YTCracker
Encyclopedia
Bryce Case, Jr. otherwise known as YTCracker , is a former cracker
most known for defacing the webpages of several federal
and municipal government websites in the United States, as well as several in private industry at the age of 17. Case later became known for his work as a Nerdcore hip hop
artist.
, United States
.
He has stated in interviews that he was exposed to computers by his father and mother, learning to program BASIC
from age 4. From there, his father taught him how to navigate MSDOS
and System V. Before long, he was involved in the local bulletin board systems and learning various other programming languages by reading books and examples.
Case attended William J. Palmer High School in Colorado Springs, dropping out of high school at the age of 17 to focus on a career in the information technology field.
bill for defacing the web site of NASA
’s Goddard Space Flight Center
with a modified frontend for a commonly used msadc.pl exploit. Other United States government
websites that were hacked include the Bureau of Land Management
's national training center and the Defense Contract Audit Agency
. At least 40 other websites were tampered with by Case, including Airspace USA, the bank Altamira
, Nissan Motors
, Honda
, the monitoring station for the United States Geological Survey
and the Texas Department of Public Safety
. Case stated he believed he was "on the good side" as he broke into company websites to alert them of security problems, not to cause harm. In May 2000 Case was charged with criminal mischief and computer crime for breaking into the Colorado Springs
city website, causing an estimated $25,000 in damages, though all $25,000 are costs of "time lost" to users.
These defacements launched him into the spotlight, making him a resource for the media, commenting on other hacking-related events, such as the denial of service attacks on Yahoo, eBay, Gay.com, and other well-known websites in 2000.
and a DJ under the name Ytcracker. He is best known for his work in the genre of Nerdcore hip-hop, in 2005 producing the album NerdRap Entertainment System. The album was created by adding vocals to re-mixed digital music from original Nintendo
games, and was described in Newsweek
as a "classic of the style."
In Las Vegas
, Case performed in 2006 at the Consumer Electronics Show
and in 2007 performed at the Players Ball
, appearing with the rappers Xzibit
, Ice Cube
and Too Short.
In 2010 an untitled demo by British electronic rock band Proxies was leaked onto the internet containing a feature by Case.
Case runs an independent record label, Nerdy South Records.
Black hat
A black hat is the villain or bad guy, especially in a western movie in which such a character would stereotypically wear a black hat in contrast to the hero's white hat, especially in black and white movies....
most known for defacing the webpages of several federal
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
and municipal government websites in the United States, as well as several in private industry at the age of 17. Case later became known for his work as a Nerdcore hip hop
Nerdcore hip hop
Nerdcore hip hop, is a sub-genre of hip hop music characterized by themes and subject matter considered to be of general interest to nerds, though it can appeal to others as well. Self-described nerdcore musician MC Frontalot has the earliest known recorded use of the term in the 2000 song...
artist.
Childhood
Case was born in La Mirada, CaliforniaLa Mirada, California
La Mirada is a city in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of the Gateway Cities. The population was 48,527 at the 2010 census, up from 46,783 at the 2000 census....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
He has stated in interviews that he was exposed to computers by his father and mother, learning to program BASIC
BASIC
BASIC is a family of general-purpose, high-level programming languages whose design philosophy emphasizes ease of use - the name is an acronym from Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code....
from age 4. From there, his father taught him how to navigate MSDOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
and System V. Before long, he was involved in the local bulletin board systems and learning various other programming languages by reading books and examples.
Case attended William J. Palmer High School in Colorado Springs, dropping out of high school at the age of 17 to focus on a career in the information technology field.
Hacking activities
In 1999, Case gained notoriety, media coverage, and a restitutionRestitution
The law of restitution is the law of gains-based recovery. It is to be contrasted with the law of compensation, which is the law of loss-based recovery. Obligations to make restitution and obligations to pay compensation are each a type of legal response to events in the real world. When a court...
bill for defacing the web site of NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Goddard Space Flight Center
The Goddard Space Flight Center is a major NASA space research laboratory established on May 1, 1959 as NASA's first space flight center. GSFC employs approximately 10,000 civil servants and contractors, and is located approximately northeast of Washington, D.C. in Greenbelt, Maryland, USA. GSFC,...
with a modified frontend for a commonly used msadc.pl exploit. Other United States government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
websites that were hacked include the Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
's national training center and the Defense Contract Audit Agency
Defense Contract Audit Agency
The Defense Contract Audit Agency , under the authority, direction, and control of the United States Under Secretary of Defense , is responsible for performing all contract audits for the United States Department of Defense , and providing accounting and financial advisory services regarding...
