% = % = % = % = % = % = % = % = = % P h r a c k X V I I % = = % = % = % = % = % = % = % = % Phrack Seventeen 07 April 1988 File 7 of 12 : Accessing Government Computers +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + ACCESSING GOVERNMENT COMPUTERS + + (LEGALLY!) + +-------------------------------------+ + Written by The Sorceress + + (The Far Side 415/471-1138) + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Comment: I came across this article in Computer Shopper (Sept. 1987) and it talked about citizens access government computers since we do pay for them with our taxpayers monies. Since then, I have had friends and gone on a few myself and the databases are full of information for accessing. One thing, you usually have to call the sysop for access and give him your real name, address and the like. They call you back and verify your existence. Just a word of warning; crashing a BBS is a crime, so I wouldn't fool with these since they are government based. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- National Bureau of Standards - Microcomputers Electronic Information Exchange. Sysops: Ted Landberg & Lisa Carnahan Voice: 301-975-3359 Data: 301-948-5717 300/1200/2400 This BBS is operated by the Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology which is one of four technical organizations within the National Bureau of Standards. This board also contains information on the acquisition, management, security, and use of micro computers. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Census Bureau - Census Microcomputer and Office Technology Center, Room 1065 FB-3 Washington, D.C. (Suitland, MD) Sysop: Nevins Frankel Voice: 301-763-4494 Data: 301-763-4576 300/1200 The purpose of this BBS is to allow users to access the following: Census Microcomputer and office technology information center bulletins and catalogues, software and hardware evaluations, Hardware and software inventories, Census computer club library, Public Domain software, etc. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Census Bureau - Census Microcomputer and Office Technology Center, Personnel Division, Washington DC. Voice: 301-763-4494 Data: 301-763-4574 300/1200/2400 The purpose of this board is to display Census Bureau vacancies from entry level to senior management. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Commerce - Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, Office of Business Analysis, Economic Bulletin Board. Sysop: Ken Rogers Voice: 202-377-0433 Data: 202-377-3870 300/1200 This is another well run BBS with in-depth news about the Department of Commerce Economic Affairs Agencies including current press releases and report summaries. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- COE BBS - Manpower and Force Management Division, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 20 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC. Sysop: Rich Courney Voice: 202-272-1646 Data: 202-272-1514 300/1200/2400 The files database was one of the largest they ever seen. Directory 70 has programs for designing masonry and retaining walls using Lotus's Symphony. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- General Services Administration - Information Resources Service Center. Data: 202-535-8054 300 bps Data: 202-535-7661 1200 bps GSA's Information Resources Service Center provides information on contracts, schedules, policies, and programs. One of the areas that is interesting was the weekly supplement to the consolidated list of debarred, suspended and ineligible contractors. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Budget and Finance Board of the Office of Immigration Naturalization Service. DO NOT CALL THIS BBS DURING WORKING HOURS. Sysop: Mike Arnold Data: 202-787-3460 300/1200/2400 The system is devoted to the exchange of information related to budget and financial management in the federal government. It is a 'working' system for the Immigration and Naturalization Service personnel. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval Aviation News Computer Information (NANei) - Supported by: Naval Aviation News Magazine, Bldg. 159E, Navy Yard Annex, Washington, DC 20374. Sysop: Commander Howard Wheeler Voice: 202-475-4407 Data: 202-475-1973 300/1200 Available from 5 pm to 8 am. weekdays 5pm Friday to 8 am Monday This is a large BBS with lots of Navy related information and programs. NANci is for those interested in stories, facts, and historical information related to Naval Aviation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Federal National Mortgage Association - Sysop: Ken Goosens Data: 202-537-7475 202-537-7945 300/1200 This BBS is in transition. Ken Gossens will be running a new BBS at 703-979-6360. The BBS maybe become a closed board under the new sysop. This BBS has/had one of largest collections of files for downloading. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The World Bank, Information, Technology and Facilities Department, Office System Division, Washington DC. Sysop: Ashok Daswani Voice: 202-473-2237 Data: 202-676-0920 300/1200 Basically a software exchange BBS, but has other information about the use of microcomputers and software supported by World Bank. IBM product announcements also kept up to date. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Meteorological Center. * You must obtain a password from the SYSOP to log on to this BBS. Sysop: Vernon Patterson Voice: 301-763-8071 Data: 301-899-0825 300 bps 301-899-0830 1200 bps This is one of the most useful databases available on-line. With it you can access meteorological data collected form 6000 locations throughout the world. It can also display crude, but useful graphic maps of the US illustration temperatures, precipitation and forecasts. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- National Weather Service, US Dept. of Commerce, East Coast Marine Users BBS * You must obtain a p/w from the SYSOP to logon this BBS. Sysop: Ross Laporte Voice: 301-899-3296 Data: 301-454-8700 300bps Use this BBS to obtain info about marine weather and nautical info about coastal waterways including topical storm advisories. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NARDAC, Navy Regional Data Automation Center, Norfolk, VA. 23511-6497 Sysop: Jerry Dew Voice: 804-445-4298 Data: 804-445-1627 300 & 1200 bps A basic Utilitarian system developed to support the informational needs of NARDAC. The Dept. of Defense mag., CHIPS is available in the files section of this BBS. There are also Navy and IBM related articles to read. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Veterans Administration, Info Technology Bulletin Board. Data: 202-376-2184 300/1200 bps The content of this BBS ranges from job opening listings to information computer security. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dept. of Energy, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Infolink. Sysop: Bruce Birnbaum Voice: 202-586-9707 Data: 202-586-9359 300/1200 bps This BBS has press leases, fact sheets, backgrounders, congressional questions, answers, speeches & testimony, from the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- I skipped listing a few of the BBSes in this article if the chances were slim to get on or if the BBS got a bad review. Most of the ones listed seemed to have lot of informative files for downloading and viewing pleasure. This article carried a very strong word of warning about tampering/crashing these since they are run by the govt. and a volunteer Sysop. Since you can get on these legally why not use it? The Sorceress