# Hackers & UFOs **TL;DR:** At least three hackers targeted US military and/or government computer systems between about 1992 and 2002 looking for evidence related to UFOs. According to them, they found it. *Table of Contents:* \ [**1992: "Quentin"**](#earliest-quentin-on-dateline-nbc-and-in-phrack) \ [**1996: Mathew "Kuji" Bevan**](#mid-90s-mathew-bevan) \ [**2002: Gary "SOLO" McKinnon**](#most-well-known-gary-mckinnon) \ [Further Information](https://www.ufohackers.org/hackers#additional-links-for-further-information-on-gary) \ [**2007: Richard "neuralcowboy" Thieme**](#author-professional-speaker-richard-thieme) \ [BBSes & Other Archives](#historically-relevant-bbses-and-other-archives) ## **Earliest: "Quentin" on *****Dateline NBC***** and in *****Phrack*** * [**1992** *Dateline NBC* segment](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0QflNaPi7A\&t=77s)--"Quentin" is interviewed, with other hackers. [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0QflNaPi7A),[ alternate](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zjBrFSn3DE) * This segment was also described in a [text file on ParaNet](https://web.archive.org/web/20071016063631/http://www.paranetinfo.com/UFO_Files/ufo/dateline.txt). > *"Quentin told us he's...browsed through secret government files on UFOs, and gone snooping in our nation's military computers."* - Narrator (2:15) * **1993** [Project Green Cheese / Project ALF-1](http://phrack.org/issues/42/13.html#article) published in *Phrack Magazine*, Issue 42, File 13.\ (Use *`CTRL+F`* to find *"*`Text File`*"* for the relevant part.) \ The [e-zine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_magazine) prints UFO-related search terms and IP addresses of US secret networks, information supplied by "Quentin" and possibly two or more accomplices. * [Here's a mailing list](http://cd.textfiles.com/secretsubjects/UNDERGRD/VOL_5/CUD513D.TXT) that predates the *Phrack* article. ([Archived commentary](https://web.archive.org/web/20010303221709/http://paul.rutgers.edu/~mcgrew/ufo/hackers)) * [**1994** Columns in *UFO Magazine* by T. Scott Crain](https://www.ufohackers.org/hackers/quentin/1994-ufo-magazines), who wrote letters to NBC. * **2019** [article about the NBC segment by Nick Redfern](https://web.archive.org/web/20221130210136/https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2019/11/ufos-computer-hacking-the-media-just-maybe-dead-aliens/), who attributes: > *"The hacker is aware of the interest his apparent UFO data has provoked, but does not wish to respond."* - the late Susan Adams (*Dateline NBC* producer) {% file src="" %} **2019** Report by Giuliano Marinkovic tracking Quentin's text file {% endfile %} Quentin influenced [Mathew Bevan](#mid-90s-mathew-bevan) and [Gary McKinnon](#most-well-known-gary-mckinnon), the hackers who succeeded him. From email correspondence: * *"I was referencing this textfile... Phrack... it was picked up in the BBS I went to."* - Mathew Bevan * *"I remember the Quentin docs and other stuff. IP Addresses of some of them overlap with what I found."* - Gary McKinnon I contacted Chris "Erik Bloodaxe" Goggans, the editor of *Phrack*. Here are two things he said: * *"I know that Quentin had at least two people in the hacker scene that he considered friends and was usually working with on whatever it was he was up to. Don't know much more about them."* * *"I have no real way to track down authors of the submitted articles at this point, as I don't have the Phrack email archives from 1993."* Quentin's true identity remains unknown. ## Mid-'90s: Mathew Bevan * **1994** [Mathew "Kuji" Bevan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathew_Bevan)\ Inspired by the articles in Phrack, (and a rumor about Project Green Cheese being [a group of 50 hackers who went missing](https://youtu.be/bHtItL-lNAE?si=OvFBQzGVDEpI8UA2\&t=327),) Bevan used a Commodore Amiga 500 and Commodore Amiga 1200 to penetrate the US Air Force, NASA, and NATO. * **1996** Bevan is arrested [and considered an accomplice of Richard "Datastream Cowboy" Pryce](https://irp.fas.org/congress/1996_hr/s960605b.htm). However, Bevan is let off 18 months later due to lack of evidence. (The US was unwilling to provide evidence of military digital intrusion to a UK court.) * **1996** [New York Times