Bryan Clough
Encyclopedia
Bryan Clough is an English
writer
.
Clough has written several books and articles dealing with phreakers
, hackers
and computer virus writers
; credit card fraud
; bank
ing; and the activities of MI5
during World War II
, specifically the Tyler Kent
- Anna Wolkoff
Affair (2005).
, hackers
and computer virus writers
. It was later published in North America and translations appeared in French, Spanish, Turkish and Japanese.
Three incidents of credit card fraud
described in the book resulted in much interest in the press. Further investigations resulted articles on computer viruses, and investigations into ‘phantom withdrawals’ from (Automated Teller Machine
) and credit card fraud
.
These investigations culminated in the publication of Cheating at Cards (1994) which revealed 40 ways of fraudulently obtaining money from ATMs (Automated Teller Machine
); and Beware of Your Bank (1995) in which he examined mistakes made by banks and explained how to detect errors, and how to obtain compensation.
Sparked by a close interest in cryptology, he then turned to the strange case of Tyler Kent
, an American national employed as a code and cipher
clerk at the American Embassy in London
, at a time when Great Britain
was at war with Germany
and America
claimed to be strictly neutral
. In May 1940, Kent was arrested, tried in camera
and sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude
.
Clough’s book State Secrets: The Kent-Wolkoff Affair (2005) took advantage of privileged access to Government files and also the release of others under the Freedom of Information Act. Sixty-five years after the event, Clough finally revealed the ‘real reason’ for Kent’s arrest and imprisonment - which was very different from the earlier versions in officially-inspired publications.
, Oldham
and served his National Service
with the 10th Royal Hussars in Germany. He then worked in a variety of industries, mainly in Engineering, before becoming Chief Executive for a major International Company which allowed him to travel widely.
He set up his own computer supply and maintenance company in 1983 which he sold out in 1990 in order to concentrate on research and writing.
Clough married in 1971 and he has two daughters. He now lives in Hove, Sussex, United Kingdom.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
Clough has written several books and articles dealing with phreakers
Phreaking
Phreaking is a slang term coined to describe the activity of a culture of people who study, experiment with, or explore telecommunication systems, such as equipment and systems connected to public telephone networks. As telephone networks have become computerized, phreaking has become closely...
, hackers
Hacker (computer security)
In computer security and everyday language, a hacker is someone who breaks into computers and computer networks. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, including profit, protest, or because of the challenge...
and computer virus writers
Computer virus
A computer virus is a computer program that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability...
; credit card fraud
Credit card fraud
Credit card fraud is a wide-ranging term for theft and fraud committed using a credit card or any similar payment mechanism as a fraudulent source of funds in a transaction. The purpose may be to obtain goods without paying, or to obtain unauthorized funds from an account. Credit card fraud is also...
; bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
ing; and the activities of MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, specifically the Tyler Kent
Tyler Kent
Tyler Gatesworth Kent was an American diplomat who stole thousands of secret documents for a pro-German organization while working as a cipher clerk at the U.S. Embassy in London during World War II....
- Anna Wolkoff
Anna Wolkoff
Anna Nikolayevna Wolkova , sometimes known as Anna de Wolkoff, was a White Russian emigré and a spy for Nazi Germany during World War II.-Early life:...
Affair (2005).
Works
In 1990, Clough and Paul Mungo, a journalist, wrote Approaching Zero (1992) a book that covered the activities of phreakersPhreaking
Phreaking is a slang term coined to describe the activity of a culture of people who study, experiment with, or explore telecommunication systems, such as equipment and systems connected to public telephone networks. As telephone networks have become computerized, phreaking has become closely...
, hackers
Hacker (computer security)
In computer security and everyday language, a hacker is someone who breaks into computers and computer networks. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, including profit, protest, or because of the challenge...
and computer virus writers
Computer virus
A computer virus is a computer program that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability...
. It was later published in North America and translations appeared in French, Spanish, Turkish and Japanese.
Three incidents of credit card fraud
Credit card fraud
Credit card fraud is a wide-ranging term for theft and fraud committed using a credit card or any similar payment mechanism as a fraudulent source of funds in a transaction. The purpose may be to obtain goods without paying, or to obtain unauthorized funds from an account. Credit card fraud is also...
described in the book resulted in much interest in the press. Further investigations resulted articles on computer viruses, and investigations into ‘phantom withdrawals’ from (Automated Teller Machine
Automated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
) and credit card fraud
Credit card fraud
Credit card fraud is a wide-ranging term for theft and fraud committed using a credit card or any similar payment mechanism as a fraudulent source of funds in a transaction. The purpose may be to obtain goods without paying, or to obtain unauthorized funds from an account. Credit card fraud is also...
.
These investigations culminated in the publication of Cheating at Cards (1994) which revealed 40 ways of fraudulently obtaining money from ATMs (Automated Teller Machine
Automated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
); and Beware of Your Bank (1995) in which he examined mistakes made by banks and explained how to detect errors, and how to obtain compensation.
Sparked by a close interest in cryptology, he then turned to the strange case of Tyler Kent
Tyler Kent
Tyler Gatesworth Kent was an American diplomat who stole thousands of secret documents for a pro-German organization while working as a cipher clerk at the U.S. Embassy in London during World War II....
, an American national employed as a code and cipher
Encryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
clerk at the American Embassy in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, at a time when Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
was at war with Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
claimed to be strictly neutral
Neutral country
A neutral power in a particular war is a sovereign state which declares itself to be neutral towards the belligerents. A non-belligerent state does not need to be neutral. The rights and duties of a neutral power are defined in Sections 5 and 13 of the Hague Convention of 1907...
. In May 1940, Kent was arrested, tried in camera
In camera
In camera is a legal term meaning "in private". It is also sometimes termed in chambers or in curia.In camera describes court cases that the public and press are not admitted to...
and sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude
Penal labour
Penal labour is a form of unfree labour in which prisoners perform work, typically manual labour. The work may be light or hard, depending on the context. Forms of sentence which involve penal labour include penal servitude and imprisonment with hard labour...
.
Clough’s book State Secrets: The Kent-Wolkoff Affair (2005) took advantage of privileged access to Government files and also the release of others under the Freedom of Information Act. Sixty-five years after the event, Clough finally revealed the ‘real reason’ for Kent’s arrest and imprisonment - which was very different from the earlier versions in officially-inspired publications.
Personal life
Clough was educated at the Hulme Grammar SchoolHulme Grammar School
Hulme Grammar School is an independent grammar school situated on and around Chamber Road, about three-quarters of a mile south of the centre of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England, between Frederick Street and Windsor Road.-History:...
, Oldham
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
and served his National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
with the 10th Royal Hussars in Germany. He then worked in a variety of industries, mainly in Engineering, before becoming Chief Executive for a major International Company which allowed him to travel widely.
He set up his own computer supply and maintenance company in 1983 which he sold out in 1990 in order to concentrate on research and writing.
Clough married in 1971 and he has two daughters. He now lives in Hove, Sussex, United Kingdom.