Originally posted by 7172millI think you'll find that MS-DOS (although never as much fun as IBM DOS) went the way of the dinosaurs sometime around 95-96 when Windows 95 and NT gained ground.
not qute top of the line from 1997 ms-dos prompt was not used after 2000
If you really like the command prompt and want some power under your pizza greased fingers I'd recommend another system, but I'm afraid you'll be using it to crack computers and then get called a hacker in public, tainting the good reputation that I (among many) has spent years building. So I won't. 😀
Originally posted by carpenoctemare you seriously trying to claim that hacking isn't illegal?
(who have only used the word "hacker" to describe someone who has done something illegal)
"hey-broke into your house last week. your security is shocking. gimmie a call and i'll see if i can fix it. 0871 767 2395
P.S. i didn't take or see anything. honest."
🙄
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Originally posted by geniusHackers typically only break into systems they already have access to. For instance, I hack into our own computers here at work every chance I get. I do this to uncover security issues that we can then work on a fix for.
are you seriously trying to claim that hacking isn't illegal?
"hey-broke into your house last week. your security is shocking. gimmie a call and i'll see if i can fix it. 0871 767 2395"
I have been known to hack into servers on other companies, let them know about it and how they can fix it. They often thank me with a small check. This is hacking. You don't steal data and you don't crash computers.
That would be cracking.
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There is of course also the definition of a hacker as someone who fix problems in software (not necessarily security related) by ingenius temporary solutions.
So, if someone calls himself a hacker it may not even be about invading a system from the outside, but to fix bugs with smart snippets of code to keep things running smoothly until a more permanent solution can be applied (usually with the next update).
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Come to think of it, both definitions are one and the same. A hacker is someone who finds a surprisingly simple and efficient solution to a hard problem and then fix it.
If you have a problem with your car for instance, that you know will take both a lot of time and resources to fix, sit down and think about it, then come up with a solution that can have the car run decent at a low cost for as long as you need to get the real work done, you're a hacker.
Hacking is about finding reasonable, efficient solutions to real problems and applying them.
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Originally posted by stockenno-but you could be trying to cover your tracks.
Look at it this way. If I wanted to steal data or use my skill to my personal benefit I wouldn't really tell the computer owner how to fix the security glitch, would I?
If you have been asked to hack into a system, or are hacking into your own then there is no problem with that. but the hacking into other peoples one then telling them that you have is, IMO, rather stupid. if someone did that to me i'd hire another guy to fix the problems and pay him. then get the police onto the other guy. why? because he broke into my computer. which is illegal.
Originally posted by geniusThat actually happened to me once. The guy got so upset he wanted the police to go through all my computers (I have a few) at work and home and all my CD:s to look for evidence that I've stolen data from him. Once the charges had been made the police got to work.
if someone did that to me i'd hire another guy to fix the problems and pay him. then get the police onto the other guy. why? because he broke into my computer. which is illegal.
It took them two full weeks, but of course they found nothing illegal (except some music I had downloaded). I'm a bit annoyed at this guy because it cost me quite a lot (paying the debts of that music), but I suppose I can understand how he overreacted. Especially since it turned out he had very sensitive data about his business on that server.
Just for the fun of it, I later hacked into his server again and was rather amused at the fact he still hadn't fixed the problem and the same data lay there for all with rudimentary hacking knowledge to access. I'm not doing the mistake of telling him again though. 😵
Anyway, I learned my lesson. I now usually ask if it's ok first, but even that can stir up emotions in some people. They start asking me if I already have, and how they can be sure I haven't, and how they can be sure I won't steal their information. To solve all that now, we often setup a mirror server with all sensitive data removed, I sit down at another computer where every command I give is logged for them to see if they want to. Then I hack away. However, if they want me to do that, it's a job that costs money. Most companies are willing to spend a little money on a good hacker to testproof their systems. Better than eventually being cracked. Some just enjoy the challenge and tells me that if I succeed and report it as soon as possible, they'll be happy to pay a little something for the information. It's a good extra on the side, and by now I've learned which companies are thankful and good about it, and which are not.
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Originally posted by geniusI hate semantic arguments but here goes. And I'll try to keep it simple.
are you seriously trying to claim that hacking isn't illegal?
"hey-broke into your house last week. your security is shocking. gimmie a call and i'll see if i can fix it. 0871 767 2395
P.S. i didn't take or see anything. honest."
🙄
There are now several definitions of "hacker." And whether hacking is legal or illegal depends on your definition. If you define a hacker (as most non-technical people do), as one "who illegally gains access to a computer system," then yes, hacking would be illegal. However, if you go with one of the benign definitions used by the technical community--e.g., "a clever computer programmer, who does not necessarily engage in illegal activities"--then no, as the definition itself states, hacking is not necessarily illegal.
My whole point was that over time, the definition of the word has devolved into having a negative meaning, yet among computer professionals, the benign meaning is still used. In fact, the original definitions used by experts do not even pose a question of legality or illegality; they merely define someone who is an expert at something, and whether the person chooses to do good or bad with the skill depends on the person (but neither legality nor illegality is inherent in the definition). And just for the record, the illegal activities mentioned by the kid who made the original post are not usually condoned by those who consider themselves "real" hackers.
If you need further explanation, or corroboration, I recommend this Wikipedia article:
Hacker Definition Controversy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker_definition_controversy