article](https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/24/world/2d-briton-is-charged-in-computer-spying.html) when Bevan was arrested. * **1997** [The Independent article](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/court-frees-man-in-military-hacking-case-1295386.html) when Bevan was released. * **1997** [Times of London article](https://web.archive.org/web/20001214002200/http://www.ufomind.com/ufo/updates/1997/nov/m24-016.shtml) when Bevan was released. * **1999** [Interview of Bevan by Matthew Williams](https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/ciencia/secret_projects/project159.htm) [Periodicals](http://www.kujimedia.com/gallery/), [newspapers](https://www.kujimedia.com/tag/kuji/page/4/), and [the media](http://www.kujimedia.com/musings/) covered Bevan's case extensively, along with other sources. * Interview by David Glover: [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHtItL-lNAE) * BBC #1: [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUBHs5YI27s) * BBC #2: [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky3dEHS5VAs) * HTV: [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpsjKbbI880) * Wales Tonight: [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbDnxd6BzEc) * **1999** [U.S. info-warriors crap out in Crown Court](http://web.archive.org/web/19990508120956/http://www.soci.niu.edu/~crypt/other/afosi.htm). (Archive) * **2003** [Hacking U.S. Government Computers from Overseas](http://web.archive.org/web/20030306080356/http://www.wasc.noaa.gov/wrso/security_guide/hacking.htm). (Archive) > *“Nearly started a third world war.”* - Jim Christy, AFOSI > *“Possibly the single biggest threat to world peace since Adolf Hitler.” -* a Pentagon source Historical details about Bevan's case are discussed in this [Twitter](https://x.com/mrjeffknox/status/1936268937467248736) or [BlueSky thread](https://bsky.app/profile/mrjeffknox.bsky.social/post/3ls3ncfx7gk2u) by Jeff Knox. Technical details about Bevan's hack are discussed in [this Twitter thread by @hackerfantastic](https://web.archive.org/web/20220519145556/https://twitter.com/hackerfantastic/status/1527301954208092160). He accomplished this using a [bluebox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_box) and a USR 14.4K dial-up modem. Of note is that he got into a Wright-Patterson Air Force Base system that took no password and [saw plans for an antigravity drive](https://web.archive.org/web/20010306071223/http://www.artgomperz.com/a1998/jan/wpafb.html): > In getting into that there was one machine on the network where I read current files and future project proposals. I read documents which gave me the impression that they had an anti-gravity engine which was capable of at least Mach 12 to Mach 15. I don't know how exactly how fast that is but I think that is faster than most aircraft we know of today. Supposedly the aircraft which employs this engine uses a reactor to which there were a lot of detailed numbers and figures for, but I have no idea what all this meant. I can remember that the documents referred to a super heavy element, whatever that means. The element is the main fuel for the reactor. The engine worked by making a disturbance of molecules at the front of the craft so that it was able to stop the inertia or G-force inside the craft. I got the impression that this information was the type of material I was looking for because it was far in advance of our current technology and could be something to do with the Roswell UFO. Finding this threw me because I didn't know if this information was a disinformation exercise and that people were meant to get in and find this stuff or if it was real. I can't be sure and this is the one annoying thing. Bevan also says, > I like to think what I saw was not misinformation. ## **Most Well-Known: Gary McKinnon** > *"The biggest military computer hack of all time."