Hackers vs Crackers

Tweet

HACKER. noun. 1. A person who enjoys learning the details of computer systems and how to stretch their capabilities - as opposed to most users of computers, who prefer to learn only the minimum amount necessary. 2. One who programs enthusi-astically or who enjoys programming rather than theorizing about programming. (Guy L. Steele, et al., The Hacker’s Dictionary) hacker /n./ [originally, someone who makes furniture with an axe] 1. A person who enjoys exploring the details of programmable systems and how to stretch their capabili-ties, as opposed to most users, who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary. 2. One who programs enthusiastically (even obsessively) or who enjoys program-ming rather than just theorizing about programming. 3. A person capable of appre-ciating hack value. 4. A person who is good at programming quickly. 5. An expert at a particular program, or one who frequently does work using it or on it; as in `a Unix hacker'. (Definitions 1 through 5 are correlated, and people who fit them con-gregate.) 6. An expert or enthusiast of any kind. One might be an astronomy hacker, for example. 7. One who enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming or circumventing limitations. 8. [deprecated] A malicious meddler who tries to discover sensitive information by poking around. Hence `password hacker', `network hacker'. The correct term for this sense is cracker.