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PROGRAMMERS |
HACKERS
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Hacker is a term often applied to
computer software or
computer hardware
programmers,
designers and administrators, especially those who are perceived as experts or
highly accomplished in this field. A hacker is also a term used for someone who
modifies electronics such as ham radio transceivers, printers or even home
sprinkler systems for better functionality or performance. The term usually
bears strong connotations that may be favorable or pejorative depending on
cultural context (see the
hacker definition controversy).
- In
computer programming, a hacker is a software designer and programmer who
builds programs and systems that garner the respect of one's peers. A hacker
may also be a programmer who reaches a goal by employing a series of
modifications to
exploit or
extend existing
code
or resources. For some, "hacker" has a negative connotation and refers to a
person who gains illegal access to computers (hacks)
or uses kludges
to accomplish programming tasks that are ugly, inelegant, and inefficient.
This derogatory form of the noun "hack" is even used among users of the
positive sense of "hacker" (some argue that it should not be, due to this
negative meaning; others argue that some kludges can, for all their ugliness
and imperfection, still have "hack value").
- In
computer security, a
hacker is a person who specializes in work with the security mechanisms
for computer and network systems. While including those who endeavor to
strengthen such mechanisms, it is more often used by the
mass
media and popular culture to refer to those who seek access despite these
security measures.
- In other technical fields, hacker is extended to mean a person who makes
things work beyond perceived limits through their own technical skill, such as
a
hardware hacker, or
reality hacker.
- In
Online Gaming, a hacker is someone who exploits the game to their
advantage, usually designing hack programs that change various things in the
game. The term "hacker" is often inappropriately used to describe
cheaters in online games that simply use the hack programs with little
understand of how they work. Cheaters are very often caught by
game
server
admins or anti-cheat software such as
PunkBuster; in many cases it results in a permanent ban from thousands of
cheat-protected game servers.
Recognized hackers
These individuals listed could be included in more than one category. See
also
Hacker (computer security), which has a list of people in that category,
including criminal or unethical hackers.
[edit]
Skilled programmers
-
Many programmers have been labeled "great hackers,"[1]
but the specifics of who that label applies to is a matter of opinion. Certainly
major contributors to
computer science such as
Edsger Dijkstra and
Donald
Knuth, as well as the inventors of popular software such as
Linus Torvalds (Linux),
and
Dennis Ritchie and
Ken Thompson (the
C programming language) are likely to be included in any such list.
[edit]
Hacker media personalities
Listed below are individuals who, while fitting in one or more of the above
categories, are (especially among the general public) currently more widely
famous for their media presence ("famous for being famous") than their technical
accomplishments.
-
CULT OF THE DEAD COW — A high profile hacker group that has both made news
and been consulted by the media on numerous occasions.
-
William Henry Gates III (Bill Gates) — is the co-founder and chairman of
Microsoft
Corporation. Although he personally demonstrated considerable personal coding
skill early in his company's history
[2][3],
he is most widely recognizable today as the world's richest individual.
Formerly CEO, in June 2006 he also stepped down as chief software architect,
with the intention of stepping down as chairman in July 2008.[4]
-
Patrick K. Kroupa (also known as
Lord
Digital) — Former
LOD member, co-founder of
MindVox,
author of Phantom Access programs, and MindVox: The Overture. Appears in over
20 books and hundreds of media and press articles.
-
Kevin Mitnick — A former computer criminal who now (since his release from
prison in 2000) speaks, consults, and authors books about
social engineering and network security.
- Neal Patrick and
The 414s
— teenage hackers who gained brief but widespread media coverage in
1983.
-
Steve Wozniak — Computer engineer who created the
Apple I and
Apple II series computers and, with
Steve
Jobs, founded Apple Computer (now
Apple
Inc.). He is known in the hacker community as "Woz" or "The other Steve."
Woz came up with some ingenious hardware hacks to bring those machines to
completion. Tales of his "blue
box" phone calls are legendary.
[edit]
References
- ^
Graham,
Paul (2004).
Great Hackers.
- ^ Article from The
Register
[1]
- ^ Archive.org cache of
discussion of Altair Basic source code
[2]
- ^ Microsoft Press release
June 2006
[3]
[edit]
Related books
-
Levy,
Steven (1984).
Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution. Doubleday.
ISBN 0-385-19195-2.
-
Turkle, Sherry (1984),The Second Self: Computers and the Human Spirit
, New Edition: MIT Press 2005,
ISBN 0262701111
-
Sterling, Bruce (1992).
The Hacker Crackdown. Bantam.
ISBN 0-553-08058-X.
-
Slatalla, Michelle; Joshua Quittner (1995).
Masters of Deception: The Gang That Ruled Cyberspace. HarperCollins.
ISBN 0-06-017030-1.
-
Dreyfus, Suelette (1997).
Underground: Tales of Hacking, Madness and Obsession on the Electronic
Frontier. Mandarin.
ISBN 1-86330-595-5.
-
Verton, Dan (2002). The Hacker Diaries : Confessions of Teenage Hackers.
McGraw-Hill Osborne Media.
ISBN 0-07-222364-2.
-
Graham, Paul (2004).
Hackers and Painters.
ISBN 0-59-600662-4.
