OSW: Mission and Ethics

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Our Mission and Ethics

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Mission and Ethics

HDC's Definition of a hacker: "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."

As whitehat hackers, we are not interested in destroying or stealing data. Here are some explanations:

Definitions from HDC. "1. Black-hat hackers (also known as crackers) are the ones who write virii, destroy data, and deface websites along with other illegal activity. This type of hacker will not end up at a very good job due to a bad reputation, and usually ends up in jail for a long period of time. ..."

"2. Grey-hat hackers are borderline white/black hats. They sometimes prank unsuspecting users and cause general mayhem. While they think this kind of activity is harmless, they may face long periods of jail time, and rejection from the hacker community. ..."

"3. White-hat hackers are the Jedi-knights of hacking, using their knowledge for good, and usually end up working as high-paid network admins, programmers, and security consultants. When a software bug is found, the white-hat community will work together to solve the problem. This kind of hacker is the most respected in the internet community. ..."

A while ago the term "hacker" was an honor. It meant you liked computers and programmable systems. That was the true old-school. Now "hacker" means, to the public, viruses, downtime, hassle, credit card fraud, etc. What happened? I am a computer enthusiast. More broadly I am a technology enthusiast. I like to spend extra time to find out exactly how something works. That's what makes you truly old-school. That is what makes you a true hacker. -pisto Monday, May 24, 2002