Scum of the Internet

Here's the scenario: Both North American Governments have come up with these bills. How would you vote?

The reason I say Hackers are good people is this: Say you lose your password to your computer. A hacker can change the password so you once again have access to your computer. Or say you went through a devorce leaving you with an unrelenting hunger for revenge, a hacker could be paid to undermined that traitorous other.

Final point about hackers: They're like fire -- they can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

This was NOT intended to offend anyone. I don't really care if you're a spammer, hacker, spy, identity thief, or whatever. You're still a human being...you...ARE human...aren't you?

[ 10-19-2003, 11:13 AM: Message edited by: The Whackmiester ]

[SpiritWarrior]

The thing is, when fire is not helping you out It's still burning something. It's gotta keep burning constantly to sustain itself.

[Xen]

Not all hackers are bad. Some are just hacking to websites,writing something like "STOP WAR!" or similar. I personally think that Hacker(s) should be treated on what they do. Not every virus,worm,assualt etc... is bad. On the other hand how many hackers are "good"?

[Deejax]

While I think the sentences are somewhat over the top I do think that spamming, spyware and indentity thieving should be punishable.

As for hackers: It depends totally on what they do.

[RoSs_bg2_rox]

Originally posted by Xen: Not all hackers are bad. Not every virus,worm,assualt etc... is bad.

ok then, name a virus or worm, trojan etc that isnt bad, if there werent hackers, no one would need a firewall. HOW can anyone like hackers!

and what about the ones who hack into your computer for your credit card details, they rob hundreds of people of thousands of pounds, I think we should lay the law down on hackers!

[ 10-20-2003, 05:07 AM: Message edited by: RoSs_bg2_rox ]

[Zero Alpha]

Originally posted by RoSs_bg2_rox: ok then, name a virus or worm, trojan etc that isnt bad, if there werent hackers, no one would need a firewall. HOW can anyone like hackers!

How about the worm that spread, killed other viruses, then deleted itself from the users system? i cant remember what it was called, it was like phish or something.

Originally posted by RoSs_bg2_rox: and what about the ones who hack into your computer for your credit card details, they rob hundreds of people of thousands of pounds, I think we should lay the law down on hackers!

They are looked down on by most if not all of the hacker community. most hackers have a personal code of ethics they stick too, and because the are independant, what is true for one may not be true for another. dont just label all hackers as 'criminals' or theves. and i think technicaly we are talking about 'Crackers' not 'Hackers'. crackers are the ones who break in places.

[Azimaith]

Originally posted by Xen: Not all hackers are bad. Some are just hacking to websites,writing something like "STOP WAR!" or similar. I personally think that Hacker(s) should be treated on what they do. Not every virus,worm,assualt etc... is bad. On the other hand how many hackers are "good"?

Ridiculous, writing STOP WAR on a website is undermining peoples own opinions. When did a person who says STOP WAR automatically become just and right? Absolutely idiotic. If your messing with other peoples property electronic or not your hurting others. Its like if I saw your house and thought "wow that would look much better a neon pink color!" then painted it without even bothering to ask you.

Reasons Hackers are bad:
Credit fraud online, lots and lots of this, this makes online shopping less profitable and costs companies money as well as individuals who are having their things stolen.
Ego Boosters, many hackers do what they do just to prove they can, by doing so many cause widespread havoc to computer systems so they hackers can feel powerful.
Stealing Passwords, stealing a password would be like stealing someones house keys, duplicating them, then putting one copy back where they got it from. Even if that key is never used they have access to all your private information.
Reasons Hackers are good:
They add a rich mythos to the new internet culture that might even be romanticized in the future in a Robin Hoodesque way.
They have military applications.
They can combat other theiving hackers and crackers.

Hackers can be less serious in their threat if they follow some kind of code or whatnot but in truth we would be better off if there were no hackers at all except for possibly military purposes.

[Deejax]

Originally posted by Azimaith: Reasons Hackers are good: They have military applications.

This is good? I think you should put it in the 'not good' list.

The only thing I can think of where hackers are 'good' is when solving some computer related problem. Like lost passwords or locked down systems that should not be.

I'm not saying all the other things hackers (can) do are bad, just not good.

[RoSs_bg2_rox]

with all those things added up i still believe the net would be much better and certainly much SAFER without hackers

[cloud ff7 38]

I think that if you are worried about idenitify theft be a poor person nobody will want your idenity then i mean i havent had any problems with it.