| TES Presents
------------------------------- | The Ethics of Hacking | -------------------------------
written by Dissident
Subject: [uXu-449] Hacker Ethics
____________________________________________________________________
Hacker Ethics by drazQ ([email protected])
"Hacker Ethics" - we've all heard that cliche' before, and usually it
refers to the old hacker standards that say "thou shall not erase a
system" and so on. However, as Bob Dylan once sang, "Times they are
changing," and they still are. Especially now in the final spurt before
the new millennium - and especially when it comes to computer related
issues.
We begin to realize that computers influence the people who use them,
yes - even the people who doesn't use them. Computers influence the
lives of people - people like you and me. This goes both ways; computers
again are (of course) influenced by the people who control them. This
way, we influence each others lives through computers. Realizing this
gives the "set phrase" a whole new meaning.
Visualize yourself walking down the street on a sunny day. A lot of
people are walking in the opposite direction of you this fine day, but
there is one person that you particularly notice. It's a young man,
probably in his mid 20's. He looks like a nice guy - if he was your
neighbor he'd probably be one of your friends. He is wearing a suit, so
he has probably got a good job. Maybe he is walking home to his wife and
kids right now. That is what you thought as he came closer. The second
he was close enough you punch his nose in! He falls backwards on the
asphalt, reaching for his bleeding nose. It probably hurts a lot. You
see a weird mixture of surprised confusion and fear in his eyes. Then
you run.
The man whose nose you broke is called Tommy. He had a couple of weeks
with pain after your meaningless and violent assault, and months - yes
maybe even years later - he will ask himself: "Why?" "Why did he do
it?". The answer is that you had no reason, you're simply one of those
people who like to punch people in their noses. Maybe to see their
reaction, or just because it feels good. It's just something you do.
Now visualize yourself sitting in front of your computer late a Saturday
night. You're hacking some company on the Internet - no special reason
- their box just had bugs so you exploited tthem. Or maybe you even have
a reason, a reason that justifies what you're doing. Anyway, you feel
pretty comfortable with it. The next morning the company's security
expert has to write a report to his boss about the hack. This is the
third time he's writing a report like this, so he has a very bad feeling
about it. After receiving the report, his boss decides to fire the
security expert - he's not doing his job well enough. The former
security expert is Tommy. What do you think Tommy thinks is worst?
Getting his nose punched in, or losing his job? Probably the last.
You would never punch someones nose in for no reason, cause that would
be wrong. You've been raised that way. The crime of hacking however, you
commit all the time. Fully aware of that the consequences of your
hacking could be much worse than the consequences of a physical assault
on someone. The consequences for your victims that is. The consequences
for you however, is a completely different chapter. It's a much bigger
chance of getting caught for breaking someones nose in broad daylight,
than it is of getting caught for hacking. Maybe that is why you do it?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
uXu #449 Underground eXperts United 1998 uXu #449
ftp://ftp.lysator.liu.se/pub/texts/uxu/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-=Welcome To the Shadows=-
--------------BEGIN.TXT-----------------
-=Welcome To the Shadows=-
A Crash-Course in the Undernet
by lnx. December 4, 1997 [email protected]
members.tripod.com/~wlnx
From what part of Hell did _you_ come from, young man? Perhaps
you're new to the whole game, without blemish nor praise, but more than
likely your one of the pop-charted millions armed with your free AOL.
You've entered our world now, we hope you enjoy it, what's that, its
_your_ world? Let's review this again. You say you're a hacker, a
cracker, "elite". Let me tell you now that your toes aren't even wet.
You've dived into the shallow end, and think you can swim, armed with
your "warez" sites and "elite cracker progz". Most of you won't graduate
from TaLKinG LiKE tHIs; as you keep tabs on your cyber-girl and forget
your real name. You wave at us all down at the other side, you shout
"look at me!" but still you hide: you hide from the web of deceit and of
lies, and yet of comradry unsurpassed in this family of the shadows.
Kid, you're on your own now, unless by odd chance, a mentor swims to you
and takes you by the hand. Unfortunately, although sharing of
information is supposedly the core of all we do, this help is rarely so,
unless sheer devotion is constantly shown. You sit in the corner,
downloading "progz galorez", and yet your couldn't hack your way out of
your room.
