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"Hackers" vs. "Crackers" (was: Re: Check if $_GET contains something other than what's allowed)

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Jerry Stuckle, 2013-11-21 23:16:

> On 11/21/2013 4:48 PM, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
>> Jason C wrote:
>>
>>> I have a script that's constantly under attack by hackers submitting odd
>>
>> s/hackers/crackers/
>>
>> Rule of thumb: Hackers build, crackers (attempt to) destroy.
>>
> 
> No, hackers is the correct term. You really should learn to understand 
> English before correcting a native speaker of it.

<http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/hacker?q=hacker>
<http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/hacker?q=cracker>

Seems the official meaning of both words is the same.

And <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker> shows, there is much more
about this topic than a simple "hackers are people attacking computer
systems".

Anyway - "hacker" originally just referred to computer enthusiasts
"hacking" on their keyboards. Also see "Hackers: Heroes of the Computer
Revolution" by Steven Levy, ISBN 0-385-19195-2.

Some hackers *also* used their skills to gain access to systems with
poor or no special protection at all and some also sold the acquired
data - but this does not mean that a "hacker" is always a bad guy.

Later "hacking" also became the synonym for using technology in new ways
- a "hack" is just another creative use for existing technology or to
deal with technical limitations.

On the opposite - "cracking" originally referred to "crack" copy
protections in computer games. In the 1980ies there where a number of
popular "Cracker Groups", for example:

<http://csdb.dk/search/advancedresult.php?form[category]=groups&group_type[]=2>

Later "cracker" was also used as a synonym for "bad" hackers with
criminal intents. But today many people just say "hacker" when they
actually mean "black hat" or "script kiddie".


-- 
Arno Welzel
http://arnowelzel.de
http://de-rec-fahrrad.de

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Check if $_GET contains something other than what's allowed Jason C <jwcarlton@gmail.com> - 2013-11-21 13:21 -0800
  Re: Check if $_GET contains something other than what's allowed Salvatore <sal@yojimbo.hack.invalid> - 2013-11-21 21:31 +0000
  Re: Check if $_GET contains something other than what's allowed Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2013-11-21 22:48 +0100
    Re: Check if $_GET contains something other than what's allowed Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> - 2013-11-21 17:16 -0500
      "Hackers" vs. "Crackers" (was: Re: Check if $_GET contains something other than what's allowed) Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> - 2013-11-22 17:36 +0100
        Re: "Hackers" vs. "Crackers" Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> - 2013-11-22 13:52 -0500
          Re: "Hackers" vs. "Crackers" j80k-vpfc@dea.spamcon.org (Steve) - 2013-11-30 11:49 +0000
            Re: "Hackers" vs. "Crackers" Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> - 2013-11-30 08:53 -0500
              Re: "Hackers" vs. "Crackers" j80k-vpfc@dea.spamcon.org (Steve) - 2013-11-30 14:58 +0000
                Re: "Hackers" vs. "Crackers" Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> - 2013-11-30 10:15 -0500
                Re: "Hackers" vs. "Crackers" The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2013-11-30 16:51 +0000
                Re: "Hackers" vs. "Crackers" Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2013-12-01 17:13 +0100
            Re: "Hackers" vs. "Crackers" Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2013-11-30 15:30 +0100
              Re: "Hackers" vs. "Crackers" The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2013-11-30 16:33 +0000
                Re: "Hackers" vs. "Crackers" Doug Miller <doug_at_milmac_dot_com@example.com> - 2013-11-30 17:13 +0000

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