Understanding the Hacker

by Bootleg

What reasoning could possibly justify "hacking" in the eyes of those who do it?

I've been asked this recently.  Answering this question is not easy, but let me give you some historical references first and you'll see philosophical similarities.

Throughout history, governments and large organizations (today's corporations) have been oppressive and have cheated the general population.  In every case a certain segment of that population fought hack.  It doesn't matter if that government was the best in existence at the time; a certain percent of the population will always (and justifiably) find faults therein and act.

Look at our own "Boston Tea Party" as one example of disgruntled youth in action.  One can find examples of this mentality in varying degrees in every government or corporation that ever existed.  But today's "hacker" also has another motive that drives him to get to this stage.  Curiosity!

Most hackers start out trading games with friends.  Not having access to funds required to purchase software, they gravitate towards pirated software and then to "pirate" BBSes.  Since most of the better pirate boards are long distance calls, the astute pirate will slowly but surely develop, phreaking skills.  During this stage they begin having an elitist attitude.

They grow older (middle/late teens) and start taking classes at school in computer programming.  During these classes they discover the power of mini/mainframe computers.  Their curiosity increases at the same time as does their awareness of the inequities of society and corporations in their treatment of citizens.  Crime is everywhere and somewhat acceptable in today's youth.  Being young, becoming cynical and having the knowledge of phreaking, hacking becomes the logical choice of the curious with these talents.

The power that comes with hacking into systems is euphoric to these youth.  They can now control segments of government!  They can now change the corporate profit margins!  They are looked upon by their peers as gods!  They are under 20-years-old!

The personal satisfaction of "beating the system" is like a narcotic to the hacker.  He needs more knowledge - he needs more access.  He knows he has the power to change things, but he only wants to "look" around, then move on without leaving a trace that he was ever there.  A phantom, a ghost that moves silently in the night among electronic highways is what he has become, evermore increasing his skills and power while invisibly penetrating larger and more secure systems.  Seeking and finding the deepest secrets contained within these electronic fortresses is all consuming to the skilled hacker.  To access the password file or admin file is like stealing the system's soul.  Once done, that system has no more life for the hacker.  It cannot fight back, it cannot harm him.  It is spiritually dead and he must move on to find more worthy foes.

He is young.  He is invigorated.  He has no parents telling him what to do.  He is a Lord with few equals in a cyberworld just now in its infancy.  He and other hackers are the new "Minutemen."  They are the electronic revolutionaries of our age and the future.

In closing, let me leave you with this thought.  Soon wars will be fought not with guns, but with computers and electronics along invisible roads that know no boundaries.  Corporations will (and do) control governments and it will be their fighting for profit margins and market control that infuriates the population with higher prices and fewer benefits.

Who will be our Minutemen when this corporate behavior becomes outrageous?  Who has the skills and knowledge to penetrate these corporate fortresses that cheat every one of us?  Why do these entities spend billions trying to keep their deeds secret?  Who are they deathly afraid of who might reveal their ghastly plans for us?  And finally, but most importantly, who is risking everything for us to be free in the electronic world of the future?  The hackers.

'Nuff Said.