MySpace users are very familiar with the visage of their first “friend” and MySpace cofounder [Tom Anderson], but did you ever wonder what he used to do before he became everyone’s friend? TechCrunch’s investigative reporting revealed that [Tom] was a hacker in the eighties who hacked into the Chase Manhattan Bank computer system, which attracted the attention of the FBI. Under the handle “Lord Flathead”, he became the leader of a black hat hacker group by the time he was fourteen. His activities (along with those of other hackers) led to one of the largest FBI raids in California history. Because he was a minor at the time, he was not arrested, but put on probation in exchange for an agreement to stop committing computer crimes. This definitely makes having [Tom Anderson] on your friends list just a bit more interesting, doesn’t it?
[via Digg]
don’t you see something there? Tom Anderson…Thomas A Anderson alias neo??? isn’t it the muse of the matrix itself we have as a friend??!
Hey I’m friends with that guy!
This is very interesting. I hope we get more info on this, or at least Tom could reply to my comments…
Amazingly good find jay. That is spooky.
He agreed to stop committing computer crimes… then he founds MySpace. Dude so belongs back in jail.
Reminds me of the movie “Hackers” for some reason… “Hack the planet!”
what we know now is where the money came from to make myspace :D
im very suspicious of the matrix connection….
Tom is ZeroCool? OMGZ he LEET DOOD
Dude i love that movie “hackers” lol
yea it does, dang he was the head of a hacker group by the age of 14, he must have some real skill
@michaelb: I second that. “hack the planet!”
“As you can see, we’ve had our eye on you for some time now, Mr.Anderson.”
for a leet hacker you would think he could program a website better than a couple of poorly trained monkeys smashing on keyboards
i read somewhere once that toms pic wasnt of tom, it was actually some kid from toms school that got arrested for hacking.
now we find that Tom IS a hacker.
and rich, and made a lousy web site…. only in america
as above – hack the planet……
….goes off to research the film
why hate on tom for creating myspace? sure, you can call him a “sellout” and talk about how the site is full of glitches and vulnerabilities, but, the fact of the matter is he came up with a good idea and marketed it correctly. now he’s rich. i’m sure each of you guys would pass up the opportunity to make triple-digit millions if given the opportunity right? ;)
but can he hack a gibson…?
for anyone who hasn’t seen Hackers ^^that,s another reference
He sure is a hacker! he hacked together the giant WTF that is MySpace. it is rumoured that those who have seen the source behind myspace have gone blind and those whose sight wasn’t affected went insane shortly after.
if myspace is an example of his skill, he isn’t a hacker, but a skill-less hack.
I’ve seen myspace code and…ermh….*glitch*….aaah!
Peanut butter jelly time…..
………oh yeah!
I can’t believe that none of you cared to point out the obvious Zork Zero reference, I mean come on, it’s a great game that more people should play.
Wow, I might put Tom back in my “top 8”, just kidding. Seriously I hate chase bank so I Tommy Boy stuck it to them. By the way, good pick up on the matrix tip.
“[Tom] was a hacker in the eighties”
Who wasn’t?
what is this now, the tabloids?
Anyone else notice the Picture is dated back to 2007′ last time he logged in? Idk, but if i was tom a founder of myspace i think id be loged in everyday, or this news story is a little fishy?
=O If you add him to your friends and comment all his photo’s you can jump into the matrix.
s/hack/crack/gi
suddenly it makes sense why myspace gets hacked so often. another interesting blast from the past is a site called hackaday where hackers from round the world came to see what awesome hacks people had done. it seems that site is dead now and has been replaced with a lame news and useless fact site.
never used myspace–it was pretty clear to me the way the whole thing was designed so badly that tom must of been one of those retarted script kiddies. . .
hate that site.
[…] MySpace cofounder Tom Anderson former hacker […]
Hello!
I am a hacker. I can get you a yahoo, aol, hotmail,myspace faceobook..etc password. Once I have the password, I will show you proof I have it. I will take snapshots of the account or even message you from the account. I do charge a fee per password though.
Are you interested? Email me at Fordf202006@yahoo.com
got a real black hat there does that mean you get free aol ford?
hmmmm…it would be awesome if the movie “Hackers” was based on the true story of Tom Anderson, but covered up.
can you check,why n who have to hack my profile in myspace??
Wow he’s realy smart. Im 14 right now. He almost got arrested? Wow that’s just so sick.
Hi. EMAIL ME!!! I’m hacker. Can get you a myspace, facebook,yahoo,msn/hotmail, gmail, aol…etc password. I do charge money though,but will show proof i have it. Are you interested? please email me at fordtrucks90@live.com (I was formly known as fordf202006 on yahoo but my account was deleted)
Who knows where all of this is going now that Mike Arrington sold Techcrunch, where will the rest of us go?