A 'hacker', or 'cracker', requires more than this. Dedication,
Perseverance, most important. Unless you desire to take that leap and
swim out, knowing full well you could ultimately drown, get out of the
pool kid, you're fooling yourself- go play your Quake or grab a book
from the shelf. But if you've decided to enter our fold, turn cool to
the upsets, the crackdowns, the scolds; if you're indeed ready to lay
down your life, then enter, my friend, and enjoy the ride.
Now that you're here, find someone to help; or if you desire, do
it yourself. Common misconceptions say you should seclude, become one
with the PC and shut out the world. This is not true, but for the rarest
cases. some of the world's best crackers have jobs down at Macy's. Don't
sacrifice your health for the sake of the cause, life is necessary to
enjoy the spoils. Do not expect to be in at first shot. You may never
'get it', you may get caught. Nothing is perfect, nothing is fail-safe:
if it were, then we crackers would have no place. Enjoy our world for as
long as you stay, kid. Just remember-
Anything can be cracked, even you, now have a nice day, kid.
lnx (12/4/97)
"crisis is only a state of mind.." -lnx
"...I'm not that fond of violence, but it keeps me hangin' on..."
-Tonic
("Casual Affair"/'Lemon Parade')
Script Kiddies
An AntiOnline Editorial
10-6-98 http://www.antionline.com
In the past, a hacker was an individual who literally had to spend years
to learn the inner workings of computer technology, programming, and
hardware. Only then could he begin to explore possible vulnerabilities,
and develop, for himself, ways to exploit those vulnerabilities, and more
importantly, ways to patch them. Through out these years of learning, the
hacker would develop a certain respect for the technology that he was
studying, and a certain level of maturity would inherently develop as
well. Now, in present day society, with point and click utilities abound,
a younger, less mature, less knowledgeable, and less respectful,
generation of "hackers" have come to life.
Individuals who haven't had to go through the years of learning, and
study. Individuals, who because of the lack of experiencing this "learning
process" have not developed the traits which once went hand in hand with
the persona of "hacker". Kids who are at that age, where they have very
little self respect, and even less respect for others. Kids who are
insecure, and have a strong desire to feel that sense of belonging. The
sense of being accepted as part of a group, and respected among their
peers. The same emotional state which once led inner city youth to gangs,
is now leading them to "hacking". Individuals who feel the ultimate sense
of power in "hacking a webpage". Their words being read by thousands of
others. Their ability to control something. The technology is not a love,
but a tool to accomplish something much more in their eyes. A tool that
can be used to gain them acceptance, a feeling of empowerment, belonging,
and control. A tool to allow them to escape the ridicule of the kids on
the bus, or the back of their parent's hand. Oh, and I can hear people
screaming "stereotyping" right now.
Well, call it what you may. I've talked to literally thousands of these so
called "hackers" over the past 5 or 6 years. You'd be surprised at how
clear of a mold many of them come from. I am really sick of hearing "we
hacked that page to get a message out". Perhaps, in some very, very, rare
cases, that is true. But, I submit to you, the vast majority of time a
hack is done first, and a political agenda is developed after hand to help
rationalize the crime. On top of that, one hardly has to "hack a webpage"
to get their point of view told. That's the wonder of the Internet.
Everyone is an equal. Everyone has the opportunity to post their views,
and share their thoughts. Once again, these so called "hackers" avoid the
developmental process. They don't want to spend the time and energy
necessary to create a successful website of their own. So, they
maliciously exploit the work of others that have.
I'm 19 years old right now. I know what it is like being upset about
something, and feeling that there's no way to share that with others.
That's one of the reasons that I made AntiOnline. It's my forum. My way of
expressing my views on things. To think of me, a 19 year old college drop
out. Yet, my work is viewed millions of times every month. That, my little
"hacker" friends, is power. That is what the Internet is about. That's why
it works. That's why it's growing. Unless you change your ways soon, you
will never be truly experiencing the wonder that technology is.
