Originally posted by Gollum:
ask a newbie why he hacks, or what is the point of hacking... "to learn how other systems work, and to get information on them." [deletia] that [is] an excuse to try to gain respect
As much disgust as I feel talking about n00bz (much empathy for Asteos), this problem is not, by any means, transient. Not in times where the traditional "free babysitter" has become 'pont-and-click' instead of TV. As a more experienced computer user, it seems
very relevant to me.
I have a sense of what Gollum was trying to say, not exactly questioning their reasons for hacking, as much as pointing out... what? Slacker hackers.[edit, below] The kids who think they can point-and-click their way anywhere. (PAC?) (PAC-MAN!) (WAKKA-WAKKA!) That also seems to explain why none of them learn how to spell or write legibly. Why bother when you can just click away?
I think (paper tiger disclaimer) that many of them just want to destroy or vandalize something. It's the typical male (usually) angst/nihilism/rebellion, and I can't blame them for that. They want to violate someone else's security, but don't have the balls or brains to figure it out themselves, or to do it themselves. Being online gives them a false sense of security, of anonymity. They want to flex power that they do not possess...
And THAT, my friends, is why n()()bz r t3h 5ux0rz 0f d|x0rz, as the kids say nowadays.
Anyway... The best advice, the only advice...
RTFM
Edit, the proper term for a "slacker hacker" is
script kiddie, and an alternate explaination appears at happyhacker.com, from Carolyn Meinel:
http://www.happyhacker.org/hoa/sample2.shtml There you have it. Script kiddies are often driven by jealousy, suspicion, pride, rivalry; a desire to taunt, bully, or get revenge; a thirst for power; motivated by greed or arrogance. In other words, they are pretty much like the rest of us, only maybe a bit more open about their motivations.
What I was trying to say is that this applies to a lot of kiddies who say they just want to "learn how systems work",
excluding their own, an indication of Pure BullShit�. I think the above sample also answers the question of why many noobs are
interested in hacking as well.
.o0 Ponders if returning to original question is "off topic"... 0o.