As a mom and grandmother, this is aspirational

February 27, 2020 11:00 AM

How a Hacker's Mom Broke Into a Prison—and the Warden's Computer. Wired
posted by Mom (18 comments total)

Neat! I'm impressed by that woman's gumption. She clearly needed a change of scene. Sad to hear she only got to do it once.
posted by M. at 11:15 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]

posted by Mom

Pretty sure this isn't allowed. /s
posted by hypersloth at 11:16 AM on February 27, 2020 [23 favorites]

I'm not saying the piece should've been titled How a Hacker's Mom Broke Into a Prison—and the Warden's Computer, and By the Way To Be Clear the Mom Was Not Also a Hacker.

But it would've been less confusing and maybe avoided some implicit stereotyping.
posted by gurple at 11:36 AM on February 27, 2020 [2 favorites]

...By the Way To Be Clear the Mom Was Not Also a Hacker.

I think she kind of was a hacker, albeit one without a lot experience. Definitely a top-notch social engineer. Sounds like a really neat person; would have liked to meet her.
posted by TedW at 11:43 AM on February 27, 2020 [11 favorites]

Should probably be titled "How the CFO of a security company pen tested a prison that said security company was hired to pen test, also, just like most women her age she was someone's mother."
posted by sideshow at 11:45 AM on February 27, 2020 [22 favorites]

I think she kind of was a hacker...

Alas:

Rita had the health inspector guise down cold, but she was no hacker.

What I was getting at was just that the title of the article assumes that the reader will assume that the mom is not a hacker, because mom.
posted by gurple at 11:46 AM on February 27, 2020 [2 favorites]

That's a great story. Well written, too (by Lily Hay Newman) - the quote she used for the last line is excellent.

(Also, I would like to have a preparatory caramel roll and slice of pecan pie.)

Thanks for posting this, Mom!
posted by kristi at 11:46 AM on February 27, 2020 [2 favorites]

When she gave the warden the USB with the malicious "helpful Word document"--chef's kiss.
posted by emjaybee at 11:56 AM on February 27, 2020 [9 favorites]

Alas:

Rita had the health inspector guise down cold, but she was no hacker.

Well, I guess the author and I will just have to disagree; great article though!
posted by TedW at 12:11 PM on February 27, 2020 [2 favorites]

I’m impressed but not surprised. I have some responsibility for a red team. Cigarettes. Give them a few packs of cigarettes and have them stand outside in the designated smoking zones of your target. It’s amazing the bonds that can be made between smokers - the literal doors they will open for you after you’ve lit one for them and talked smack with them for a while....
posted by inflatablekiwi at 12:23 PM on February 27, 2020 [7 favorites]

Was her last name Ehrmantrout?
posted by Chuffy at 1:01 PM on February 27, 2020 [2 favorites]

It’s amazing the bonds that can be made between smokers

"Mack sat down on the embankment and called Jim to sit beside him. 'Here's a good place. There's lots of cars moving. I don't know how long we'll have to wait.' He rolled a brown cigarette. 'Jim,' he said, 'You ought to take up smoking. It's a nice social habit. You'll have to talk to a lot of strangers in your time. I don't know any quicker way to soften a stranger down than to offer him a smoke, or even to ask him for one. And lots of guys feel insulted if they offer you a ciagarette and you don't take it. You better start.'" -- Steinbeck, In Dubious Battle, 1936.

Interesting article. Interesting comments.
posted by eotvos at 1:12 PM on February 27, 2020 [5 favorites]

To me, the headline suggested I was going to read a story about a hacker who was in prison, until their mom hacked/busted them out. Which is not what the story was. And I was tbh a bit conflicted reading a story celebrating helping prisons and prison workers be better at imprisoning people.

She does sound like a fun person to have known.
posted by solotoro at 2:08 PM on February 27, 2020 [7 favorites]

> hypersloth: " Pretty sure this isn't allowed. /s"
hypersloth, Go to your room.

kristi,You're welcome.
posted by Mom at 3:02 PM on February 27, 2020 [9 favorites]

For my read, it's the difference between "hacker's mom" and "hacker mom." No, the title doesn't say she's not a hacker, but the possessive "hacker's mom" kinda implies a distinction.
posted by rhizome at 5:51 PM on February 27, 2020

I thought the headline went with the article that followed. I liked the story. Today is the anniversary of my mom's death. No matter how much I try to imagine it, there is no way my mom, when she was alive, could have done anything at all remotely similar to this. The only thing remotely sneaky shall we say my mom was capable of was hiding the presents at holiday time and hiding the freshly baked cookies until after dinner. She did once surprise me and a friend taking a bong hit in my room after midnight when she should have been sleeping, but that is a whole other story.

Thanks Mom. And thanks Mom for posting.
posted by AugustWest at 10:28 PM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]

Perhaps it is a reflection of my own prejudices, but I read "Hacker's Mom" as encouraging us to be amazed that a mere mother could do this, whereas in fact, she was clearly a highly competent and capable professional in her own right.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 1:08 AM on February 28, 2020 [7 favorites]

This security thing... last night I went to pick up an eBay purchase from a lady in a neighboring town. The apartment building had two entryphones, one on the front door and the other on the floor her apartment was on.

While I was figuring out how to use it call her, helpful people let me through both of them. People just like being helpful, I guess, but it doesn't help secure the building...
posted by 43rdAnd9th at 4:41 AM on February 28, 2020