Hacker Vs Cracker
Jim_has_Skillz
Join Date: 2003-01-19 Member: 12475Members, Constellation
Join Date: 2003-01-19 Member: 12475Members, Constellation
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">no not 'cracker' as an insult</div> I find that too many people nowadays confuse the term hacker with the correct term cracker.
The definition of a Hacker is one who is excellent at computer programming and solving computer problems.
A Cracker is one who unlawfully attempts to, or gains access to computer information that was not in this persons posession.
The only reason people use hackers as a term for cracker is due to the media's ignorance. They have misrepresented the term Hacker and have given it a bad rep.
I hope everyone will try to correct themselves when they say hacker with a negative connotation.
The definition of a Hacker is one who is excellent at computer programming and solving computer problems.
A Cracker is one who unlawfully attempts to, or gains access to computer information that was not in this persons posession.
The only reason people use hackers as a term for cracker is due to the media's ignorance. They have misrepresented the term Hacker and have given it a bad rep.
I hope everyone will try to correct themselves when they say hacker with a negative connotation.
Comments
No, he's right. It annoys me too, but I've learned not to complain about it.
Which, your +post or his definition?
And hacking and cracking, as terms, go back and are used more commonplace than other levels of propaganda would suggest, so media and misinformation still holds place in even the reformed civilians.
The general definition of a Hack, which has many different definitions by the way, but this one can generally be applied to all situations:
"A person who delights in having an intimate understanding of the internal workings of a system, computers and computer networks in particular."
Here's a useful page which i found has some good definitions, including:
7. One who enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming or circumventing limitations.
<a href='http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/H/hacker.html' target='_blank'>http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/H/hacker.html</a>
And here's something for Cracking..
<a href='http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/C/cracker.html' target='_blank'>http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/C/cracker.html</a>
Basically, it's the pursuit of understanding and excelling simple competence, in any area of expertise.
You could try out Eric Raymond's texts, for the right sort of mentality behind the Hacker.
In the end though, this is not intended to change people's minds about Hacking, or any subject. It is only finding the people who want to change, and guiding them to the road they want to take.
Yes, it's annoying, particularly given that we can cheaters in games "hackers", as though most of them had any inkling of how to hack, much less the intelligence it takes to learn it (here I'm specifically referring to computer hacking). But it's a slangterm, much like people using (er, insert g word for "non heterosexual" here), and though I've gotten some people to change, it's a losing battle.
I am a CS major and everyone I meet that isn't computer literate will come up to me and say something stupid like are you a hacker? Can you hack into microsoft and destroy everything? etc. It gets really annoying considering I actually consider myself a hacker( the true definition ).
The main problem with the use of 'hacker' as a negative connotation is it gives a bad rep to the guys that are actually hackers and actually do good with their abilities.
I know this term will never change again, it just shows that the media has corrupted another part of our society. I am wondering what they will ruin next.
It is easy for us to use hacker vs cracker nowadays because the news has completely changed the words meaning. The definition has been corrupted by the media and I know this won't change. I am just asking you guys to consider this before you use a certain term over one another.
If it really bugs you that much, why don't you hack into the dictionary and define it so you can walk around proving how right you are and how wrong everyone else is.
Don't forget to "stick it" to "the man" and blame "the media" while you're at it.
Anyway, if you know the difference, don't get annoyed when people use the wrong term. If you didn't know the difference, we computer-types would appreciate it if you did make an effort to use the right terms. Not that I claim to be skilled enough for the title of "hacker", but anyway.
According to <a href='http://info.astrian.net/jargon/terms/h/hacker.html' target='_blank'>The Jargon File</a>, hackers have been calling themselves (and each other) hackers right from the start, the media adapted the term to mean "mallicious intruder", and hackers produced the term "cracker" to seperate themselves from mallicious intruders.
It's a bit of a grey area, anyway, as hackers are often the sort to crack security for the challenge of it, or because it's practical to something else they need to do, rather than to do damage. Then there's script kiddies, which tend to cause a lot of damage but are barely computer literate...
If it really bugs you that much, why don't you hack into the dictionary and define it so you can walk around proving how right you are and how wrong everyone else is.
Don't forget to "stick it" to "the man" and blame "the media" while you're at it. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
lmao
Too much movies for you <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<a href='http://www.google.com.au/search?q=cache:WBOzdaaBLbcJ:www.aic.gov.au/conferences/internet/dreyfus.pdf+Internet+History:+Hacker+Electron+Pengo+Phoenix&hl=en&lr=lang_en' target='_blank'>http://www.google.com.au/search?q=cache:WB...l=en&lr=lang_en</a>
Excellent read if you ask me.
Oh, and thats why the term White Hat and Black Hat were coined, because of media twisting. You cant really twist those two terms <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Post count? You worry about that?
OMG!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
script kiddies................. havent heard that term since like v2.0......... and im not talking about NS
No, he's right. It annoys me too, but I've learned not to complain about it. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
In the end its a word, all words can at anytime inherit Double Meanings, i guess this could be said as the latest. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Post count? You worry about that? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I was asking if you did considering your first post was spam <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
are you suggesting that cracker has one meaning?
at least we know the NYT is good. but then, when is it not good?
Strangely enough, once you read it, you'll find out it wasn't. What was written may not agree with your own opinions, but that doesn't make it spam.
are you hacker? yes.
can you read my email? if i felt like it.*
do you feel like it? no.
can you show me how to read [boyfriend/girlfriend/dad/mom/teacher/randomguy]'s email? can i show him/her how to read your's?