Discussions

Back before Dixons transformed the UK Internet with "Freeserve" (making it affordable to stay online for more than a few minutes at a time through their flat rate charges) there was STILL piracy. Technically savvy "crews" of kids used their "phreaking" ability to log on to BBS sites in the USA (where local phonecalls were free, so BBS's thrived) and downloading any pirated stuff they could lay their hands on. When it was back on this side of the Atlantic, they compiled it into monthly "compendiums" on the new-fangled CDRs... and distributed them for about £20 a pop. Kind of like "Lucky Bags" from further back in my childhood; they contained a cheap pastic toy and a selection of sweets; but you didn't know what was in the bag until you opened it. Not knowing was part of the magic. The CDs spread by the likes of "Mr Blobby" and "Tango" would include games, utilities, apps... some of which would be useful, some not even slightly.

Just as it was then (the 1980's?) what we're looking at is what INEVITABLY happens when kids are strikingly more technically proficient than their elders. They'll find ways around the security that you never even imagined. It's what kids do... and in one way or another, it's probably what they've ALWAYS done.