* - US prosecuting attorney Paul McNulty **2001-2002** [Gary "SOLO" McKinnon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_McKinnon), the most well-known UFO hacker, breaks into US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, Department of Defense, and NASA computers by targeting systems with administrator passwords of "Administrator," "password," or blank. Gary accomplishes this using a Perl program to mass scan a /16 IP space and probe the NetBIOS protocol on port 139. He uses a 56K dial-up modem. On some systems, he installs RemotelyAnywhere for remote desktop. He uses Landsearch software to search through all files on all computers across a domain. On a Navy system, he sees spreadsheet tabs with titles such as "non-terrestrial officers" and "fleet-to-fleet transfers", with names of ships not known to be in the US Navy. Also, following Dr. Steven Greer's [Disclosure Project](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DrcG7VGgQU) and specifically the testimony of [Donna Hare](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEBLmWhx1K0), he targets Building 8 at NASA Johnson Space Center where UFOs are reportedly being airbrushed out of satellite photography before the photos are released to the public. He makes it onto a system and sees a 'raw' photo of a smooth [cylindrical craft with domes](https://imgur.com/a/FOwKTyy) that has no seams or rivets. However, he miscalculates the time zones and is disconnected by a local computer user before he can take a screenshot. Months later, he is arrested by the UK's National Hi-Tech Crimes Unit (who seized his computer) and he is put under an extradition order from the US. It will be a 10-year legal battle before his extradition is finally blocked by the UK over human rights and UK charges are eventually dropped. Gary still faces [US charges](https://web.archive.org/web/20060516102803/http://cryptome.org/ips-bared.htm). * **2005** Interview in *The Guardian* newspaper: [article](https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2005/jul/09/weekend7.weekend2) * **2005** Interview with *BBC News World Service*: [audio](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p03js2tq) * **2006** interview with Gary for *BBC Click Online*: [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZPqFVM6j6A) * **2006** interview by *Project Camelot*: [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8MnfampJKU), [higher resolution video](https://odysee.com/project-camelot-gary-mckinnon-re-release:4d2a29deb3f304678557b927cad80fc5d63f5f52) * **2006** Interview for *WIRED Magazine*: [article](https://www.wired.com/2006/06/ufo-hacker-tells-what-he-found/) * **2006** Interview for *.net Magazine*: [article](https://medium.com/the-lindberg-interviews/interview-with-ufo-hacker-gary-mckinnon-5aa5d366828b) * **2007** "SOLO" interviewed on *Hacker's Voice Radio* podcast:[ mp3 audio](http://www.hackervoice.co.uk/show/archive/2007/hackervoiceradio19mar2007.MP3) * **2007** talk on Gary at UFO Crash Con by Matthew Williams: [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf5uek-vSQE) * Proceedings from this conference include an interview with Gary [here](https://www.ufohackers.org/hackers/gary-mckinnon/2007-ufo-crash-con). * **2008** Gary McKinnon Intervew Footage by ITN: [Getty Images](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/video/gary-mckinnon-interview-sot-on-low-levels-of-security-on-news-footage/665225922) * **2009** "Gary McKinnon: Britain's Hacking Hero?": [article](https://www.alphr.com/features/252972/gary-mckinnon-britains-hacking-hero) * **2011** "The Autistic Hacker", profile in IEEE Spectrum: [article](https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-autistic-hacker) * **2015** Interview by Richard D. Hall: [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsfrmTXuw1Q) * **2017** [Gary](https://web.archive.org/web/20220816040612/https://smallseo.co.uk/ill-be-speaking-at-the-mufon-symposium-2017/) spoke via video link at the MUFON Symposium**:** * I have uploaded the full talk with audience questions [here](https://youtu.be/t43NJjpXGE8). Just the talk is on [Gary's YouTube](https://youtu.be/LTemN5XTdec). * The symposium proceedings include a transcript of Gary's speech, which I have archived [here](https://www.ufohackers.org/hackers/gary-mckinnon/2017-mufon-symposium). * **2018** [Gary](https://web.archive.org/web/20220816034327/https://smallseo.co.uk/ill-be-on-the-next-series-of-ancient-aliens/) is featured on *Ancient Aliens*: [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20rWFDfh68Y) * **2019** *UFO Chronicles* podcast: [web player](https://ufochroniclespodcast.com/ep2-gary-mckinnon/), [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/1xTupuxv2S5G40uVXz1cQD?si=80d9994ffec94d60), [mp3 audio](https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52831240/ep_2_gary_mckinnon.mp3?dl=true) * **2019** Interview by Richard Dolan: [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Is7809XFU) * **2020** Interview by Richard Medhurst: [article](https://www.richardmedhurst.com/gary-mckinnon-interview/) * **2022** Gary McKinnon's Reddit AMA on /r/UFOs: [Reddit thread](https://old.