4 Aug
1999
4 Aug
'99
5:07 p.m.
Years back...
I did a paper on "hackers" for a Computer Sociology class a few years ago.
In my research, I came across some really interesting articles that, even
in 1984 (when they were written), were arguing what the real definition of
"hacker" is. They described the early MIT "hackers", many of whom
became
so wrapped up in their projects that they never bothered to fulfill their
degree requirements. And those who were breaking into sophisticated,
secure systems for the pure joy and challenge. And those committing all
kinds of crimes with their particularly malicious kind of genius. So
people didn't really know what a hacker was 15 years ago either.
As I recall, the term "cracker" came from that guy who's name I never
remember (my mind is like a sieve) that used the handle "The Cracker" -
the one who broke into and then set up accounts and private forums on
systems for his buddies - on Compuserv, right? I can see the hands of half
the people reading this shooting up to shout his name...
There's been a lot of PC-thug pressure to make "hacker" into some kind of
superhero working for the good of society and the pure love of computing
and make "cracker" into some kind of maniac bent on the senseless
destruction of innocent computers everywhere. Then the issue is clouded
further by other terms like script-kiddies, cypherpunks, etc.
On Wed, 4 Aug 1999 allisonp(a)world.std.com wrote:
I wonder which
antique store I bought that dictionary from... :)
Here's my definition: "One who adapts an existing piece of computer (or
other type) of hardware to suit one's needs or to improve it without
instruction from the original manufacturer."
Orginal: Hacker
Very close the polo hacker example. The early computer "hackers" were
often people either not trained in technical sicesnces or specifically not
in computer sciences that were attempting to make computers do so task
they desired or envisioned. In that context I clearly was on in the 8008
and early 8080 days as who could take college courses that didn't yet
exist on microcomputer design and programming.
In later years it would be perverted into the form we know now that
referes to a non expert(?) whos goal it is to undermine computers
generally not their own.
I also thought that the people who screwed with
viruses and software and
such were "crackers" (which my dictionary describes as a 'dry, thin bread
substance").
That term was used at one time for those that were more interested in
breaking system security.
Allison