tech
Explore true stories of the dark side of the Internet with host Jack Rhysider as he takes you on a journey through the chilling world of hacking, data breaches, and cyber crime. ¿Hablas español? Escucha en español aquí ➔ https://darknetdiaries.com/es/
Nick Merill, a guest on Darknet Diaries, recounts his early experiences with computers and the internet, starting with discovering 2600 magazine at age 14. At 20, he leveraged a small inheritance to start one of the first internet service providers (ISPs) in New York City, called Calix.
The podcast begins with a story about an undertaker named Stroker in 1888 who, due to a rival diverting his business, invented the first automatic telephone switch. This innovation bypassed the need for manual operator connections and was driven by a desire to overcome human-driven interference in call routing.
Nick Merill discusses his early belief that the internet was a powerful tool for making real change and connecting people with shared ideas. He contrasts the unregulated, low-barrier-to-entry internet with the tightly controlled, high-cost traditional media landscape of newspapers, television, and radio.
Nick Merill pursued a dual degree in computer science and philosophy during college, though he found it challenging to focus. He also took a constitutional law class that deeply interested him, particularly learning about landmark Supreme Court cases that function as law.