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/t0imdw/hi_im_gary_mckinnon_i_was_in_the_news_for_a/) * **2022** Interview by Tim Ventura: [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SOTGFj7BwI) * **2023** Interview by 'M' Seeker of Truth: [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT_cX6mpAms) * **2023** Interview by Chris Thrall: [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spRfMxOB9zM) * **2024** Gary McKinnon is featured in James Fox's documentary film: [The Program](https://geni.us/TheProgram) * **2025** Gary McKinnon rejoins Twitter/X as [@realGMcKinnon](https://x.com/realGMcKinnon/) * **2026** Interview by Jesse Michels: [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ttdlCa5ZCI) #### Corroborating Technical Evidence First, Gary says that he used IPindex.net for reconnaissance. Using the [Internet Archive of that site](https://web.archive.org/web/20000510074952/http://www.ipindex.net/index.html), and comparing it with [the specific IPs from his indictment](https://cryptome.org/ips-bared.htm), we can see that the IP ranges in Texas correspond to NASA Johnson Space Center. ``` 139.169.0.0 NASA/Johnson Space Center, TX (NET-JIN) ``` Next, Gary says he used RemotelyAnywhere to remotely control the NASA JSC desktop. Looking at the 2002 [manual for RemotelyAnywhere](https://manualzz.com/doc/32532703/remotelyanywhere-documentation), remote installation is documented: ``` Install <–computer COMPUTER> <–path PATH> [-port PORT] [-minimal] [-license FILENAME] ``` Last, I found this program in an old CD-ROM's contents: [About Proxynator screenshot](https://imgur.com/a/NbN7V) \ I used these same hacking techniques at around the same time. As seen, the idea is attributed to "SOLO", capitalized the same as Gary's handle. #### Overlap with IP Addresses from the [Quentin Text File](http://cd.textfiles.com/secretsubjects/UNDERGRD/VOL_5/CUD513D.TXT) Gary told me that he *"remembers the Quentin docs and other stuff"* and that the IP addresses overlap with what he found. I looked into this, and found the following: ``` Army Fort Irwin, Barstow, CA McKinnon Indictment: 134.66.12.64 Project Green Cheese: Network 134.66.x.x NASA Ames, Moffett Field Naval Base, CA McKinnon Indictment: 192.150.x.x (192.150.38.45, 192.150.38.14, 192.150.38.51, 192.150.38.125) Project Green Cheese: Network 192.52.195.1 Pentagon, Arlington, VA McKinnon Indictment: 141.116.x.x (141.116.58.63, 141.116.204.150, 141.116.230.88) Project Green Cheese: Network 141.116.0.1, Random Suspected Nets: 141.x.x.x ``` #### Dispelling Rumors and Myths According to Gary, there is *"*[*No such programme!*](https://imgur.com/a/gary-mckinnon-says-no-solar-warden-uDvih5G)*"* as Solar Warden. He has consistently said that he does not remember the names of the ships in the "fleet-to-fleet transfers" document, and when asked specifically about the names "USSS Hillenkoetter" and "USSS Curtis LeMay" [during the Q\&A](https://youtu.be/HdSSHTYRhuk?t=2450) after his 2017 MUFON Symposium talk, he reiterated that he does not remember those names. The earliest reference I can find to these is a [2010 article](https://openminds.tv/what-did-ufo-hacker-really-find/) by Alejandro Rojas, who attributes them to rumors. #### Additional Links for Further Information on Gary * **2012** [Gary was unlucky](https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/gary-was-unlucky-he-s-not-even-a-good-hacker-8215802.html) by Peter Warren (how Gary was caught) * **2012** BBC [Profile: Gary McKinnon](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-19946902) (why Gary's extradition was blocked) * **2014** [From Kuji to Solo](https://vocal.media/futurism/from-kuji-to-solo) by Ryan Sprague (covers both Mathew Bevan and Gary McKinnon) * **2016** [UFO Hacker Gary McKinnon Story](https://web.archive.org/web/20220128033810/http://fourthkind.com/ufo-hacker-gary-mckinnon-story/) by