Brilliant
http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~wilkins/html/hackers/
A New York Times article, if you're curious.
L0pht, in my opinion, were as much in the right as humanity allows.
Since this article was published, the group has disbanded and sought the six-figure careers to which they are richly entitled.
I find it interesting that the harshest critics of L0pht's work are spokespeople for major corporations (read: large profit-poisoned bodies of brainwashed, weak-willed bandwagoners). For a long time, I've operated under the Machiavellian, Sun-Tzu mantra: know your enemy. Malicious hackers (refered to as "black hatters" in the article above) thrive on one advantage, and one advantage alone--knowing more about computers than their intended targets and, indeed, most of the world. The only way to stop them is to close that gap, to learn what they know and eventually beat them at their own game.
Hence, the grey-hatters.
White-hatters, as indicated in the article, are those with computer expertise who work directly for the corporations (like Mr. Microsoft-senior-programmer who is repeatedly quoted). In my opinion, white-hatters are just as bad as black-hatters in the same way that war is always bad, regardless of who is fighting who. Destruction still ensues and often claims the lives and property of bodies who had nothing to do with the war in the first place. The only way to bring those hostilities to an end is to level the playing field to a stand-off, as L0pht did during their run.
As a reward for those with the gumpsh to get through that (admittedly political) rant, an anecdote listed on a L0pht copycat site.
A New York Times article, if you're curious.
L0pht, in my opinion, were as much in the right as humanity allows.
Since this article was published, the group has disbanded and sought the six-figure careers to which they are richly entitled.
I find it interesting that the harshest critics of L0pht's work are spokespeople for major corporations (read: large profit-poisoned bodies of brainwashed, weak-willed bandwagoners). For a long time, I've operated under the Machiavellian, Sun-Tzu mantra: know your enemy. Malicious hackers (refered to as "black hatters" in the article above) thrive on one advantage, and one advantage alone--knowing more about computers than their intended targets and, indeed, most of the world. The only way to stop them is to close that gap, to learn what they know and eventually beat them at their own game.
Hence, the grey-hatters.
White-hatters, as indicated in the article, are those with computer expertise who work directly for the corporations (like Mr. Microsoft-senior-programmer who is repeatedly quoted). In my opinion, white-hatters are just as bad as black-hatters in the same way that war is always bad, regardless of who is fighting who. Destruction still ensues and often claims the lives and property of bodies who had nothing to do with the war in the first place. The only way to bring those hostilities to an end is to level the playing field to a stand-off, as L0pht did during their run.
As a reward for those with the gumpsh to get through that (admittedly political) rant, an anecdote listed on a L0pht copycat site.