Karl Koch (hacker) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karl Koch
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| Born |
Karl Werner Lothar Koch
July 22, 1965 Hanover, West Germany
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| Died | c. May 23, 1989 (aged 23) Celle, West Germany
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| Occupation | hacker |
| Known for | Cold War hacker |
Karl Werner Lothar Koch (born July 22, 1965 – died around May 23, 1989) was a German computer expert, sometimes called a "hacker," in the 1980s. He used the nickname "hagbard." Karl Koch was part of a big computer spying event during the Cold War.
Life Story of Karl Koch
Karl Koch was born in Hanover, a city in Germany. His mother passed away in 1976. His father also died in 1984.
As a teenager, Karl was very interested in space and stars, which is called astronomy. He was also involved in his state's student council, helping to represent students.
In 1979, Karl's father gave him a book called Illuminatus! – The Golden Apple. This book had a big impact on Karl.
In 1982, Karl bought his first computer. He named it "First Universal Cybernetic-Kinetic Ultra-Micro Programmer." This name was inspired by the book his father gave him.
In 1985, Karl and some other computer enthusiasts started a group. They met in a pub in Hanover. This group later grew into the Chaos Computer Club Hanover, a well-known group for computer experts.
In early 1987, Karl took a break from a trip to Spain. He sought help for his well-being and stayed for three months.
Karl Koch's Computer Hacking
Karl Koch worked with other computer experts. Some of them were known as DOB, Pengo, and Urmel. They were involved in getting secret information from United States military computers. Then, they sold this information to the KGB. The KGB was the main intelligence and security agency of the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
The Cold War was a time of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. It involved a lot of spying.
A man named Clifford Stoll wrote a book called The Cuckoo's Egg. In his book, he tells the story of how he hunted down these computer experts. He helped identify and arrest Urmel in March 1989.
After this, Pengo and Karl Koch came forward. They confessed to what they had done. They were protected from being charged with a crime because of an "espionage amnesty." This was a special agreement that allowed people to admit to spying without being punished.
The Death of Karl Koch
In May 1989, Karl Koch left his job to go for lunch. He did not return. His employer reported him as a missing person.
On June 1, 1989, German police found a car that had been left in a forest near Celle. Karl Koch's remains were found nearby. There was a burnt area around him, and his shoes were missing.
See also
- Boris Floricic a.k.a. Tron, a computer expert who also died under unusual circumstances.