Joel Hasse (/u/EarthmanJoel's fantastic article) * **2016** [Hackers Expose Secret Space Missions and Government UFO Research](https://www.gaia.com/article/hackers-expose-secret-space-missions-and-government-ufo-research) by Gaia Staff (factual errors) * **2020** [UFO Hackers Pay the Price](https://medium.com/on-the-trail-of-the-saucers/from-kuji-to-solo-how-one-mans-curiosity-paved-the-way-for-a-new-generation-of-ufo-hackers-a94344452083) by Ryan Sprague (almost entirely a repost of his 2014 article) * **2024** [The Man Who Hacked the U.S. Government](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND0zQX1rGdg) by Newsthink (YouTube video) Reportedy, a TV movie based on Gary McKinnon is in the works. ([Deadline](https://deadline.com/2023/11/bbc-gary-mckinnon-computer-hacker-drama-1235643829/)) ## **Author, Professional Speaker: Richard Thieme** [Richard "neuralcowboy" Thieme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Thieme), while not a hacker in the traditional sense, is an [author](http://thiemeworks.com) and public speaker, who talks on UFOs at the annual **DEFCON** hacker conference in Las Vegas, at the **MUFON Symposium**, and elsewhere: * **2002** MUFON Symposium - Are There UFOs on Mars?: [YouTube video](https://youtu.be/uwR4iAlMA0s) {% file src="" %} Richard Thieme's conference proceedings from the **2002** MUFON Symposium {% endfile %} * **2006** DEFCON 14 - ([clip from the talk](https://v.redd.it/fix3oedam2b91) - mentions crash retrievals and counterintelligence) * **2007** DEFCON 15 - Hacking UFOlogy: Thirty Years in the Wilderness of Mirrors: [PDF whitepaper](https://defcon.org/images/defcon-15/dc15-presentations/Thieme/Whitepaper/dc-15-thieme-WP.pdf), [M4B audio](https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2015/DEF%20CON%2015%20audio/DEF%20CON%2015%20Hacking%20Conference%20Presentation%20By%20Richard%20Theime%20-%20Hacking%20UFOlogy%20-%20Audio.m4b), [MP4 video](https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2015/DEF%20CON%2015%20video/DEF%20CON%2015%20-%20Richard%20Theime%20-%20Hacking%20UFOlogy%20-%20Video.mp4), [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/youtube-UaYFkKYzE7Q), [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZkol9q6i5Q) * **2009** DEFCON 17 - Hacking UFOlogy 102: The Implications of UFOs for Life, the Universe, and Everything: [M4B audio](https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2017/DEF%20CON%2017%20audio/DEF%20CON%2017%20-%20Richard%20Thieme%20-%20Hacking%20UFOlogy%20102%20The%20Implications%20of%20UFOs%20for%20Life%20the%20Universe%20and%20Everything%20-%20Audio.m4b), [MP4 video](https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2017/DEF%20CON%2017%20video/DEF%20CON%2017%20-%20Richard%20Thieme%20-%20Hacking%20UFOlogy%20102%20The%20Implications%20of%20UFOs%20for%20Life%20the%20Universe%20and%20Everything%20-%20Video.mp4), [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHPAa-Ocq9s) * **2013** Security BSides Las Vegas - Governments and UFOs: A Historical Analysis of Disinformation and Deception: [MP4 audio](https://infocon.org/cons/Security%20BSides/BSides%20Las%20Vegas/BSides%20Las%20Vegas%202013/Governments%20and%20UFOs%20A%20Historical%20Analysis%20of%20Disinformation%20and%20Deception%20R.mp4), [IronGeek](http://www.irongeek.com/i.php?page=videos/bsideslasvegas2013/1-2-7-governments-and-ufos-a-historical-analysis-of-disinformation-and-deception-richard-thieme), [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/bsideslv2013/Bsideslv2013-1-2-7GovernmentsAndUfosAHistoricalAnalysisOfDisinformationAndDeception-RichardThieme.avi), [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKa356BIQV8) * **2013** DEFCON 21 - The Government and UFOs: A Historical Analysis: [PDF slides](https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2021/DEF%20CON%2021%20presentations/DEF%20CON%2021%20-%20Richard-Thieme-UFOs-and-Govt.pdf), [TXT resources](https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2021/DEF%20CON%2021%20presentations/DEF%20CON%2021%20-%20Richard%20Thieme-UFOs-and-Govt-Resources.txt), [MP4 video](https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2021/DEF%20CON%2021%20video%20and%20slides/DEF%20CON%2021%20-%20Richard%20Thieme%20-%20The%20Government%20and%20UFOs%20A%20Historical%20Analysis%20-%20Video%20and%20Slides.mp4), [SRT