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Comment by asmosoinio | Hacker News Reader

Good article, but something bothered me:

Hackers or crackers? In the first paragraphs, he seems to assume hacker=cracker. I always thought there was a clear distinction between the two, at least among hackers. Am I wrong?

*"... these hackers are discovering the actual rules of the computer systems (e.g. buffer overflows), and using them to circumvent the intended rules of the system (typically access controls)."

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The distinction is irrelevant to the article

It is amusing to think of the distinction as being one of those places where the stated reality (Hacking is somehow nobler than breaking into computer systems) is at odds with actual reality (breaking into systems is hacking).

The irony, then, is that understanding the actual reality would then be a precursor to hacking hacking.

I know. The article brought this to my mind and I was wondering what people here think. It's the "hacker news", after all.

He clearly shows that breaking into computer systems is called hacking in the media, and explains why the term hacking is in technical terms correct in this situation.

My take on the issue: picking a lock is hacking, breaking down a door is not. Apply the metaphor as you will.

My opinion is that crackers and hackers are to distinct sets, but there is an intersection (though I think it isn't overly big). Hacking needs to be creative, nothing about that says it can't be malicious.

That isn't to say that I approve of hacking in that context, merely than it can exist.

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