To truly love technology, love how it is changing our society, bringing
mankind together in a way never before experienced in the history of the
human race. You'll never truly be experiencing the very thing that you
feel you have ultimate control over. A true irony indeed. Of course, as
with all things, there is hope. There are people out their hanging on
tightly to the ways of old, and the true hacker identity. There are groups
like L0pht, the distributed.net bovine group, and the kids down at your
local high school learning visual basic. Those are the true hackers. A
desire to learn, a desire to be the first to discover something new. A
true hacker mentality is something that shouldn't be thought of as a dark,
mischievous thing, but perhaps, more like that of a scientist. Study,
learn, experiment, and share what you've found with others......
Yours In CyberSpace,
John Vranesevich
Founder, AntiOnline
TES Presents
-------------------------------
| The Ethics of Hacking |
-------------------------------
written by Dissident
I went up to a college this summer to look around, see if it was where I
wanted to go and whatnot. The guide asked me about my interests, and when I
said computers, he started asking me about what systems I had, etc. And when
all that was done, the first thing he 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 be
anything from a computer-user to someone who destroys everything they can get
their evil terminals into.
And the idiotic schumcks of the world who get a Commodore Vic-20 and a
300 baud modem (heh, and a tape drive!) for 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 something. 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 the
ropes about it, but I think I have a pretty damn good idea of what a true
hacker is. If I'm wrong, let one correct me...
True hackers are intelligent, 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 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. They're bored because schools teach the same dulll things
over and over and over, nothing new, nothing challenging.
True hackers are curious and patient. If you aren't, how can you work
so very hard hacking away at a single system for even one small PEEK at what
may be on it?
A true hacker DOESN'T get into the system to kill everything or to sell
what he gets to someone else. 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 cess-poll we live in. Why destroy 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 the
wonderful technology of the world costs three arms and four legs to get these
days. It costs a fortune to call up a board in an adjoining stats! So why
pay for it? To borrow something from a file I will name later, why pay for
what 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 reuqire to
call all the great places, to stay around a bunch of schmuck losers in your
home town? Calling out and entering a system you've never seen before are
two of the most exhilirating 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 mean
they 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 out
what you did, who you are, and you're gone...
I honestly don't know what purpose this file 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 portraying
what 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 like
the 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 thing
ever written on the subject of hackers. Read it, it could change your life.
Spread it around, but don't change anything please. . .
_________________________________________________________________
from RedDragon on IRC, handed to newbies...
Are You a Hacker?
Take a little quiz for me today. Tell me if you fit this
description. You got your net account several months ago. You have been
surfing the net, and you laugh at those media reports of the information
superhighway. You have a red box, you don't have to pay for phone calls.
You have crackerjack, and you have run it on the password file at a unix
you got an account on. Everyone at your school is impressed by your computer
knowledge, you are the one the teachers ask for help. Does this sound
like you? You are not a hacker.
There are thousands of you out there. You buy 2600 and you
ask questions. You read phrack and you ask questions. You join
#hack and you ask questions. You ask all of these questions, and you
ask what is wrong with that? After all, to be a hacker is to question
things, is it not? But, you do not want knowledge. You want answers.
You do not want to learn how things work. You want answers. You do not
want to explore. All you want to know is the answer to your damn
questions. You are not a hacker.
Hacking is not about answers. Hacking is about the path you
take to find the answers. If you want help, don't ask for answers,
ask for a pointer to the path you need to take to find out those answers
for yourself. Because it is not the people with the answers that are
the hackers, it is the people that are travelling along the path.
-ReDragon
My Code of Ethics
All true hackers have thier own set of ethics, a sort of rules that
he/she goes by when hacking. The ethics of a real hacker are much
different from that of a lamer or virus spreader. All a lamer cares
about is getting warez and forgetting credit where credit is due.
All a virus spreader wants to do is spread viruses and delete
files. People such as this are to be considered scum, and they give
the true hacker a bad name. No skill or artistic expression is
required to do what they do. The true hacker goes by his ethical
code, respecting the computers he works on and hacks. Here is my
code of ethics:
* Above all else, respect knowlege & freedom of information
* Notify system administrators about any security breaches you
encounter
* Do not profit unfairly from a hack
* Do not distribute or collect pirated software
* Never take stupid risks - know your own abilities
* Always be willing to freely share and teach your gained
information and methods
* Never hack a system to steal money
* Never give access to someone who might do damage
* Never intentionally delete or damage a file on a computer you hack
* Respect the machine you hack, and treat it like you'd treat your
own system
[email protected] |
|
