Hacker is a term applied often to computer software or computer hardware programmers, designers and administrators, and especially those who are perceived as experts or highly accomplished. A hacker is also someone who modifies electronics, for example, ham radio transceivers, printers or even home sprinkler systems for extra functionality or performance. The term usually bears strong connotations, but may be either favorable or denigrating depending on cultural context.
In computer programming, a hacker is a software designer and programmer who builds programs and systems that garner the respect of one's peers. A hacker can also be a programmer who hacks or reaches a goal by employing a series of modifications to exploit or extend existing code or resources. For some, "hacker" has a negative connotation and refers to a person who "hacks" or uses kludges to accomplish programming tasks that are ugly, inelegant, and inefficient. This pejorative form of the noun "hack" is even used among users of the positive sense of "hacker" (some argue that it should not be due to this pejorative meaning, but others argue that some kludges can, for all their ugliness and imperfection, still have "hack value"). In computer security, a hacker is a person who specializes in work with the security mechanisms for computer and network systems. While including those who endeavor to strengthen such mechanisms, it is more often used by the mass media and popular culture to refer to those who seek access despite them. In other technical fields, hacker is extended to mean a person who makes things work beyond perceived limits through their own technical skill, such as a hardware hacker, or reality hacker. In hacker culture, a hacker is a person who has attained the respect of one's peers.
Notice from Johnny:
When taking material from outside sources, please use quotes around the copied text.
See i would argue that a hacker is not really many of those things. A hacker is however, as said, someone who makes something work beyond, or differently to, how it is supposed to work, for example hacking an OS to allow you to play pirated games or to allow better customizability. It is also someone who uses their skill to over-ride or avoid security systems, for example using SQL injection an creating a backdoor in a web application. but someone who can brute force a password or simply run some-one else code to achieve entry is nothing but a "skript kiddie" IE someone who has no idea why it works and just blindly uses the code or passwords with no skill at all.
Of course there are more than one kind of hacker, such as those who test security by "hacking" and those who exploit users by "hacking"
I dont believe a hacker is someone who has gained respect in a given field but i may be wrong.
It's true there are a lot of different types of hackers. I think I might try software hacking/disassembly sometime soon. It's a handy skill to have, provided you can get to the point of knowledge where you can do it without being guided. I also need to learn CSS pretty much asap, but that's a different story.
assasinkilla and shadowx, I agree with both your definitions, but I believe that they fit two different types of hackers.
The first definition fits that of a "white hat" hacker that tries to figure out how to do new and different things that a program is not intended to do.
The second definition fits that of a "black hat" hacker (or cracker) that tries to break into systems for malevolent or malicious "fun" (e.g. breaking into a website and putting digital graffiti all over it) or to make a profit (e.g. by starting a phishing site or writing a virus that redirects users to a site that downloads tons of adware and spyware to their computers that retrieve personal information like credit card numbers).
I think what's funny is that, most people who are relatively experienced with computers realize that hackers can be just as good as bad, but as soon as you say something with the word hacker in it, people get defensive. It's some kind of natural thing to want to avoid contact with hackers.
Yes, it is rather funny that people always think of the bad, when they hear the word hacker... Yes, hacking stuff can be as good as bad... I hacked a thing or two in my early days, when I lived in a delusion that being a hacker is easy, and that it takes just a few tools... Then I met several people that know the stuff, and realised, that I'm not going to be a hacker any time soon, as it takes huge amount of knowledge...
I hacked a wireless doorbell, increasing it's range from 5m do 15m... That also is a hack, as it makes something work beyond it's intented functinality...
Traditionaly, hacker is associated with computers and programming knowledge, but it is in fact applicable to a whole range of other stuff, not conneted to computers...
And one thing more... You will never, ever, hear a true hacker, a real computer expert, brag about being just that, a hacker... Only hacker wannabies, and lamers brag about being hackers That's not just a movie line, it's a fact
I agree with what everyone has said which is why im not quoting you all!
I think the most important point made is that of "black hats" V "white hats" as the media is a big problem for any hacker because the term hacker is associated with those who scam the innocent etc... when in fact id say there are a lot more good hackers than bad, for example the guys that work for the police, or FBI in the states, sort of like digital investigators who snoop oin communications and crack authentication to get to data that can lead to convictions, id love that job but i know there is a lot to learn before you even get looked at as a possible employee.
I started with web hacking, like basic forms and such and i gave up after that, i visited a lot of sites to learn and practice legally, if anyone wants i can post the links if i can remember them. Id reccomend that anyone coding websites or programs or anything learns how to hack at a basic level at least so that when coding anything you can protect yourself. This paid off for me when someone tried inserting HTML into a guestbook, if i hadnt tried that myself in practice then i probably wouldnt have added that protection.
There was a mini campaign on a few of the sites i was at that consisted of a signature image with the text "white hat hacker" or something like that. And there was an image that represented that fact and the fact that not all are bad.
well to tell you the truth there are only 3 types of hackers you have a Black Hacker - type of hackers that dont care about anybody even if they hurt them White Hacker - type that tests websites etc.. dont try to hurt us Gray Hacker - type that hacks for fun and sometimes hurts people
today, hackers have a bad rep, they are seen on movies such as "the Core" eating hotpockets, and hacking into government computers. as a result, if some one is accused of, or said to be hacking, they are automaticaly assumed to be doing something illegial! this is not the way it is!! the term "hacker" was first used to label a person who has developed a very good understanding of computers, and uses their skills to view computer code, study it, learn from it, maybe fix it, or develope their own programs or programming languages. point being, hacking isnt a bad thing unless it is used for bad intentions, like distributing viriuses, or destructive programs and messing with peoples private files. as a matter of fact, bill gates (owner and developer of microsoft-- invented ms office, windws live search, etc.) started hacking in highschool as a way to help improve his schools computers and write new programs for them!
Well as it goes i tried to define what i understood from the terms hackers and crackers, if i was right then go me, if not then tell us what you take from the two terms and how they differentiate from each other.
I thought my definition was right, but judging from your post it might not have been
In your opinion, wht is the safest way to share files? BitTorrent or P2P file sharers? In my
opinion BitTorrent is safer, here is why I think this. How long does it take to create a torrent?
It takes a while... You have to find a tracker and get permission to use it. Then you have to
upload the .torrent file to a site. How long does it take to share a file on a P2P file sharer?
You just put te file in your shared folder Who will spend the time to create a torrent with a
virus in it when they can just stick i in the shred folder? BitTorrent does not connect to...
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