that matter, you are probably surprised that any of us read at all. But be aware that the day is coming when Generation X, and all its buying power, exacts a price for such small-mindedness.

Brian Cushing
Department of Chemistry
University of New Orleans
New Orleans
blcushing@compuserve.com

Extranet Defined

I think you got the definition of extranet wrong. Here is the definition I believe to be correct, from the TechWeb Technology Encyclopedia (www.techweb.com/encyclopedia):

"Extranet: An intranet that is made available to external customers or organizations for electronic commerce. This new term has two meanings. Some say it is an intranet that has been extended to customers through a private network that is not on the Internet. Others contend that it is simply a Web site used for transactions between organizations and the ease of access over the Internet is essential. For sensitive data, a private network is obviously more secure than the Internet."

Nick Roosevelt
Sapient Corp.
San Francisco
nroose@sapient.com

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