Difference between revisions of "Hacker"
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(not to be confused with security cracker) |
(piracy and detail on white vs. black hat) |
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A '''hacker''' can be defined as a person who solves problems in clever ways, especially regarding [[computer]] [[programming]] and [[hardware]] [[engineering]].<ref>http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/meaning-of-hack.html</ref> The term is often used to denote "[[security cracker]]", since hackers most frequently appear in the news involving computer [[security breach]]es. | A '''hacker''' can be defined as a person who solves problems in clever ways, especially regarding [[computer]] [[programming]] and [[hardware]] [[engineering]].<ref>http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/meaning-of-hack.html</ref> The term is often used to denote "[[security cracker]]", since hackers most frequently appear in the news involving computer [[security breach]]es. | ||
| − | '''Hacking''' may refer to a number of activities, | + | '''Hacking''' may refer to a number of activities, both legal and illegal. These include: |
| − | * "Digital lock-picking", or (illegally) breaking into computer systems; this is also | + | * "Digital lock-picking", or (illegally) breaking into computer systems; this is also referred to as "cracking", and is the most well known form of hacking |
| + | * Modifying software or hardware in order to violate [[copyright]] law or software licensing agreements (this is also referred to as "cracking") | ||
* Modifying software or hardware for extra functionality or performance | * Modifying software or hardware for extra functionality or performance | ||
* Creating software or devices to solve problems | * Creating software or devices to solve problems | ||
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* Staging pranks | * Staging pranks | ||
| − | Hackers act for a variety of reasons, ranging from curiosity and bragging rights to personal gain or [[vandalism]]. | + | Hackers act for a variety of reasons, ranging from curiosity and bragging rights to personal gain or [[vandalism]]. |
| + | |||
| + | Crackers who act with criminal intent are known as "black hat" hackers. Crackers who don't have a criminal intent (e.g., those paid by software companies to research security issues or investigate new computer viruses) are referred to as "white hat". | ||
''Hackers'' is also the title of a 1995 film.<ref>http://imdb.com/title/tt0113243/</ref> | ''Hackers'' is also the title of a 1995 film.<ref>http://imdb.com/title/tt0113243/</ref> | ||
Revision as of 17:23, February 8, 2010
A hacker can be defined as a person who solves problems in clever ways, especially regarding computer programming and hardware engineering.[1] The term is often used to denote "security cracker", since hackers most frequently appear in the news involving computer security breaches.
Hacking may refer to a number of activities, both legal and illegal. These include:
- "Digital lock-picking", or (illegally) breaking into computer systems; this is also referred to as "cracking", and is the most well known form of hacking
- Modifying software or hardware in order to violate copyright law or software licensing agreements (this is also referred to as "cracking")
- Modifying software or hardware for extra functionality or performance
- Creating software or devices to solve problems
- Using an existing computer system in an unusual, clever way to solve a problem
- Staging pranks
Hackers act for a variety of reasons, ranging from curiosity and bragging rights to personal gain or vandalism.
Crackers who act with criminal intent are known as "black hat" hackers. Crackers who don't have a criminal intent (e.g., those paid by software companies to research security issues or investigate new computer viruses) are referred to as "white hat".
Hackers is also the title of a 1995 film.[2]