Re: What is a "hack"?

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

DougKalley writes ...
> 
> I find it kind of strange some people try to distance themselves from the
> "media" usage of hack. It is quite acurate to a sense. Although someone bangs
> out passwords is cracking then hence cracker, somebody who patching
> unix,vms,whatever is a hacker.  I would have to say writing a quick and dirty
> packet sniffer, or just figuring out a previously unknown operating system in
> hours is a hack...
 ....


     Agree. The essential idea of a "hack" is accomplishing some specific task
relatively quickly without benefit of complete, detailed information.
Consequently, to achieve success, a "hacker" depends upon experience,
intelligence, and intuition rather than lengthy, in-depth analysis.

     Since a "hack" aims for some specific result with minimum delay, the idea
of risk comes into the formula. Whatever the particular system-- i.e. a piece of
software, computer hardware, an internet site, etc.-- you are entering it
through a fairly narrow portal. You know that changing something to get what you
want may (or will) have negative side-effects.

     A hacker is always evaluating the risk of some patch or workaround and,
often, applies lower-scope hacks first in order to sample the behavior of the
system which is being hacked. In many ways, hacking is similar to playing a
musical instrument by ear.



Rubywand