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| | A specific type of computer experts, are called hackers. Sometimes this term is applied to denote any type of experts in general which, in turn, says that they possess exceptional knowledge in some topics or they have enough unconventional and seminal intellect.
From the moment of advent, this word turned into computer term (which happened in 1960’s), got new and often different, meanings.
Hacker (initially –the one who makes furniture with an axe):
1. Person who loves studying programming systems in detail, studies up-grading the system is in contrary to the majority of users who prefer to be limited to the study of essentials. RFC 1392 redoubles this definition by the following way: “Person taking delight in thorough understanding of internal operations of systems, computers and computer networks in particular”.
2. Whosoever is programming with enthusiasm (even obsessive) or love programming,
and not just theoretical part of programming.
3. A person who is able to appreciate and understand hacker’s values.
4. A person who is strong in quick programming.
5. An expert of a certain computer programming or anybody who works very often with it; for instance, hacker of UNIX (definitions from first to fifth points are interlinked so the one person may fall under several of them).
6. Expert or enthusiast of any kind. For instance, anybody can be a “hacker of astronomy”.
7. A person who likes intellectual tests comprising of creatively overcoming or detouring restrictions.
Nowadays the word hacker” has a common definition- by this term called are the network breakers and other network criminals like carders, crackers, script-kiddy and network pirates.
Despite of historical inaccuracy noted by File of Jargon, at present often used word is in the later meaning – a computer trespasser. More over, a hacker in movies shown is a horseback man who is able to “crack” any system, but actually this is not possible in principle. For instance, in the movie “Swordfish”, computer hacker (played by Hugh Jackman) cracks Vernam's code – unique system among all current encrypting systems, which has theoretically proven cryptographic capability.
Among hackers, it is conventional to value the time of their own and others
(so as “not to reinvent bicycle”), which in particular warrants the need to, by creating free programs, share their achievements.
Generally, information, knowledge should be accessible to everyone. Really valuable is the ability to understand that information and using of which, in fact, is the ability to think logically.
Socio-cultural aspects
Characters of hackers are considerably widespread in science fiction, particularly in cyberpunk genre. In this context, hackers are usually heroes who fight with oppressive systems (predominantly multinational corporations). Struggle goes on for freedom and access to information. Often heard in that struggle, are communist or anarchist slogans.
Bruce Stirling in his work “Hunting hackers” elevates hacker movement to telephone phreaker movement, which took shape around the American journal “TAP”. This journal initially belonged to youth party YIP (Youth International Party). which obviously supported communists. TAP journal provided technical Assistance Program to Abbie Hoffman’s party which helped so called unofficial youth organizations freely converse on inter-city telephone calls and carry out political changes in their country and which were sometimes not authorized by authorities.
Historical reasons for differences in the meaning of the word “hackers”
Meaning of the word “hacker” in its initial understanding probably came up within the walls of MIT in 1960’s, long before computers had become widely popular. Then it was a part of local slang, and could mean simple and crude solution of some problem or cunning prank of students (usually the author was called hacker). Till that time, words “hack” and hacker” were used on different occasions but absolutely not in connection with computer systems.
Initially there was the slang word “to hack” (chop, mangle). It meant process of incorporating changes into the other’s programming on-the-fly (predicted that there were original texts of programming). Verbal noun of “hack” meant results of such change. Most useful and dignified job was not just informing the writer of the program about a mistake in it, but offering him such a hack which would rectify that. Precisely the word “hacker” originated initially from this.
Hacker, however not always had the aim of rectifying mistakes – he could change way of behavior against the will of program writer. In particular such shocking cases, essentially, had become known to the public, but the understanding of hacking as feed-back to program writers and users was never interesting to the journalists. Then came up secret program code, so original programs had become inaccessible, and positive role of hacking diminished. Huge time consumption for hacking secret codes of programming can be justified by only strong motivation or to get into scandalous limelight.
In result, appeared a new, contorted word “hacker”; which means a criminal, using extensive computer knowledge for carrying out unauthorized, sometimes deleterious, acts in computer. Word “hacker” in this meaning first was used by Clifford Stoll in his book
“Cuckoo’s Egg”. In such computer slang words “to hack, “hacking”, usually relate to cracking of computer security networks, web-servers and all that.
Several individuals known as advocates of free and open program software, for instance Richard Stallman, appeal for using the word “hacker” only in its initial meaning.
More detailed explanations of the term in its original meaning, was brought up in Eric Raymond’s article “How to be a hacker”. Also Eric Raymond suggested in October 2003, an emblem for hacker community –symbol of glider from the computer game “Life”.
As community of hackers does not have any joint headquarters or formal setup, the suggested symbol can not be considered as official symbol of hackers. Due to the same reasons, it is impossible to judge popularity of symbol among hackers, very much may be possible though that a part of hacker’s community accepted it.
Microsoft teamed up with the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, and Interpol, to catch the hackers responsible for the Blaster worm and the Sobig virus, which cost billions of dollars in damages to businesses this year. The first rewards, set for the information leading to the hackers authors of Blaster and Sobig pegged at $250,000 each, are part of the new $5 million long-term reward fund created by Microsoft for the information leading to the capture of those hackers responsible for worm and virus outbreaks. |
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