Hacker Culture What is a hacker A hacker

Hacker Culture

What is a hacker? • A hacker is a person who: – – enjoys exploring the details of programmable systems programs enthusiastically Is an expert on a particular program enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming limitations • Hackers got their name from people who “hack at code” to get the computer to do what they want it too

What is not a hacker? • There is a common misconception that hackers are people who like to discover sensitive information by poking around • These people are called (CRiminal h. ACKER) or crackers

History of Hacker Culture • Formed in 1961 at MIT by students of Tech Model Railroad Company. • Tradition of elaborate pranks called “hacks”, became first to call themselves hackers. • In 1969 MIT AI Lab was connected with various others via ARPANET. • Ideas, slang, software, and jokes began to flow between them, and formed the beginnings of hacker culture.

History (cont. ) • Example of culture flowing: In 1973 Jargon file created. • It contained a list of slang terms accumulated from all the different universities. • Early hackers eventually took over positions running ARPANET because no one else really wanted the job. • In the early 1980’s hacker culture started becoming more conscious, more cohesive, and better organized.

History (cont. ) • GNU project started in early 1980’s by Richard M. Stallman. • In 1985 Stallman published the GNU Manifesto. • Popularized the term “free software”. • Stallman also wrote the General Public License (GPL). • “Free software” became a focus of great controversy. • Linus Torvalds created Linux in 1991, an example of this free software.

Hacker Culture Today • • • Big misconception that hackers are bad More programs being created by hackers Very little system crackers More strict rules on hacking The hacker community is bigger and more people of all ages and genders are joining