4 Aug
1999
4 Aug
'99
5:58 a.m.
On Wed, 04 Aug 1999, Jason (the General) wrote:
>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."
AFAIK hacker comes from the journalism term "hack" writer. Basically a
person who just sits down and starts banging keys without a plan etc. A non
professional, even if they do have a fair amount of talent.
Something of an insult, which I think just carried over to calling any type
of computer misfit a hacker.
Crackers were people who cracked the software protection on a product,
often then uploading the "cracked" version with a splash page showing their
"name" to pirate BBSs.
Phreakers did stuff with the phones.