It really was a fun time. I remember sitting in a coffee shop just sniffing WiFi traffic.
A friend was a reporter for the local paper and interviewed the mayor. I turned my laptop around and showed my friend the mayors imap password. Just right there floating through the air.
My UIN was merely 7-digit and when it got hacked the guy just logged in, chatted with my friends about random things, and left. I only found out because they were puzzled by "me" talking weird.
AOL Instant Messenger had several remote code execution exploits. They worked just by sending an IM to someone. You could also crash their computer remotely, or maybe it would just create their client.
Also their stored password encryption algorithm was easily reversible.
There are some point of sales systems that use the same sound effect, and every time it's like I'm teleported back to the 90s, sitting in my room with a pepsi, browsing the web and chattin' with friends.
Man, computers used to be fun
A friend was a reporter for the local paper and interviewed the mayor. I turned my laptop around and showed my friend the mayors imap password. Just right there floating through the air.
Then you could use that to winnuke them.
(To this day I can recall my ICQ number faster than my childhood phone number or my social security number.)
Also their stored password encryption algorithm was easily reversible.
The tech scene of the 90s in Israel was crazy. Mirablis was hiring high school students to do QA.