[beardednose]

Fear and Loathing in Information Security
by Michael D. Bauer, author of Linux Server Security, 2nd Edition
02/11/2005

If I were to tell you that I'm proud to be a hacker, would you wish I was dead? Last week I attended a speech by someone who just may, and while that speech was offensive on more levels than I can address in one editorial, I would like to talk about the demonization of hackers within the information security ("infosec") profession. In my opinion, the time has come for infosec professionals to stop fearing technology's boundary-pushers and for hackers to stop pretending there's any glory in the crimes most of them are too smart to want to commit in the first place.

Read the rest at http://www.oreillyne...1/mbauer_1.html

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The most interesting part of this article to me what the writer challenging the notion that hacking leads to crime. I've believed that to be true before I read this article. Now, I'm not sure. Either way, it's a good article, but a bit long. See the related poll at http://www.governmen...showtopic=13709

[Nick W]

I have always held that the fundamental problem with hackers and hacking comes down to this: those who define what a "hacker" is are always the LEAST qualified to do so. (journalists, mediawhores, and malicious hackers: usually script-kids)

The only exception to this has always been "The Mentor". It is the reason why his manifesto lives on. Hackers are meritocrats, they judge each other by merit, skill, and technical prowess rather than by race, color, and creed. It's why hackers have groups of friends from all 7 continents. It's why the manifesto has been translated into over a hundred different languages. There's something about exploring different systems online that makes you feel liberated from the constraints. While people may be able to find out who you are, no one yet knows. YOU forge your own name. YOU control your own destiny.

There is nothing more exhilarating than knowing you have a great deal of power and skill and can compromise thousands upon thousands of systems. Having your very own 0-day exploit is like achieving world domination in "Risk". Using that exploit, however, is a line that VERY few actually end up crossing.

Some do, however, and those are the individuals that define what a hacker is to the rest of the world.

[edward5]

This of course is written by those who do not condone the risk of such behavior and may or may not have to deal with it on a daily basis. I look at as a life style choice. Much to do about nothing? I shall say not. I have practiced a number of years in developing such skills. Some of us ride the edge for nothing more than personal entertainment, yet others enjoy the fruits of such behavior with a paycheck. This is growing to enormous proportions and I do strongly beleive that the U.S. will be again the ostrich with its head in the sand and the last to get on board with that in dealing with the risk.

For the rest of us its about riding that edge, the razors edge, some of us fall off and some get cut and yet others skate that line.

Onward and Upward,may your syntax be full and your packets headerless.

Uncle Ed

[myth]

Quote

There is nothing more exhilarating than knowing you have a great deal of power and skill and can compromised thousands upon thousands of systems. Having your very own 0-day exploit is like achieving world domination in "Risk". Using that exploit, however, is a line that VERY few actually end up crossing.

Exactly. That whole post was 100% (IMHO)

3 Thumbs Up

[as0l0]

so long as it continues to provide a lucrative infosec industry, keep it com'n.