Subj : Re: Linux Security News Roundup (incorrectly posted before as Linux Advisory Roundup, which is different) To : comp.os.linux.security,comp.os.linux.admin,comp.os.linux.misc,comp.os.linux From : junktarget Date : Thu Jul 22 2004 08:03 pm Juhan Leemet wrote in message news:... > On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 09:12:26 -0700, DaveAI wrote: > > This newsletter contains... > > > > * Pssst--wanna buy some source code? > > July 15th, 2004 > > > > A group of self-identified hackers has set up shop online to sell what > > it claims are files containing confidential software code--and it says > > it's ready to take orders for more. > > GRRRR!!!! These guys are "CRACKERS" (as in safe-crackers, breaking and > entering, theft, etc.) and not "hackers". I really get steamed when the > media take perfectly good words, get them wrong, then hype the hell out of > them and spin all kinds of stories in their fantasy worlds. > > The term "hacker" comes from way back, about 30+ years ago? and was > defined IIRC in the "MIT Hackers' Dictionary" (jargon file). These guys > were originally a model railroading club, which became interested in relay > logic, and then progressed to a fascination and facility with computers. > > The best definition I've seen is: > > "A hacker is someone who makes furniture with an axe." > > That sums up the spirit or animus of "hacking" in the most accurate way. > It was also self-deprecating humour, often used by system wizards when > they weren't particularly proud of their workarounds and quick fixes. > > "A cracker...." is something altogether different. > > ...or is everybody soon going to be just "like, a guy"? I blame the media for this. I think it all started with the movie Wargames in the 80s. Not a bad movie per se, but it really did a lot to romanticize computer crime. I don't even like the term "cracker". I prefer "inmates". :) -Dave .