“It is rare that you would willingly let vandals and burglars into your home but a controlled environment like a honeypot computer lets you do the technological equivalent in relative safety. The idea of letting the PC get infected was to see exactly what nasty programs hit our machine and how easy it was to recover from infection.”
I see we are using the nasty definition of hacker. Of course, this the way the media always uses it, though this word is a contranym, which I discuss here:
http://jackson.io/hacker.html
Get over it already. Accept the fact that language is an ever-changing entity, and that meanings change, words are combined, etc. This is normal, and it’s pointless to resist.
I don’t think you are using “gay” in its original meaning all that often, do you?
If everyone would agree to use hacker in the same way, I would use it that way too. But both sides (i.e. the media vs. the Eric Raymonds and Richard Stallmans) continue to use the word for their meaning without concern for the other meaning. Whenever I hear or read the word in an unusual context, I have to switch into cautious-analysis mode to discern which is meant. I’m just pointing out the issue.
If everyone would agree to use hacker in the same way, I would use it that way too. But both sides (i.e. the media vs. the Eric Raymonds and Richard Stallmans) continue to use the word for their meaning without concern for the other meaning.
True, but imho it’s almost always quite clear from the context which definition is meant. That’s certainly the case here, i’d say.
Yip the context,let’s talk about the context.
The word “gay” and “fag” and “homo” are overused, and generally as an insult from “l33t” gamers with to much time on their hands. It’s misuse and overuse is ignorant and insulting, and shouldn’t be done either.
You shouldn’t even try to justify the misuse of the term “hacker” with the misuse of the term “gay”. It is ignorant and shows a complete lack of maturity.
Now, Thom, please get back on topic.
I’m pretty sure Thom was talking about the original use of gay as another term for happy. He wasn’t saying that misuse of the term hacker is the same as hateful ignorance.
I’m pretty sure Thom was talking about the original use of gay as another term for happy. He wasn’t saying that misuse of the term hacker is the same as hateful ignorance.
Exactly. Gay used to mean ‘happy’, but now, it has changed its meaning from ‘happy’ to homosexual– both by homosexual people themselves, or by people using it as an insult.
Hacker used to mean programmer/coder. Now, it has changed its meaning from not only coder, but also to someone who uses his or her skills to do illegal things.
I’m not certain, but I believe gay, for Homosexuals is an acronym for Good As You, and not the word gay (meaning happy).
really? I’ve never heard that before
If you believe that, sir, you are an idiot at best.
That’s a backronym.
http://experts.about.com/e/l/li/List_of_backronyms.htm
Get over it already. Accept the fact that language is an ever-changing entity, and that meanings change, words are combined, etc.
The trouble is there really isn’t a word to replace the “old” meaning of “hacker” that I can think of.
This is normal, and it’s pointless to resist.
I hear this all the time from those who probably describe themselves as “pragmatists”. That’s probably why few pragmatists are known for changing the world.
The trouble is there really isn’t a word to replace the “old” meaning of “hacker” that I can think of.
Coder? Programmer? Software engineer?
None of those has the connotation of “feverishly dedicated, passionate and expert (not to mention slightly hippyish!) software engineer”. Yes, you can say THAT, but it’s not as snappy as a single word.
how about reverse engineering!!
no, those dont really fit how ‘hacker’ was used.
Hacking is like, so gay!
(As in “funny and delightful”)
For starters the title has nothing to do with the content of the article.
They didn’t set up a honeypot and trap anyone, they simply installed XP Home and proceeded to infect themselves with malware.
Thats not a honeypot and there were no “hackers” involved.
The BBC’s own “technology reports” are aimed squarely at a non-tech audience so the language used is going to be general.
As Thom and others have pointed out, language change happens, whether hackers like it or not. “Gay” has changed. “Nice” used to mean “foolish”.
When the “general” use of a word differs from the “professional” use, then it is inevitable that the general use will persist – after all, there are more non-astronmers than astronomers, more non-programmers than programmers, more physicists than physicists.
The word “hacker” is far too vague to be immune to language change. It could have ended up as a derogatory word for a sculptor, or a lumberjack who fells trees “old school” by using an axe.
Also, “honeypot” is used correctly. It doesn’t trap hackers it traps malware so that security analysts can analyse what the malware does. For example, F-Secure have been a bluetooth honeypot.
To complain about the word hacker is like, so nice!
(As in “foolish”).
Edited 2006-10-10 17:14
True, words change meaning. However, those of us who are more knowledgeable shouldn’t default to the “evil miscreant” definition of the word, or further the public’s perception by using it ourselves.
Always resist!
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