The word "Hacker"

[blackwave]

Here is an example of how the media misuses the word "hacker" only to get people to read their filth...
http://forum.defcon.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=489
I highlighted the usage of the word hack, and terror, and noticed that on this report there are the exact same amount (18) references of each... coincidence?

Personally I have always perferred the terms, Attacker, Defender... when talking to persona-non-technica only to not assist in painting a bad picture that a 'hacker' is always malevolent.

I also have a problem with those labels such as:
black hat,
gray hat,
white hat...

To me they are all overused buzzwords... this would again be best defined as measuring skills in attacking or defending... If you need to use it to get a job, fine, jump at the opportunity, but don't put in on your biz card, or mention it to everyone you see...

[astcell]

Hacker = good.

Cracker = bad.

The hackers need a coupe, catch enough bad guys to get some good press. The buzzwords run the show because the average person is too ignorant to understand what we do in their lifetime.

I like TechnoWeenie on TW's business card, that's hilarious.

[Fused]

Hats

I don't know, maybe its just me, but when I hear this word, I cringe.

damn straight man. everyone knows in my town thanks to my mom and stuff. well i am at school and people are like can u teach me and stuff and i say nope. and this dude named tim was walkin around school like just randomly infecting shit and i was gettin introuble for it. i swear i was about to kill him. and he is like o i am a black hat and shit. when i told him the Hats and shit are lame in a way and that he should not be tellin people that he is a mad 1337 mofo and shit he gets all pissed to this day he still thinks he has skills. Fucken lamer

[blackwave]

Re: Hats

Originally posted by Fused

and this dude named tim was walkin around school like just randomly infecting shit and i was gettin introuble for it.

Kiddies like that deserve what they get, also since this guy is so high profile it gives the wise an opportunity to work under this umbrella... and if something happens they most likely would question this guy first. Staying in the background is often the smartest... remember the truly elite never get caught... and then there is everyone else. ;)

[0ptik0n]

bleah

::Message from 0ptik0n::

I've said it before and I'll say it again...


if you call a computer thief or computer vandal a hacker, it's like calling a car thief a mechanic... it just doesn't make sense.





hmmm I wonder how quickly the media would be slaped if they said "and in other news a string of roberies plague local parking lots as a group of unknown mechanics steal countless cars.. Police are still baffeled by the mechanics methods 'I guess we just don't have their leet skillz' said one officer."

::guess what, you're outta time::

[blackwave]

Re: bleah

Originally posted by 0ptik0n
if you call a computer thief or computer vandal a hacker, it's like calling a car thief a mechanic... it just doesn't make sense.

of course it doesn't make sense... look at the trouble that some are causing with blanket generalizations for wardrivers...

http://forum.defcon.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=542

[TheWatcher]

Hacker is a self-taught skills. he/she always think out of the box, he/she never be contented to what is presented, exploration and bring out the best possible result.

These folks (real hackers) are talented system admin, security professionals, students, researchers, programmers and other related IT. They can protect, advance and help secure your environment.

Blackhat, whitehat, grayhat and other colors are created as additional marketing approach to sell a products or services. Some folks said blackhat is the dark side of IT and whitehat is the opposite. Grayhat and other color hat is just another joke.

Though the definition of blackhat and whitehat seem to have a clear direction but not on their services/products or website For example, blackhat.com offers training in security, blackhat.net provides ISP hosting services, blackhat.org is a personal site, blackhat.info a defacement assessment project to provide security recommendation based on actual incident.

While whitehat.com is a direct marketing, whitehat.net is another personal site, whitehat.org is for ethical hacking, whitehats.com is a security site that provides advisory, vuln and other security related services.

Bottom line, these blackhat, whitehat, etc are just another terminology created to easily signify a subject. And hackers will always be there good or bad ....

Just a thought.

[TheWatcher]

Re: Re: Hats

Originally posted by blackwave


Kiddies like that deserve what they get, also since this guy is so high profile it gives the wise an opportunity to work under this umbrella... and if something happens they most likely would question this guy first. Staying in the background is often the smartest... remember the truly elite never get caught... and then there is everyone else. ;)

I totally agree...

[converge]

Actually, I can think of quite a few that I would consider 1337 that have been caught. Of course, some of them don't expect to spend years in solitairy confinement without trial...

Nor do I accept the whole propoganda of the hacker/cracker complex. Serioulsy... it's rather childish. Changing the name you force people to respond with by chosing another rhyming word will not change public perception. eesh. If there is to be a line drawn, there are hackers that will not cross the line (whitehats), those that will (blackhats) and all the shades in between that make up the hacker culture regarding the unfettered proliferation of information and information freedom. Then there are just plain criminals and idoits that just don't deserve to be part of the hacker grouping, but will be included because the remainder of the populous is rather ignorant of the situation to begin with...

[zero]

Originally posted by TheWatcher
Hacker is a self-taught skills. he/she always think out of the box, he/she never be contented to what is presented, exploration and bring out the best possible result.

Hacker is just a label, nothing more. It has no hard and fast meaning. Look at the English dictionary. New editions come out every few years, not just because there's new words, but also because definitions change.

The public et al has a perception of what a hacker is. The press and popular media have reinforced this image. The reality things like DefCon/H2k2/ToorCon/etc do nothing to change that opinion, and generally build on it.

Further the Government, which sets most common people's perceptions, just adds to the definition.

As far as the best possible result, lets look at some of the icons in this area: Mitnick, MafiaBoy, hell Kevin Poulsen..... did they get well known for helping people shore up their security or for exploiting it? Adrian Lamo has done a fair amount to freely help companies improve security, but has almost no notoriety. Do the math....

[TheWatcher]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by TheWatcher
Hacker is a self-taught skills. he/she always think out of the box, he/she never be contented to what is presented, exploration and bring out the best possible result.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is just another opinion, nothing more ...

Regarding to the names you've mentioned, they have different cases and not comparable to what they accomplished. The media/publicity called them Hackers, in the public eyes this brings out different definitions (bad or good).

Cheers.

[converge]

I want to change public perception of "hacker" to that of a purple 3 legged duckbill platypus. Anyone with me? A little subliminal messaging, electroshock behavior reinforcement, and an outspken celebrity figure should just about do it....

[blackwave]

Originally posted by c0nv3r9
Anyone with me?

How about making the word "hacker" into a snack type of food,...

"hey someone pass me that bag of hackers

"mmmm, mmmm, mmmm, I love hackers, and kool-aid"

[TheWatcher]

Originally posted by blackwave


How about making the word "hacker" into a snack type of food,...

"hey someone pass me that bag of hackers

"mmmm, mmmm, mmmm, I love hackers, and kool-aid"

There you go ...

c0nv3r9,
where I can get application for blackwave inc? :D

Regards.

[0ptik0n]

hmm

well accroding to ESR's Jargon File

it defines hacker as ....

"Hacker /n./1. A person who enjoys exploring the details of programmable systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users, who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary. 2. One who programs enthusiastically (even obsessively) or who enjoys programming rather than just theorizing about programming. 3. A person capable of appreciating hack value. 4. A person who is good at programming quickly. 5. An expert at a particular program, or one who frequently does work using it or on it; as in `a Unix hacker'. (Definitions 1 through 5 are correlated, and people who fit them congregate.) 6. An expert or enthusiast of any kind. One might be an astronomy hacker, for example. 7. One who enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming or circumventing limitations. "


although I do love the food idea....


HACKERS!! now with more vitamin C!!! (c is for cookies, that's secure enough for me...)