Geek Terms

[Warthog]

Hacker vs. Cracker?

I don't like my definitions being distorted by the media http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif.

Warthog

[SoopaStar]

huh?

Paul

[Warthog]

What is the difference between a Cracker and a Hacker? People here at Sysopt have said that the media uses the wrong terms.

Warthog

[LJJones]

A "cracker" is some person that persistently gets his/her kicks from breaking into other peoples computer systems for a variety of reasons, basically a "hacker" turned bad. They use they use their computer knowledge for illegal or harmful ends.

A "hacker" is a person who holds a great deal of knowledge and expertise in the field of computing, and is someone who is capable of exercising this expertise with great finesse, but they do not cause harm with that knowledge.If they do, then they become a "cracker".

In the "real world", various media people have taken the word "hacker" and coerced it into meaning the same as "cracker" - which is wrong.

[Warthog]

Ok. Thank you very much!

Warthog

[socalgal]

http://www.vacia.is.tohoku.ac.jp/~s-yamane/articles/hacker/comp-security-FAQ/secur2.html

http://www.infowar.com/hacker/99/hack_042999a_j.shtml

[LJJones]

lol http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Edit - whoops, I pressed submit twice before I put a smiley face in, sorry.

[This message has been edited by LJJones (edited 05-14-2000).]

[ceedee]

as i understand it
cracker is a term created by hackers
hackers were fed up with being labeled alongside the destructive part of the scene
they beleive in freedom of info
crackers use the same methods but tamper
with the info
its splitting hairsbut thats how i understand it