Amber64 - Mining Hacker History from Over 500k Commodore 64 Disks

Explore the fascinating intersection of digital archaeology and hacker history through this DEF CON 33 conference talk that reveals how Dr. Wesley McGrew developed innovative forensic techniques to extract hidden data from over 650,000 Commodore 64 floppy disk images. Learn about the sophisticated software and workflow processes used to perform full-text indexing and forensic analysis of these vintage storage media, uncovering deleted files, online session logs, and hacker communications preserved in unallocated disk sectors from the 1980s and 90s. Discover how the widespread reuse of floppy disks during the C64's heyday inadvertently created a treasure trove of digital artifacts that illuminate the early subcultures of hacking, phreaking, piracy, and cybercrime. Gain insights into the day-to-day communications, tools, and practices of historical hacker communities through compelling findings extracted from publicly-accessible online archives, demonstrating how modern forensic techniques can unlock previously inaccessible glimpses into computing's formative underground culture during the Commodore 64's influential 12-year production run.