have you hugged your local hacker today?
brad made a post about this situation.
the previous use of "hacker" is in bold. the use of "hacker" that holds more weight nowadays is more in line with the definition of "cracker" which is italicized.from Merriam-Webster Online
Main Entry: hack·er
Function: noun
1 : one that hacks
2 : a person who is inexperienced or unskilled at a particular activity
3 : an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer
4 : a person who illegally gains access to and sometimes tampers with information in a computer system
Main Entry: hack
Function: intransitive verb
[...]
4 a : to write computer programs for enjoyment b : to gain access to a computer illegally
Main Entry: hack
Function: noun
[...]
6 : a usually creative solution to a computer hardware or programming problem or limitation
Main Entry: crack·er
Function: noun
[...]
7 : HACKER 4from Wiktionary
hacker (plural hackers)
2. One who is intensely interested in learning and modifying the technical aspects of a system, particularly a computer and its software; one who hacks; a computer programmer who is largely or completely self-taught.
4. A cracker; one who breaks into computer systems, especially with malicious or criminal intent.
cracker (plural crackers)
2. One who illegally circumvents protections in security to gain unauthorized access.
Etymology
Blend of "criminal" and "hacker"
cracker (plural crackers)
1. A person who uses various techniques on computer software to defeat copy protection, or to add features such as game cheats.
Synonyms
(person who defeats software protection, with malicious intent): black hat hacker
Antonyms
(person who defeats software protection, with intent to improve the program's security): white hat hackerthoughts?
the previous use of "hacker" is in bold. the use of "hacker" that holds more weight nowadays is more in line with the definition of "cracker" which is italicized.from Merriam-Webster Online
Main Entry: hack·er
Function: noun
1 : one that hacks
2 : a person who is inexperienced or unskilled at a particular activity
3 : an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer
4 : a person who illegally gains access to and sometimes tampers with information in a computer system
Main Entry: hack
Function: intransitive verb
[...]
4 a : to write computer programs for enjoyment b : to gain access to a computer illegally
Main Entry: hack
Function: noun
[...]
6 : a usually creative solution to a computer hardware or programming problem or limitation
Main Entry: crack·er
Function: noun
[...]
7 : HACKER 4from Wiktionary
hacker (plural hackers)
2. One who is intensely interested in learning and modifying the technical aspects of a system, particularly a computer and its software; one who hacks; a computer programmer who is largely or completely self-taught.
4. A cracker; one who breaks into computer systems, especially with malicious or criminal intent.
cracker (plural crackers)
2. One who illegally circumvents protections in security to gain unauthorized access.
Etymology
Blend of "criminal" and "hacker"
cracker (plural crackers)
1. A person who uses various techniques on computer software to defeat copy protection, or to add features such as game cheats.
Synonyms
(person who defeats software protection, with malicious intent): black hat hacker
Antonyms
(person who defeats software protection, with intent to improve the program's security): white hat hackerthoughts?