Re: What is a "hack"?

[John Wang <jwang@cs.uh.edu>]

Hello

Wouldn't hacking be the iterative process of discovering and
understanding what is unknown to the individual? Thereby it's not really
being a skilled craftsman but a process whereby one could become a
skilled craftsman and then by definition hacking would leave traces, to
not leave a trace means that one already has sufficient comprehension of
all monitoring and logging processes that will be encountered in order
to circumvent them.

To me hack even in the pre computer days meant to try and try again as
in hacking through a log with an axe and someone who's a "hack" may get
the job done but not necessarily cleanly the first time around.

Perhaps I'm dating myself but then again this is the apple2 newsgroup
but wasn't crackers those who circumvented copy protection on software.
Circumventing copy protection is very different in that it's done under
controlled circumstances without danger of being monitored. Granted it's
obsolete these days but it was a lot of fun back in the late 70's and
early 80's.

Remember, breaking into a system doesn't necessarily show skill since
only one vulnerability need be found and exploited to gain access, not
being detected shows some degree of judgement in how one searches for
the vulnerability but even then considering how many messages are
generated everyday, most logs go completely unevaluated hence to be
un-detected usually involves not advertising your accomplishments.
Remember that most published hack cases such as the Cuckoo's egg and
even the Mitnick case, they were caught by the careful placement of
additional logging mechanisms at strategic points often automatically
triggered though some requiring manual interaction. It would've
demonstrated more skill if they tracked the hacker by interpreting
backup files concerning the previous incidents but of course that would
be too hard.

In general the expertise level demonstrated in any one publicized
incident does not demonstrate comprehensive knowledge nor skill
especially in this modern day and age where most attacks are simply
invented by others and then employed by the hacker, what skill is there
in running Satan or Crack?

Besides, the most successful techniques don't involve trying to not be
detected but to overflow the logs such that the system becomes unable to
log the pertinent information.

Is the media depiction correct? if you mean are most hackers a bunch of
kids trading and trying out exploits communicated via a sub culture,
then the answer is yes, most are just trying things out without full
comprehension eventually they'll comprehend more of what they're doing
and they will trade less and communicate less as the excitement wears
off and the various newsgroups seems to be filled with newbies to them.
Is it a prestige, fashion phenomenon, of course it is. Are hackers
skilled, no because when they do achieve a comprehensive amount of
knowledge they are no longer hackers, criminals perhaps sysadmins or
rich and retired but not hackers.

Chad Choi Lin wrote:
> Frank Carney wrote:
...
> >  Somehow deep down I see number one not deserving the
> > title of hacker.  The reason is I guess I have this utopian view of
> > hacking in its essence:  The challenge is the whole point, not the
> > wanton destruction of personal property.  What I mean is a good (break
> > in) hack is to get and get out without a trace.  Anyway, that is why I
> > have disdain for the media depiction.
> >
> 
> My feelings exactly, but the distinction between "hacker" (a skilled
> craftsman who does what he does for the joy of learning and the love of his
> art, whether it involves computers or not) and "cracker" (someone who uses
> his computer to break into other people's systems, usually with some
> collateral damage) is unfortunately lost on the general public. All the more
> reason, in my opinion, that we should question the Official Line being fed
> to us from any party, including our government.
> 
> For that matter, to get the UNofficial line on Kevin Mitnick, try this URL:
> 
> http://www.2600.com
> 
> Peace, Love, and Question The Knowledge,
> Chad Choi Lin
> chadlin@nyetcom.com
> 
> **************
> Apple II Forever!
> **************