Online Underground IRC
UPDATE/EDIT 08/26/2011: Well, I had to remove the embedded video clip. My YouTube account got the smackdown by 20th Century Fox who apparently doesn’t appreciate me posting a 20 second clip of their precious show. Sigh.
I extracted a clip from an recent episode of White Collar that made me chuckle. They basically were wondering how they could make contact with a “Hacker”, and one of the characters announces “The online underground communicates via IRC.” That may be somewhat true, but hearing it on a TV show was amusing. One of the follow-up lines was also amusing; “How do you get the attention of a hacker, say ‘hi’ from Microsoft source code?”. Along with the realization of once text is entered into IRC it is too late; “You already posted it? Take it down, now! – It can’t be undone.” Along with the screen-shot of the IRC conversation with “Vulture”:
They weren’t too far off the mark. I usually wince when TV shows or movies try to accurately (or not) depict tech scenarios such as this. – Just see one of my ealier posts about “Spoof the PI” for a great example.
So, while the technical details were obscure enough to be passable, it was still amusing that they were able to instantly find some random Hacker on IRC, and within seconds get him to agree to meet with them. Ah well, it’s just a plot device right?
August 24th, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Is it so hard to hire a technical director?? Maybe some shows/movies do. But I think more time than not the creative directors of the film: director….actors…. May over power the reality in exchange for suspense tv. But it is refreshing when those of us whom notice that they do get it right. Makes it seen more real. Oh… And more like they actually care.