Comments on: Echo Boom hackers: A dangerous game

Part 2 of a three-part series on computer hacking within the Echo Boom generation. How do those in the Echo Generation use online social media for hacks?

[Archus]

Wait a minute. You've got it wrong.

I refuse to see the term hacker bandered about in this way. I'm a hacker. Hackers don't do this stupid stuff. We know the risks (Yes, I'm and Echo Gen too.) and we take very careful measure to use our knowledge of these things in ways that won't get us looked at by the feds.

What you are portraying here is a classic "cracker" activity. Crackers are generally the underbelly of hacking. Using their oft new found knowledge to do bar tricks and impress friends. By calling them hackers your story almost legitimizes them. The hacker community doesn't own these people or their acts. What they do, and the blatant way they do it is distasteful.

As an old school hacker I would rather you know my handle, which should ALWAYS be different from your virtual life, and never intersect your real life, than for you to know my face. The hackers I know wouldn't be caught dead posting their pic, video, e-mail, or anything else tying our deed to us. That's just arrogant.

Please understand that I know this activity goes on, but it has nothing to do with real hackers. BTW, the real elite no longer spell with numbers and symbols. Unless they still live with their mothers. Most of us have real jobs now. We just hack for fun and notoriety.

[Sub-Wrath]

Can't really avoid it

...with regards calling some of these kids "hackers", especially as that's the whole point - thats what theyre actually *calling* themselves. Kinda difficult to write an article like this and not make things extremely complicated and fiddly when the kids themselves write something like

"I'm a computer nerd, programmer, musician, and a famous hacker."

I think anyone who understands this kind of issue is savvy enough to realise the difference between the endless terms and labels used in these kinds of stories, and that there are many fine subdivisions in all of those terms and labels. And that "not all hackers are bad and *these* guys aren't actually real hackers because they're just running round breaking stuff". we're all aware of that argument, and we've heard it about a million times.

but then you say this..

"We just hack for fun and notoriety."

isn't that what most of these kids are doing too? you say "thats just arrogant" with regards them posting their own pictures up. again, isn't that the whole point of the article - that they're idiots trying to somehow claim the mantle of "leet hackers" (as they see it), but because they lack any kind of skill they inevitably can be busted and shut down en masse?

"BTW, the real elite no longer spell with numbers and symbols. Unless they still live with their mothers."

again, seeing as most of the people covered in this writeup seem to be about 14, i'd say that was pretty obvious that they still do.

[sanenazok]

What is this?

What's this article about, exactly? We're supposed to be surprised that kids running around on the Internet are doing stupid stuff? OMG a bunch of 12 year olds are violating TOS of some websites by making their own webpages and forums, what's the world coming to! Better yet, kids are calling themselves hackers. Wow who cares! Let them do whatever they want, it's their parents fault. BTW, why would any adult visit a website hosted/run by/posted to by 12 year olds? To have discussions on a 12 yr old level? Isn't that what calling marketing dept. is for?

Looking at some of the comments to C|Net forums I guess I often deal with 12 yr olds here, but at least this is supposed to be moderated by adults.

[limefan913]

Admittedly...

It is rather sad seeing others with the skill they have in my age group wasting their talent. I know a number who are just throwing away any ability they have. Personally I have worked at building a persona that accurately reflects my real life to an extent, but then again I shied away from the modding/cracking/"hacking" scene, even though I could have done it.

One thing this series fails to mention is that, while some from the so called "Echo Boom" (What kind of name is that, seriously. I'm feeling rather insulted) are wasting skills on stupid feats, many of us are honing web design skills, as well as systems management and other basic network management skills.

The average teenage MySpace user can spit out HTML that will at least display formatting, and I know a number who have learned CSS and HTML 4.01 Strict just from template designing.

Oh, by the way, I blame 4chan.

[krosavcheg]

I've seen you before

you are absolutely right. also I liked you in this youtube video. http://youtube.com/watch?v=3fkYmO2B-sM