TrustMeSecurity.com

An interesting article about the infamous Chaos Computer Club, who are probably best known for hacking into NASA in the late 1980’s and turning data over to the Soviet era KGB. Most recently their efforts have been to sound the alarm over German data privacy.

“The KGB hack was an absolute transgression. That was another era. There were very few networks, people wanted to try things out. They wanted to see what was possible. Today, more and more people have their own personal computers. Our role has changed accordingly.”

The CCC’s volunteers now apply their considerable energies to the cause of private data protection. Their Berlin office, which has all the scruffy charm of a student common room, is manned 24/7. There, club members work away feverishly trying to detect security loopholes in everything from electronic voting systems to debit cards. The empty crates of mate in the corner testify to long, sleepless nights.