Phrack Magazine: The Hacker's Ezine

First released on November 17, 1985, Phrack (a portmanteau of 'phreak' and 'hack') is an electronic magazine, or 'ezine,' that has been a central fixture of the hacker underground for decades. It was founded by two hackers known as 'Taran King' and 'Knight Lightning'.

Phrack set itself apart with its high-quality, deeply technical articles covering everything from telephony and network protocols to exploit development and cryptography. It became a prestigious venue for hackers to publish their research. Seminal texts, such as 'Smashing The Stack For Fun And Profit' by Aleph One and 'The Conscience of a Hacker' by The Mentor, were first published in Phrack.

The magazine was also at the center of a major legal battle in the early 1990s. The U.S. Secret Service raided the home of a Phrack editor for publishing a document about the E911 system, which they claimed was a dangerous trade secret. The case was ultimately dropped when it was revealed the document was publicly available for a small fee. This event, known as the 'E911 Zine' case, became a landmark moment for electronic free speech. Phrack continues to be published sporadically, maintaining its legendary status in the hacker community.

Timeline

• 1985-11-17First issue of Phrack released.