There is no doubt that whether you feel hacking into a system is a good thing or bad thing, there remains a portion of the population that will take the opposing view. In the following article, those different views are expressed http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/hackers/whoare/outlaws.html and it is up to us as individuals, to see which side of the argument we agree with. It is quite refreshing to actually find an article that articulates both sides of an argument instead of just promoting one view. What it does though, is makes us really think about the pros and cons and question our own thinking on this rather emotionally charged subject.
Sure, the hackers may provide a service in showing the weakness of the systems and therefore allowing for the original creators to come up with a better solution, or, stronger security, but we can also argue, that the ‘hacker’ is a blight on society in breaching that security and therefore, our privacy, which many have done, but in doing this, they do provide a service to the originator in that they now have found a weakness in their system that has to be rectified. The problem is though, that the damage that has and will be done before the new provisions are implemented will continue.
It was interesting to note that Microsoft themselves hire hackers to find weaknesses in their software. As well as the fact that some countries such as Israel, hire hackers for their knowledge; whereas in North America, they are thrown in jail. There are obviously two different kinds of hackers, the do-gooders and the evil-doers. It all boils down it seems as to the intent and further, what is done once the hacking happens.
Sure, the hackers may provide a service in showing the weakness of the systems and therefore allowing for the original creators to come up with a better solution, or, stronger security, but we can also argue, that the ‘hacker’ is a blight on society in breaching that security and therefore, our privacy, which many have done, but in doing this, they do provide a service to the originator in that they now have found a weakness in their system that has to be rectified. The problem is though, that the damage that has and will be done before the new provisions are implemented will continue.
It was interesting to note that Microsoft themselves hire hackers to find weaknesses in their software. As well as the fact that some countries such as Israel, hire hackers for their knowledge; whereas in North America, they are thrown in jail. There are obviously two different kinds of hackers, the do-gooders and the evil-doers. It all boils down it seems as to the intent and further, what is done once the hacking happens.