Suspect shares his journey through the scene, starting from his first experiences with computers in the mid-90s and becoming active in the AOL community from 2000 to 2008. He discusses early programming interests, the thrill and risks of downloading and creating software, and the culture of exploiting vulnerabilities in platforms like PHPBB and AOL/AIM screen names. Suspect also reflects on the unique social dynamics of AOL chat rooms and the transition from online exploits to real-life challenges and personal growth. The episode offers a nostalgic look at the technical creativity and camaraderie of the early internet era.

Highlights Include:

• Discovering computers and early web exploits in school
• Transitioning from downloading programs to writing original code
• The culture of keylogging, screen name cracking, and AOL exploits
• Using Google to find vulnerable PHP forums and leveraging SQL injection
• The social scene of AOL chat rooms versus today’s online communities
• Personal growth, life changes, and returning to tech through web development

Guest: Suspect

Host: Steve Stonebraker

Audio Editor: Sam Fox ([email protected]⁠⁠⁠)

CoverArt: Created by Broast (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://broast.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), original idea by LampGold.

--

AOL Underground Podcast

Follow us on twitter -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AOLUnderground⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@brakertech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reddit -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/AOLUnderground/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AOLUndergroundPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Merch -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.redbubble.com/people/AOL-Underground/shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Donate -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AOLUnderground⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Contact the Host -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://aolunderground.com/contact-host/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

ReAOL Discord -⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/p3ol⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Community Page -⁠⁠⁠https://aolunderground.com/community/⁠⁠⁠

AOL 4.0 is working! -⁠⁠⁠https://nina.chat/connect/aol/⁠⁠⁠

--

Other

Check out my wife's Etsy shop -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.etsy.com/shop/Snowbraker