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                  |*|   The "all new"-newbie tutorial!   |*|
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I. Preface

Welcome, dear reader and newbie cracker! This tutorial (introduction is a
better description) shall help and guide you through the world of cracking. 
Actually, this tutorial (aka tut) should be the first one you read because 
it will give you practical hints and advices and show you the first few 
steps. It will also give you answers to your "first" questions and probably 
a basic understanding of what cracking really is.


II. The art of cracking

By definition, cracking is the process of making a program with limitations
fully functional or optimizing its appearance to the user. This includes: 
finding valid serial number(s), patching code, removing nag screens, etc. 
Such limited programs can exist as sharewares but demo programs and games 
are possible targets to a cracker. Crackers use a technique called reverse 
engineering, meaning, that the cracker has to analyze his/her targets more 
or less thoroughly (mainly in parts), understand the basic functionality of 
certain program routines and possess the knowledge on how to "break" (thus, 
crack) its protection/coding. Reverse engineering can also be helpful for 
other tasks like faking server response, avoiding CD checks, or even 
improving or bugfixing programs, etc.! Besides this, you can enhance your 
programming/debugging skills and improve your "logical thinking" capabilities
(think of a kind of high tech crossword puzzle).

Later on, when you realize "how things run" you will see, that the knowledge 
in cracking programs may become an advantage in cracking other things. This 
time I mean cracking in a non-literally way. Some people call this "reality 
cracking". I don't call it that way because it might give you a wrong idea 
of what this "reality cracking" means. Cracking is more than just using a 
disassembler, a debugger and a patcher. It is a way of thinking, realizing 
and solving problems of all types (not only software). In a nutshell, using 
another (or more) point(s) of view when looking at problems of various kind.

I hope those words didn't scare you too much, I doubt they did. And if you
haven't understood them right now, it doesn't matter. When the time is right
(and you are more experienced) you will understand them (if you can remember 
this tutorial at that time at all).


III. Issues on cracking

I hope by now you know that cracking or reverse engineering programs MIGHT BE
illegal in the country or part of the world where you are. Take this as a 
serious warning! You should always face the fact that your (future) cracking 
activities will work against the domestic copyright and/or software laws. If 
you should get caught for this, this is really only your own fault - you've 
been warned! So, if you are scared now or want to stay "clean" quit now and 
look for another hobby. If you think you are a tough guy/girl or you already 
knew that and don't care, read on.

Cracking is a VERY time consuming activity. When you start learning it, you 
will have to read many tutorials and manuals and probably make your own notes
of the more important stuff. Later on, when you are a bit more experienced 
with your cracking tools and techniques you will spend alot of time with the
actual process of "finding a crack". And then again, if you succeed in 
cracking (your first) programs you will get kind of addicted to it (you will 
see!), ripping off more and more of your spare time. Also, a lot of patience 
is required! So take care. Again: you've been warned!

Cracking can be VERY frustrating. Yes, especially when you start 
learning it and you try to crack your first program and you
try and try, spending alot of time, and yet the damn program
"isn't crackable" (of course it is and you know that very well :).
At this point the newbies will be distinguished from the losers (actually 
there are no losers, read above paragraphs). But if you can make it
and crack your first program you surely want to continue.

Another aspect of "time consumption" and "cracking frustration":
one day you might look back at what you have done as an active cracker and 
you may realize that the whole thing was a big f**king waste of (life)
time. But this only depends on you. You may say 'it was a waste of time',
others might say 'I've learnt alot in that time, it's ok'. Anyway, one
thing is for sure: you can't mention cracking in your curriculum
vitae (CV), neither should you shout out your abilities in public.
It has to be your little secret, until the day cracking is legalized
or all software is freeware :). But if you want to share or widen
your skills, take care of who you can trust and who you can't.

IV. Where and how to start

It's always the same troubles for newbies in the beginning. Where 
and how do I start with learning? Where can I get (more) infos/tuts/
tools/manuals/targets? The answer is pretty easy: "Swim in the
sea of information!". The Internet. No joke, I'm serious :). If you
should be too lame to use search engines (you shouldn't be) or
if you are tired of clicking through dozens of fake (porn) links
trying to find a real cracking related site, you can come to IRC channels
like #cracking4newbies or #learn2crack (both on EFNet) and ask
for an URL. From this URL you can link to other cracking/tutorial
pages and so on. Get as much information as you can get (and are
worth getting it for yourself). Read and learn as much as you can!
There are hundreds of tutorials and tips&tricks essays/writings/
docs and "crackme's" (little programs that are just there to be
cracked). If you have read, understood and practised them all, you
are either blind or a cracking guru, or both :). The important point
is that you don't "use" tutorials based on one program on other programs, 
but that you understand WHAT was done, WHY this was done and HOW it was 
done! Understand the principle method and not the specific solution to a
specific program. Get a feeling on what is important. If you have
(detailed) questions about certain things you can either join
(the/a) Newbie Forum or visit above mentioned IRC channels.

