ARLA/CLUSTER: Guglielmo Marconi foi vítima de hackers

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

 Guglielmo Marconi was a hacker victim

As we mark the birth of an Italian inventor on International Marconi
Day, April the 26th, comes the story that one of his early exploits
was hacked and caused him much embarrassment.

A new book, Pranksters: Making Mischief in the Modern World, by
Kembrew McLeod published by New York University Press, reminds us of
that occasion involving Guglielmo Marconi.

The book reports that in 1903 a troublemaker took over a demonstration
of wireless telegraphy. Marconi was trying to sell his patented radio
system to send secure and private messages. All were ready for the
display in London.

Then just before a device received a demonstration transmission, the
wireless telegraph came alive announcing the words "Rats Rats Rats".
Then followed a few rhymes, making the whole thing a disaster.

Later, a noted magician Nevil Maskelyne, who was also involved in
wireless telegraphy and a public detractor of Marconi, explained to
reporters that he wanted to show that the device had a fatal security
flaw, and won the day.

International Marconi Day stations include Austria, Canada, France,
Germany, Holland, Iceland, Italy, Sweden, the UK and the USA.

The only station in Oceania is by the Hornsby and Districts Amateur
Radio Club VK2IMD. The link to Marconi is that he sent the first
messages from Britain to Australia, which were received in Wahroonga,
near Hornsby in Australia.

These were sent from near Caernarfon in North West Wales, on behalf of
Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes and his Minister for the Navy,
Sir Joseph Cook, who had just visited the troops in France.

For details of registered stations: http://g4usb.net/IMD/award-stations/

Jim Linton VK3PC