One thing I really don't get, and I've read most the thread excpet a couple of dozen pages: why in the name of fuck did he put his real face out there?
I mean, assuming that IS his real face. There is no comeback from this. It's almost sacrificial. It's the only thing that lends me to believe the dude was half-serious, while none of the other shit is convincing at all.
And another question: where did this info come from? I get that a KF user posted the initial catch, but has he said where he got it from (he was asked but I saw no further reply from him). Is this even the same dude? I would say that the two photos the guy with the goatee and the big guy who is his partner is the same as the photo that Near posted, but is that another red herring?
Just some stupid questions, sorry if they were already answered and I missed them. I've not gone full detective on this, but the photo thing is the biggest problem I have with this little game being played.
If it really is him, and he really did want to DFE because of incriminating shit for future employers or wtf, he really dug his own grave here.
NO WAY BACK.
I checked out his work - it's pretty impressive. I was involved with the reverse engineering scene for a while, but nowhere on the level of this guy. Very few are. He would have had no problem getting employment in any major corporation on any continent. Might not have made millions, but could make a very very good living for himself, and with a lifestyle in a country of his choosing. The japs are big on reverse engineering. They do it all the time, ditto the Chinese (look at their latest fighter jet lol). It's always been a very grey area, and for that very reason persec and opsec is always taught at first level when getting in to the game when you are tested by the higher-ups for aptitude. It's no surprise he covered his tracks so well, but also having said that, the throwing out of a bit of 'chaff' to put people off the scent makes a lot of sense as well.
They are definitely the same people in the two photos. But is it the same guy?
And why in fuck's name would he do that? Totally destroying persec in one fell swoop. The longer it goes on without being confirmed either way, I'll tend to believe more that he did harry kiri himself.
And if it isn't him?
Isn't there some kind of employment history for this david fella that is supposed to be Near?
And to the poster that said earlier in thread they reminded him of Captain Crunch, I checked 2600.com and there is no mention there yet of his doom. Not that there really would be, but I guess like everyone else (credible) they are waiting for SOME kind of proof, if they do post something.
[toot toot]
But imagine being near. In the top 1 percentile probably of reverse engineers on the planet, yet no one knows who you are, and those that do know your avatar, mock and ridicule it all because they just don't understand why you like to dress up like a little puppy pup. I could see someone like that becoming unhinged and craving infamy or notoriety.
The bit where he talked about having wasted a major portion of his life really resonated with me. He's not the first cracker to find that they just lost track of time and oh shit, I'm not quite in my prime anymore. More than one reverse engineer/cracker has expressed this. It's why many just totally drop out of the game to never be heard of again (apart from dying like Gouda who cracked Cubase did [but people heard about that in the .nfo]). That level of instant remorse can really whack a guy between the eyes.
I wish you well Near, but you really are going to have to come up with something extra special to get out of this one without smelling of shit. And if that really is your photo, then all your future employers will know, as they google you. And you will tell them what you have done, because it was such an Herculean achievement. It would be the first thing on your resume.
So much doesn't make sense.