subtitles](https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2021/DEF%20CON%2021%20video%20and%20slides/DEF%20CON%2021%20-%20Richard%20Thieme%20-%20The%20Government%20and%20UFOs%20A%20Historical%20Analysis%20-%20Video%20and%20Slides.srt), [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/youtube-r8k5kGbCR0M), [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8k5kGbCR0M) * These two 2013 talks were in line with a book Thieme co-authored: [*UFOs and Government: A Historical Inquiry*](https://thiemeworks.com/words/books/ufos-and-government-a-historical-inquiry/). * Thieme also was interviewed by WBSD radio about the book: [Stream](https://thiemeworks.com/podcasts/wbsd-radio-interview-on-ufo-and-government/), [MP3 audio](https://thiemeworks.com/uploads/richard-thieme-wbsd-radio-interview.mp3) * **2014** THOTCON 0x5 - [UFOs and Government: a Case Study in Disinformation, Deception, and Perception Management](https://infocondb.org/con/thotcon/thotcon-0x5/ufos-and-government-a-case-study-in-disinformation-deception-and-perception-management) (No recording) * **2016** MUFON Symposium - Against the Wind: Why People Can't Think Seriously About UFOs: [Speaker Profile Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVyuCAOSIMM), [MUFON TV](https://mufontelevision.com/mufon-2016-symposium/?vimeography_gallery=18\&vimeography_video=195010507), [Vimeo video](https://player.vimeo.com/video/195010507) {% file src="" %} Richard Thieme's conference proceedings from the **2016** MUFON Symposium {% endfile %} * **2016** Open Minds UFO Radio - UFOs, Technology and the Future (Alejandro Rojas has Thieme as a guest): [Podcast](https://rojasreport.podbean.com/e/richard-thieme-ufos-technology-and-the-future/), [MP3 audio](https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/download/9hnh1t/ufo_radio_2016_12_14_richard-thieme-ufos-technology-and-the-future.mp3) * **2016** Thieme pens the unpublished *Running Against the Wind: Why It’s So Hard to Think Seriously About UFOs*, published here for the first time. {% file src="" %} * **2021** DEFCON 29 - UFOs: Misinformation, Disinformation, and the Basic Truth: [PDF slides](https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2029/DEF%20CON%2029%20presentations/Richard%20Thieme%20AKA%20neuralcowbo%20-%20UFOs%20-%20%20Misinformation%2C%20Disinformation%2C%20and%20the%20Basic%20Truth.pdf), [MP4 video](https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2029/DEF%20CON%2029%20video%20and%20slides/DEF%20CON%2029%20-%20Richard%20Thieme%20AKA%20neuralcowboy%20-%20UFOs%20-%20Misinformation%2C%20Disinformation%2C%20and%20the%20Basic%20Truth.mp4), [SRT subtitles](https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2029/DEF%20CON%2029%20video%20and%20slides/DEF%20CON%2029%20-%20Richard%20Thieme%20AKA%20neuralcowboy%20-%20UFOs%20-%20Misinformation%2C%20Disinformation%2C%20and%20the%20Basic%20Truth.srt), [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mExktWB0qz4) * **2022** DEFCON 30 - UFOs, Alien Life, and the Least Untruthful Things I Can Say: [Abstract](https://forum.defcon.org/node/242199), [PDF slides](https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2030/DEF%20CON%2030%20presentations/Richard%20Thieme%20-%20UFOs%20Alien%20Life%20and%20the%20Least%20Untruthful%20Things%20I%20Can%20Say.pdf), [MP4 video](https://infocon.org/cons/DEF%20CON/DEF%20CON%2030/DEF%20CON%2030%20video%20and%20slides/DEF%20CON%2030%20-%20Richard%20Thieme%20-%20UFOs%2C%20Alien%20Life%2C%20and%20the%20Least%20Untruthful%20Things%20I%20Can%20Say.mp4), [SRT subtitles](https://infocon.org/cons/DEF%20CON/DEF%20CON%2030/DEF%20CON%2030%20video%20and%20slides/DEF%20CON%2030%20-%20Richard%20Thieme%20-%20UFOs%2C%20Alien%20Life%2C%20and%20the%20Least%20Untruthful%20Things%20I%20Can%20Say.srt), [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWu14-EfucI) Thieme has given talks on other topics as well, [see a more complete index here](https://infocondb.org/presenter/richard-thieme-neuralcowboy). Thieme also wrote a monthly column which was compiled in his book [*Islands in the Clickstream*](https://thiemeworks.com/words/islands-in-the-clickstream/). In the original version, no longer in print, Chapter 9 "The Dark Side of the Moon and Beyond" contains columns written between **1997** and **2001** regarding UFOs. With Thieme's permission, I have republished five of these columns [here](https://www.ufohackers.org/hackers/richard-thieme/islands-in-the-clickstream). * **2022** Reddit AMA with Richard Thieme on /r/UFOs: [Reddit thread](https://old.