That leads me to some notes on how to behave in cracking related IRC 
channels. Besides the standard "netiquette" and "IRC rules" take the 
following in mind: If no-one answers your question(s) either no-one knows 
or all are idling/away. If latter is the case, come back at a later time. 
Don't annoy channel users (and especially ops!) with floodings, cracking 
requests (go to #cracks or similar channels) or non-cracking related chats 
(mostly tolerated). Ahh, and yes, be nice. Some ops don't carry their @ 
(temporarily) when in channel.


V. Abilities you should have before starting

Not much to say here. Basically, the more you know the better it is (and the
easier your start will be). Basic ASM knowledge is a MUST. (Don't worry, you 
don't have to be an ASM master at all). Additional knowledge of a high level
programming language (like C, Delphi, Visual Basic) does help (and sometimes 
is necessary to crack a program). Also, you shouldn't be clueless about the 
MS Windows API (Application Programming Interface) and how it works. But time 
and experience will teach you alot and therefore it's not necessary to know 
everything in the beginning. You will soon find out what is necessary to
progress.

Of course you should know how to handle your cracking tools (ie. your
disassembler, debugger, etc.). Manuals are (almost) always available.
Read, read, read! (There are also some tuts just about the tools!).


VI. Cracking ethics

There are some points I'd like to mention too. I don't know if there's
really a kind of cracking ethics but if not so, I want to put it up now
(and maybe start a "public" discussion about it).

Crackers crack software, not networks. Unfortunately, in hacker slang, a 
cracker is someone who breaks into a network and messes up with data or does 
other nasty things. So, please, if you start up with the hacking business, 
call yourself a hacker.

Crackers do not earn money with cracking. I don't know if there ever was a 
cracker that cracked software for (a bigger amount of) money, but cracking 
should be and should stay a non-profitable "job". It's alright if you get
some warez or other stuff for your efforts but keep it that short so that
no-one can claim that you do this for a living. Also, you are encouraged
to make your cracks "for educational/testing purposes only". That means 
people should buy the software if they (plan to) use it for a longer term. 
You just give them the ability to try out the unlimited version. However,
what people do with your crack(s) is up to them.

Crackers should be willing to share their knowledge. I don't mean to help 
those "I want to learn cracking in an hour" people but to help people that 
have a certain question. If you want to dedicate more of your time into 
teaching others your knowledge, write a tutorial and/or join one of the IRC
cracking channels (read above). Or even start your own cracking/tutorial 
website.

Crackers are responsible for themselves and their doings. Don't blame
anyone or anything else if something goes wrong (ie. your computer 
crashed, the feds busted you, your friend(s) left you, etc.).

Crackers are free to join a cracking/warez group to combine their abilities. 
You have to follow the group's rules/requirements then. Crackers are also 
free to stay as "freelancers" and just learn/work for them alone.

Crackers shouldn't call carding a part of cracking (every lamer can do that).

That's all I can think of now. If you think what I wrote is bullsh*t or want
to add/modify something, let me know. Email address is given at the end of 
this writing.


VII. Helpful links

Here are some good starting points (to snoop around the net) for more
information:

http://beam.to/blackb       		(very good newbie site)
http://www.InsideTheWeb.com/messageboard/mbs.cgi?acct=mb628842&TL=933112283
					(the newbie forum)
http://reverserlinks.cjb.net/		(list of many related sites)


VIII. Closing words

I hope this guideline/"tutorial #1" did help you to decide whether or not 
you should become a cracker. If you want to give comments, suggestions or 
criticisms to this writing, simply email me (see below). I also want to 
thank Eternal Bliss and WarezPup for "beta-reading" this thing and doing
(minor) corrections.

Now, have fun with (learning) cracking, keep the scene alive, cheers,

RevX
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RevX@gmx.at
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Copyright (C) 2000 RevX, all rights reserved :).
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