Creator of LuciferX

Full episode – https://open.spotify.com/episode/2s84kX1qmmB8AgFgyxqrEg?si=_6MEwK9bR6Gyh3hg7jizQg

Fact Check

During the episode there was a statement that was made by NailZ about a developer named “Squirrel” being left out of AOHell Credits. This is false.

Images showing Squirrel in the credits (AOHell v2.0 beta 1; where Squirrel contributed):

Da Chronic’s Response to False Claim

Da Chronic has authored a response to the false claim:

01/07/2025

Regarding AOHell credits

In an interview, “Nailz” claims that a hacker named Squirrel “had a lot to do with AOHell” and that I removed his name, implying that I stole his work. He gives no details about specific things in the program.

First, I don’t know Nailz and don’t remember ever talking to him. In 1995, he wrote an AOL program in which he insulted me for some unstated reason. I responded by including a joke in AOHell where I poked fun at him for copying me.

With regard to Squirrel, I invited him to the project during the 1.0 beta release period. This was in November or early December 1994. He contributed to a couple of functions and was included in the main credits, but was off the project within 2-3 weeks. I think I had lost contact with him (common with our fake accounts). Rizzer and I continued the project without any problems or arguments.

In late December I released beta 1 of version 2.0, removing Squirrel from the main credits but keeping his name listed on a feature he contributed to. The original files from this release are available on GitHub. The About window shows December 1994, matching the file dates. Subsequent releases didn’t include his code or his name. Nailz says he joined AOL in 1995, so this was before he was around.

Over the next year, there were nine or ten more big releases of AOHell that included dozens of features. Within a few months the program had become a large project with things like automated bots, automated phishing, a function to bypass paying for AOL completely, a fake account creator, full documentation, and on and on. I stopped development that September after eleven months of constant work (it was basically my job as I didn’t go to school). I am proud of it, aside from the obviously regrettable things like phishing.

People who contributed to AOHell received attribution, usually in multiple places. One example is Zoop and his “Elite Talker”. This was the precursor to the Faders that would come later. He was credited:

1) In the feature itself: after closing the window, the user was presented with a message saying “..courtesy of Z00P”
2) In the Readme file with the feature’s description
3) On the “About” window with the other credits and shoutouts

Another example is Rizzer, whose specific contributions were credited in five different places.

Bitzmaster created the awesome artwork for AOHell’s splash screen. The concept was actually mine, but I never thought to put my name on it — Bitzmaster was given sole credit on the About window.

Around 15 years ago, I added Squirrel’s name to AOHell’s Wikipedia page (this can be seen in the history under my username). He contributed to the project early on and he definitely deserves his shoutout for that.

It’s ironic that the person who makes the claim about me wrote a program which was largely based on my ideas. And he didn’t just fail to give me credit: He accused me of doing what he actually did himself. That’s clear by just looking at his program, which is also available on GitHub.

Incidentally, my code and ideas went on to be used in countless other programs that made no mention of me. I’ve always considered it a huge success and an honor. Growing a community was the main point.

Koceilah / chron
[email protected]