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/zi1x42/hi_im_richard_thieme_ama_about_ufos/) Thieme's **2023** fiction book [*Mobius: Out of Time*](https://thiemeworks.com/words/books/mobius-out-of-time/) covers "the deft management of UFO phenomena and research in the intelligence community," among other topics. While an Episcopal priest, Thieme reports a fighter pilot confided in him regarding UFOs, confirming that in their fastest jets, > We chase them, and we can't catch them. * Source: **2014** ["Out of the closet on UFOs"](https://archive.jsonline.com/news/opinion/out-of-the-closet-on-ufos-b99203753z1-245623181.html/) by Richard Thieme - *Milwaukee Journal Sentinel* newspaper ### Glen Campbell DEFCON Talk At DEFCON 3 in **1995**, the late UFO researcher Glen Campbell gave a talk on Area 51:\ [DEF CON 3 - Glen Campbell - QA of Govermental Activities and Surrounding Area-51](https://infocon.org/cons/DEF%20CON/DEF%20CON%203/DEF%20CON%203%20audio/DEF%20CON%203%20-%20Glen%20Campbell%20-%20QA%20of%20Govermental%20Activities%20and%20Surrounding%20Area-51.m4b) ### Trevor Paglen Chaos Communication Congress (C3) Talks Trevor Paglen, an artist based in Berlin, has given two relevant talks at the C3 hacker conference: * **2013** 30C3 - [Seeing The Secret State: Six Landscapes](https://media.ccc.de/v/30C3_-_5604_-_en_-_saal_1_-_201312282300_-_seeing_the_secret_state_six_landscapes_-_trevor_paglen) ([YouTube mirror](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j56s46e97Lo)) * **2023** 37C3 - [YOU’VE JUST BEEN FUCKED BY PSYOPS](https://media.ccc.de/v/37c3-12326-you_ve_just_been_fucked_by_psyops) ([YouTube mirror](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRvJ9mIhnGk)) ## **Historically Relevant: BBSes and Other Archives** * *1976-1996* UFO discussion takes place on BBSes (Bulletin Board Systems):\ [TextFiles.com archive](http://textfiles.com/ufo/), [UFOBBS.com archive](https://github.com/thomhastings/ufobbs) (file [2850](http://textfiles.com/ufo/UFOBBS/2000/2850.ufo) is "Quentin" again) * *1982-1998* [Archive kept by Charles McGrew](https://web.archive.org/web/20060909043351/http://paul.rutgers.edu/~mcgrew/ufo/) of Rutgers University ([hackers](https://web.archive.org/web/20060903065207/http://paul.rutgers.edu/~mcgrew/ufo/hackers) is "Quentin" again) * *1986-1995* [ParaNet-MICAP BBS UFO File Archives](https://web.archive.org/web/20080513234238/http://www.paranetinfo.com:80/ufofiles.html) ([dateline.txt](https://web.archive.org/web/20071016063631/http://www.paranetinfo.com/UFO_Files/ufo/dateline.txt) spells his name "Quintin") * *1987-2001* Additional zines and texts: [HackCanada archive via Internet Archive](https://web.archive.org/web/20181110090601/www.hackcanada.com/blackcrawl/ufo.html) * *1989-1990* ParaNet Posts Archive: [compressed zip archive hosted on GitHub](https://github.com/ksoona/paranet) * *1989-2014* A search reveals a BBStro or two for Ufopaedia: [defacto2.net](https://defacto2.net/search/file) * *1994* alt.alien.visitors Usenet newsgroup FAQ (7 parts): [UFOs-and-Aliens FAQ](http://www.faqs.org/faqs/ufos-and-aliens/) * *1995* Plaintext Diskmag: ["Project UFO" - 6 Amiga Disk Images](https://discmaster.textfiles.com/browse/9906) (more on [diskmaster](https://discmaster.textfiles.com/)) * *1990's* UFO BBS Files archive: [Sacred-Texts.com repository of UFO BBS Files](https://www.sacred-texts.com/ufo/ufobbs.htm) * *1981+* A trove of historical Usenet newsgroup postings can be found on [Google Groups](https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forumsearch/ufo) * *Unknown* A massive and incredible archive found by a friend: PreterHuman.net archive * Related TXT: The late John Lear's letters: [1987](http://www.wolfbane.com/articles/john.lear.letter.pdf), [1988](http://www.sacred-texts.com/ufo/coverup.htm) (See also [John Lear](https://web.archive.org/web/20190319121708/http://www.therealjohnlear.com/TheRealJohnLear.com/HOME.html)'s [Websites](http://thelivingmoon.com)) Please report broken links to [@ufohackers](https://twitter.com/ufohackers) on Twitter.