. At least 40 other websites were tampered with by Case, including Airspace USA, the bank Altamira
National Bank of Canada
National Bank of Canada is the 6th largest bank and 8th largest financial institution in Canada. The bank's headquarters are in Montreal, Quebec....
, Nissan Motors
Nissan Motors
, usually shortened to Nissan , is a multinational automaker headquartered in Japan. It was a core member of the Nissan Group, but has become more independent after its restructuring under Carlos Ghosn ....
, Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
, the monitoring station for the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
and the Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas Department of Public Safety
The Texas Department of Public Safety is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The DPS is responsible for statewide law enforcement and vehicle regulation. The Public Safety Commission oversees the DPS. Its five members are appointed by the Governor of Texas and confirmed by the...
. Case stated he believed he was "on the good side" as he broke into company websites to alert them of security problems, not to cause harm. In May 2000 Case was charged with criminal mischief and computer crime for breaking into the Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
city website, causing an estimated $25,000 in damages, though all $25,000 are costs of "time lost" to users.
These defacements launched him into the spotlight, making him a resource for the media, commenting on other hacking-related events, such as the denial of service attacks on Yahoo, eBay, Gay.com, and other well-known websites in 2000.
Music
Case performs as an MCMaster of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
and a DJ under the name Ytcracker. He is best known for his work in the genre of Nerdcore hip-hop, in 2005 producing the album NerdRap Entertainment System. The album was created by adding vocals to re-mixed digital music from original Nintendo
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
games, and was described in Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
as a "classic of the style."
In Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Case performed in 2006 at the Consumer Electronics Show
Consumer Electronics Show
The International Consumer Electronics Show is a major technology-related trade show held each January in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Not open to the public, the Consumer Electronics Association-sponsored show typically hosts previews of products and new...
and in 2007 performed at the Players Ball
Players Ball
The Players Ball is an annual gathering of pimps, held in Chicago, Illinois. The party has been a November tradition since 1974, when pimps from across the country gathered to celebrate the birthday of Don Juan now known as Bishop Don "Magic" Juan. Every year, the award for "Pimp of the Year" is...
, appearing with the rappers Xzibit
Xzibit
Alvin Nathaniel Joiner , better known by his stage name Xzibit , is an American rapper, actor, and television host. He is known as the host of the MTV show Pimp My Ride, which brought him mainstream success...
, Ice Cube
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
and Too Short.
In 2010 an untitled demo by British electronic rock band Proxies was leaked onto the internet containing a feature by Case.
Case runs an independent record label, Nerdy South Records.
Discography
- stc is the greatest (2004) (as a member of spamtec)
- Nerdrap Entertainment System (2005) (solo effort)
- still the greatest (2005) (as a member of spamtec)
- Rhyme Torrents Volumes I & II (2006) (compilation)
- Nerd Life (2006) (solo effort)
- Dirty Nerdy (2007) (featuring many other nerdcore artists)
- 8-Bit Diagrams (2008) (as a member of 8-Bit Boys)
- Serious Business EP (2008) (featuring Elijah Lucian)
- The Digital Gangster LP (2008) (with MC LarsMC LarsAndrew Robert MacFarlane Nielsen is an American rapper, known by his stage name MC Lars. He is the self-proclaimed originator of "post-punk laptop rap". He was one of the first underground rappers to sample and reference post-punk and emo bands...
) - Invasion of the Mic Snatchers (2008) (As part of the Sinister Six)
- dcpd bangerz vol. 1 (2009) (featuring the Dekalb County, Georgia Police Force)
- Chrono Nurga vol. 1 (2009) (solo effort)
- ______ every day (2010) (with Hairetsu and spamtec)
- Space Mission (2010) (featuring Elijah Lucian, Hairetsu)