2600

2600 refers to both a cultural symbol in hacker and phreaking communities and to a long-running American publication. The term originates from the 2600 Hz tone used in classic telephone phreaking to indicate a free line or to control switching systems. Over time, 2600 has become a shorthand for information freedom, underground technical culture, and independent security research.

2600: The Hacker Quarterly is a magazine founded in 1984 by Eric Corley, who wrote under the pseudonym Emmanuel Goldstein. The publication is issued quarterly and covers a range of topics related to computer security, hacking, privacy, cryptography, telecommunications, and electronics. It includes technical articles, essays, interviews, and reader contributions, reflecting a culture that values curiosity, peer learning, and civil liberties.

The 2600 brand extends beyond the print magazine to 2600.com, the organization’s online presence. The site hosts news, archives of past issues, and discussion forums, serving as a hub for the broader hacker community. The organization is also known for organizing the Hackers on Planet Earth (HOPE) conferences, held in New York City, which bring together researchers, hobbyists, and activists to discuss security, privacy, and related policy issues.

Cultural significance of 2600 lies in its longstanding role as a platform for independent security research, open discussion, and advocacy for digital rights. While rooted in the traditions of phone phreaking, the term and the magazine have broadened to encompass modern topics such as software freedom, cryptography, and responsible disclosure within a community that emphasizes curiosity and liberty of information.