How to Be a Hacker in One Easy Lesson

I would have thought on an engineering site they would at least use the correct name/terminology of "cracker" (black hats) to correctly describe them instead of people with (mostly) no harmful intent (white hats) who are known as hackers.

Hackers aren't criminals, crackers are criminals doing criminal things to sites/and or/equipment. Back in the early 80's I was a hacker, but never a cracker.

Do not use the excuse of "everybody" calls them "hackers"... that is not true. Only the uneducated call them hackers instead of the (criminal) crackers they are.

Hackers or Crackers, some did change the way the internet works today, without their skills the system would still be screwed up.

It is time that you and the rest of the "community" of hackers, crackers, or whatever other cute names you make up for yourselves realize that your intent is of no consequence. Your activities are illegal. You damage other peoples property and cause millions of dollars to be spent on security tools. Grow up and knock it off.

Guest,

I think that you miss the very important distinction that MrChevy is making. Hackers do not typically consider themselves to be part of the "same community" as crackers... At least not the ones I have known over the years.

The original hacker credo , as I remember it is - "Information wants to be free" .

Have you ever heard of Ethical hacking? Maybe you should do a google search, and learn a little...

Ethical hackers can actually help the owners of computer systems & networks, by identifying security flaws, back-doors & the like, before a cracker can maliciously exploit the flaw.

"Intent is of no consequence" - That's tantamount to saying that manslaughter is no different than premeditated murder. Our legal system looks at it differently than you.

"Your activities are illegal" - In many instances, that is subject to interpretation.

"You damage other peoples property and cause millions of dollars to be spent on security tools" - Perhaps a good deal of the "millions of dollars" spent should have originally been spent by the software manufacturers in R&D, sandbox & Alpha/Beta testing to identify and eliminate the security flaws that seem to always be uncovered BEFORE THEY START SELLING THEIR INSECURE PRODUCTS.

I disagree entirely with the position that anyone hacking information from a computer system for any reason has the right to do so. It is unimportant whether the hacker, cracker, etc. is malicious or not. Peoples information is private. There is no difference between hacking someones email or stealing a letter from their mailbox and opening same. It is a federal crime in the later case. It is for this very reason that laws have been enacted to prevent unauthorized tampering with US mail; only by getting authorization (a warrant) from legal authorities is it allowable, and then only for well defined reasons. What possible "right" do you think you have to enter an unauthorized area just because you have the software or programming ability to do so?

*It is a federal crime in the later case. It is for this very reason that laws have been enacted to prevent unauthorized tampering with US mail; only by getting authorization (a warrant) from legal authorities is it allowable, and then only for well defined reasons. * That is very far from the main true within, know folks that are paid well to see/read/understand what you would call mail....

"Information wants to be free" .

You personal information should that be free. On a larger scale, Access codes for a strike should that be free.

"Have you ever heard of Ethical hacking?"

As long as the hackers don't use that as an excuse when they get caught, saying I hacked into the pentegon to show them thier weaknesses.

Are there not better ways? I am asking that as a question?

It is time to start the Public Hangings or Be-headings!

This is the only to stop the Cyberspace Terrorists!

Virus writing software has been available for a long time or at least 15 or more years which is a long time in the world of computers. About 20 years ago I met some folks who were part of a group called "Phalcon Skism" which is best know for their virus creation lab software.

At the time I think they were most proud of infecting computers at a department store with a virus that forced you to correctly answer questions about the inner ear before letting you onto the system.

I believe the term given to someone who doesn't really know what they are doing but uses pre built software to gain unauthorized access is called a script kiddie.

Cracker,,,cracker

Kracker ....puhleeeze!

You'd think it would be easier mow to track some of these clowns down and hold them responsible, either by criminal or civil courts. or just shoot them.