To those that mess with others sites....

[zeus]

You will be tracked and caught.....

 

Hacking is not something to be laughed at and is more than a prank.

[♥monte22]

Not sure this is the place to address your hacker problem.

 

Most people here are working hard together to get their own shops up and running, and I feel act much more mature than to just hack into a site for fun.

 

Anyways, I dont think you would scare anyone off with your threat anyways. :)

 

Just my .02

[zeus]

Actually the perpetrator was caught and it was someone that has been banned here and all is well with the world.

 

If I could delete a thread I would delete this one.

[wizardsandwars]

just out of curiosity, perhaps you could elaborate on what the hack did, and how you were able to catch them. Now htat would be useful information.

[Daemonj]

And how they were able to hack your system to begin with.

 

All of the information that WizardsandWars asked about would be of great benefit to everyone here.

 

If you would still like this thread deleted, please post so and I will do it.

[Quasi]

Argh, they arent hackers, they are crackers!

 

hacker - someone that messes around with stuff

 

http://info.astrian.net/jargon/terms/h.html#hacker

 

cracker - someone who breaks into computers (or safes, etc)

 

http://info.astrian.net/jargon/terms/c.html#cracker

[wizardsandwars]

Argh, they arent hackers, they are crackers!

 

Well, I know that there are lots of programmers pushing to redefine that particular definition, but it isn't official by any means. The vase majority of people in the world still use the 'official' definition...

 

hack?er1 ( P ) Pronunciation Key (hkr)

n. Informal

One who is proficient at using or programming a computer; a computer buff.

One who uses programming skills to gain illegal access to a computer network or file.

One who enthusiastically pursues a game or sport: a weekend tennis hacker.

 

Unless you're planning on writing and publishing your own worldwide accepted definition, I think you're fighting an uphill battle.

[Guest]

Well, I know that there are lots of programmers pushing to redefine that particular definition, but it isn't official by any means.

Restore, not redefine. This was the original and most common definition (notice that it is listed first in your list). The other usage results from the fact that many people first learned of hackers from the exploits of crackers.

 

Cheers,

Matt

[Quasi]

Unless you're planning on writing and publishing your own worldwide accepted definition, I think you're fighting an uphill battle.

 

Those are the ones worth fighting, arent they? :)

 

Anyway, ESR already published the proper definition in the Jargon Dictionary, a version of which I linked to earlier.

 

This explains it far better than I could :

 

http://info.astrian.net/jargon/Helping_Hac...lture_Grow.html

[♥monte22]

Does it really matter what the exact technical term is?

 

I think hacker - "One who uses programming skills to gain illegal access to a computer network or file" covers both types in a form that is adequate for most everyone.

[wizardsandwars]

I think hacker - "One who uses programming skills to gain illegal access to a computer network or file" covers both types in a form that is adequate for most everyone.

 

Therein lie the problem. The widely interpreted definiation, the one that you posted, is actually offensive to many programmers.

 

I think you missed his point completly. His point was that your definition is actually inaccurate. I tend to agree, but I hardly htink the world will ever change their thinking.

[Guest]

It's amazing how easily these threads change topic.

 

Here we start out talking about somebody who illegally gained access to site. So we ask for information, possibly to find a problem and fix a security flaw in the software. This is where I thought the thread was headed.

 

Now its arguing over the correct definitions of cracker and hacker and who does what.

 

You want more definitions?

 

hacker: Someone who smokes to much.

 

cracker: Something I eat with soup.

 

Who really cares??? I think this discussion of definitions should be taken in PM's or email. Let's get back to the real issue in this thread and see if there is a security flaw that needs some attention or just a backdoor a designer put in his clients pages to gain access later.

[wizardsandwars]

Not sure I see any arguing.

 

Its a discussion. That's what we do here. I odn't see anything wrong with that. If I started a thread that talked about how great the OSC Star Shema was, I'm sure it would spark a conversation about whether or not the MySQL database would be considered a Star Schema, Snowflake schema, 1st through 3rd or even Boyce Codd normal form, or just about as far from normalized and organized as you could possibly be.

 

Besides, it looks like the author has decided for whatever reason to not pursue this thread, therefore for all intents and purposes, the thread is dead anyway.

[dreamscape]

definitions change over time. Jargon & slang terms tend to change much more often than others (sometimes every month with certain terms).

 

heres a little history on the term "hacker".

 

In 1995 Merriam-Webster defined "hacker" as simply:

hacker n. a talented amatuer user of computers

 

the lastest edition of the Webster dictionary defines "hacker" as now a possibility of 4 things:

hacker n.

1 : one that hacks

2 : a person who is inexperienced or unskilled at a particular activity <a tennis hacker>

3 : an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer

4 : a person who illegally gains access to and sometimes tampers with information in a computer system

 

with "hack" being defined as:

hack v.

transitive senses

1 a : to cut or sever with repeated irregular or unskillful blows b : to cut or shape by or as if by crude or ruthless strokes <hacking out new election districts> c : ANNOY, VEX -- often used with off

2 : to clear or make by or as if by cutting away vegetation <hacked his way through the brush>

3 a : to manage successfully <just couldn't hack the new job> b : TOLERATE <I can't hack all this noise>

intransitive senses

1 a : to make chopping strokes or blows <hacked at the weeds>; also : to make cuts as if by chopping <hacking away at the work force> b : to play inexpert golf

2 : to cough in a short dry manner

3 : LOAF -- usually used with around

4 a : to write computer programs for enjoyment b : to gain access to a computer illegally

 

if the definition "a person who illegally gains access to and sometimes tampers with information in a computer system" is so innacurate, I doubt webster would have included it in their latest addition. Agreed, programmers may not like that definition, but not liking it does not make it inaccurate.

[Quasi]

Does it really matter what the exact technical term is?  

 

Well, the distinction is about the same as being a "driver" or a "car jacker".

If news stories were written blurring the lines between those two meanings and you were a driver, how do you think people that met you would view you?

 

Remember, if youre messing around with the OSC code then youre a hacker. Say someone overheard you saying you were "...hacking an online shop..."? Someone with a social conscience just might report that. OK, Im talking extreme cases here. But the way the media and hollywood are incredibly lazy with these terms sometimes really hacks me off.

 

And as wizardsandwars said: its just a discussion. Hey, this is in the "chit chat" section, we're chewing the fat and having a bit of a laugh. OK, maybe I'll go do something serious now and see if I can help someone in the other forums... :)

 

Rob