Saturday, June 6, 2009

The Ethics of Hacking

During the time of my admission in the University, once I went up to my student advisor to have a little talk, see if it really was what I wanted and whatnot. The guide asked me about my interests, and when I said computers, she started asking me about what systems I’d worked on, etc. And when all that was done, the first thing she asked me was "Are you a hacker?"Well, that question has been bugging me ever since.
Just what exactly is a hacker? A REAL hacker?
For those who don't know better, the news media (and even comic strips) have blown it way out of proportion... A hacker, by wrong-definition, can beanything from a computer-user to someone who destroys everything they can get their evil terminals into.
And the idiotic schmucks of the world who get an average running PC and a300 baud modem for Summers or Christmas haven't helped hackers'reputations a damn bit. They somehow get access to a really cool system and find some files on hacking... Or maybe a friendly but not-too-cautious hacker helps the loser out, gives him a few numbers, etc. The schmuck gets onto a system somewhere, lucks up and gets in to some really cool information or programs, and deletes them. Or some of the more greedy ones capture it, delete it, and try to sell it to Libya or some distant failing economy. Who gets the blame? The true hackers...that's who. So what is a true hacker?
Firstly, some people may not think I am entirely qualified to say,mainly because I don't consider myself a hacker yet. I'm still learning about it, but I think I have a pretty damn good idea of what a true hacker is. I’m open to any challenge. If I'm wrong, let one correct me...
True hackers are intelligent, well they have to be. Either they do really great in school because they have nothing better to do, or they don't do so good because school is terribly boring and static. And the ones who are bored aren't that way because they don't give a shit about learning anything. A true hacker wants to know everything and real fast. They're bored because schools teach the same dull things over and over and over, nothing new, nothing challenging and race for grades doesn’t help either.
True hackers are curious and patient. If you aren't, how can you workso very hard hacking away at a single system for even one small PEEK at whatmay be on it?
A true hacker DOESN'T get into the system to kill everything or to sellwhat he gets to someone else. THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY DO.
True hackers want to learn, or want to satisfy their curiosity, that's why they get into the system. To search around inside of a place they've never been, to explore all the little nooks and crannies of a world so unlike the boring lives we lead. Why destroy or vandalize something and take away the pleasure you had from someone else? Why bring down the whole world on the few true hackers who aren't cruising the phone lines with malicious intent?
True hackers are disgusted at the way things are in this world. All thewonderful technology of the world costs three arms and four legs to get thesedays. It costs a fortune to call up a board in an adjoining state! So whypay for it? To borrow something from a file I will name later, why pay forwhat could be "dirt cheap if it wasn't run by profiteering gluttons"?Why be forced, due to lack of the hellacious cash flow it would require tocall all the great places, to stay around a bunch of schmuck losers in yourhome town? Calling out and entering a system you've never seen before aretwo of the most exhilarating experiences known to man, but it is a pleasure that could not be enjoyed were it not for the ability to phreak...
True hackers are quiet. I don't mean they talk at about .5 dB, I meanthey keep their mouths shut and don't brag. The number one killer of those the media would have us call hackers is bragging. You tell a friend,” or you run your mouth on a board, and sooner or later people in power will find outwhat you did, that you are, and you're gone...
(one of my friend suggested that she’d put me behind bars, when I told her that I was hacking into some files on the server. J) I honestly don't know what purpose this thing will serve, maybe someone somewhere will read it, and know the truth about hackers. Not the lies that the ignorant spread. To the true hackers out there, I hope I am portrayingwhat you are in this file... If I am not, then I at least am saying what I think a true hacker should be. And to those wanna-be's out there who likethe label of "HACKER" being tacked onto them, grow up, would ya?Oh yeah, the file I quoted from... It has been done (at least) two times. "The Hacker's Manifesto" or "Conscience of a Hacker" are the two names I've seen it given. (A file by itself, and part of an issue of Phrack) Either way, it was written by The Mentor, and it is absolutely the best thingever written on the subject of hackers. Read it, it could change your life.Spread it around, but don't change anything please. . .

God bless India.

“IF YOU THINK YOU CAN OR YOU THINK YOU CAN’T, YOU’RE RIGHT”

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