Searching for Susy Thunder (theverge.com)

Article summary

The article tells the story of Susan Headley, also known as Susan Thunder, a female hacker and phone phreaker from the 1980s who was known for her social engineering skills. She disappeared from the public eye and the author spent nearly a year tracking her down. Susan's story is one of both fascination with technology and a troubled past, including experiences with abuse and exploitation. The article explores her life and the culture of hacking and phreaking in the 1980s.

Main themes

• hacking and phreaking culture
• social engineering
• troubled past and personal struggles
• morality and criminality
• capitalism and socialism
• security and technology

What commenters say

• Some argue that the best hackers are those who have never been caught, and therefore remain unknown.
• Others believe that getting caught can lead to respect and job opportunities for hackers.
• The conversation touches on the idea that the concept of criminality is complex and can be morally nuanced.
• There is disagreement about the relationship between capitalism and criminal activity, with some arguing that capitalism glorifies criminal behavior and others arguing that socialist systems have their own set of problems.
• Some commenters discuss the challenges of security training and the limitations of phishing simulations.
• The discussion also raises questions about the morality of certain actions, such as the Taiji dolphin hunt, and the treatment of animals in general.