Presidential Candidate Beto O'Rourke Revealed as Former Hacking Group Member
Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke confirms his past involvement with the influential hacking group Cult of the Dead Cow. His teenage years spent on early bulletin board systems provide him with a unique perspective on technology policy.
Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke confirms his past membership in the influential hacking group Cult of the Dead Cow (CDC), according to a new report. He joins the collective in the 1980s after discovering early bulletin board systems, where he operates his own board called TacoLand to discuss punk rock music and connect with other users.
The CDC gains fame for its hacktivism and for developing tools in the late 1990s that hack into Windows machines, ultimately forcing Microsoft to improve its security. However, O'Rourke's involvement occurs primarily in the 1980s when the group focuses on writing essays rather than creating hacking software, making it unclear if he participates in any actual hacking activities.
This unique background potentially equips O'Rourke to handle modern tech policy better than other candidates, though it also brings additional scrutiny to his campaign. He admits to downloading cracked video games and stealing long-distance phone service with his dial-up modem, but the statute of limitations for these minor infractions expires long ago.