On Fri, 2008-12-12 at 10:59 +1300, German Geek wrote: > On Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 7:03 AM, tedd <tedd.sperling@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > At 11:23 AM -0500 12/11/08, Robert Cummings wrote: > > > >> On Thu, 2008-12-11 at 11:05 -0500, tedd wrote: > >> > When I say "Hack a site" I mean to do something to get the site to > >> > >>> provide an unintended result as expected by the author. > >>> > >>> Much like using CSS "Hacks" to get browsers to do something that was > >>> not intended by the original designers. > >>> > >>> On the other hand, my understanding of "cracking" means to "crack" > >>> some type of encryption. Thus, the reason why I did not say "cracking > >>> the site" instead of "hacking the site". > >>> > >> > >> Cracking is not just about encryption. It's about bypassing any kind of > >> measure put in place to prevent someone from doing something. Hacking on > >> the other hand does not embody this principle, although hacking may be > >> employed to achieve cracking. Just because pop culture is completely > >> ignorant to the difference, doesn't mean you as a member of the > >> community need to jump on board and bleat like a sheep. If you intend to > >> misuse hacker, then you should at least provide more detail such as > >> white-, grey-, or black-hat. > >> > >> Cheers, > >> Rob. > >> > > > > > > Okay, I shall adjust my fracking terminology. :-) > > > > Cheers, > > > > tedd > > > > Cracking to me is when someone uses an already existing hack to use it for > their own gain in a malicious way to someone else. > Hacking is finding new security holes or problems with some software to fix > the security holes, or just for fun without causing any demage or revealing > sensitive information. > A hacker to me, is an admirable person, who can find new security issues. > A cracker to me, is someone exploiting hacks already in existence. I tend to agree with these definitions: http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid14_gci212220,00.html The hacker is generally considered to be someone knowledgeable about a specific aspect of computers and uses that. This can obviously be used for good or ill. Cracker is generally a non-hacker (IMHO) that uses the works of hackers to break into things. The general media has this a bit messed up, and a hacker to them is typically someone who breaks into systems with malicious intent. Of course, the other meanings: hacker: someone who chops down trees cracker: something you pull at xmas (can be of the female persuasion ;) ) Ash www.ashleysheridan.co.uk -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
