This document provides an overview of hackers and hacker culture. It defines different types of hackers such as white hats, grey hats, and black hats. It discusses what motivates hackers and the rules or ethic of the hacker community, which includes rejecting hierarchies, mistrusting authority, promoting decentralization, sharing information, and serving their community. The document aims to give a broad understanding of hackers, their motivations, and culture.

2. AgendaAgenda
 What is a hackerWhat is a hacker
 What motivates a hackerWhat motivates a hacker
 The hacking training communityThe hacking training community
 Who belongs?Who belongs?
 The “rules” of the game (aka Hacker Ethic)The “rules” of the game (aka Hacker Ethic)
 ConclusionsConclusions

3. What is a hacker?What is a hacker?
Many ways to describe hackers:Many ways to describe hackers:
1.1. Creates and modifies.Creates and modifies.
-computer software and computer hardware-computer software and computer hardware
2.2. Exploits systems and gains unauthorized access.Exploits systems and gains unauthorized access.
-through clever tactics and detailed knowledge.-through clever tactics and detailed knowledge.
3.3. Computer enthusiast/person who enjoys learningComputer enthusiast/person who enjoys learning
programming languages.programming languages.
4.4. Someone who breaks into computers.Someone who breaks into computers.
5.5. Can make a computer do what they wantCan make a computer do what they want
6.6. Anyone who ‘breaks open’ code and manipulates it in a cleverAnyone who ‘breaks open’ code and manipulates it in a clever
or originalor original
-Not necessarily illegal.-Not necessarily illegal.

4. Types of Hackers- white hatTypes of Hackers- white hat
 ““White Hat”- hired by large corporations, orWhite Hat”- hired by large corporations, or
governmentsgovernments
 Usually as a “Tiger Team”Usually as a “Tiger Team”
 Tiger Team is a team that is hired to test the security ofTiger Team is a team that is hired to test the security of
networks/find flaws or loopholesnetworks/find flaws or loopholes
 Will snoop around networks, trying to findWill snoop around networks, trying to find
loopholesloopholes
 If such loophole(s) is/are found – report createdIf such loophole(s) is/are found – report created
explaining how hack was achievedexplaining how hack was achieved

5. Types of Hackers- grey hatTypes of Hackers- grey hat
 ““Grey Hat”Grey Hat”
 UnhiredUnhired
 People who break into networks for funPeople who break into networks for fun
 Usually don’t intentionally cause harm (following hackerUsually don’t intentionally cause harm (following hacker
ethic)ethic)
 Enjoy doing thisEnjoy doing this
 Perceived as challengePerceived as challenge
 Want kudos from hacker peersWant kudos from hacker peers
 Want to “test security to prevent such attacks in future”Want to “test security to prevent such attacks in future”

6. Types of Hackers- black hatTypes of Hackers- black hat
 ““Black hat”/crackersBlack hat”/crackers
 Stereotypical hacker you hear about in the mediaStereotypical hacker you hear about in the media
 Break into systems and damage themBreak into systems and damage them
 May write things like “you just got served by X group”May write things like “you just got served by X group”
 May delete files, erase portions of code, etc.May delete files, erase portions of code, etc.
 ““Crackers” fall under this categoryCrackers” fall under this category
 Use reverse engineering of assembly code to make it openUse reverse engineering of assembly code to make it open
source, or to customize it to their likingsource, or to customize it to their liking
 Also known as pirates, or “warez writers”Also known as pirates, or “warez writers”

7. What motivates a hackerWhat motivates a hacker
 To help othersTo help others
 ‘‘Hooliganism’Hooliganism’
 Criminal intentCriminal intent
 Financial gainFinancial gain
 Most hacker activity is of a nature where money isMost hacker activity is of a nature where money is
rarely involvedrarely involved
 CuriosityCuriosity
 Intellectual ChallengeIntellectual Challenge
 Security heads-up!Security heads-up!

8. The hacking community- whoThe hacking community- who
belongsbelongs
 To join, have to be recognizedTo join, have to be recognized
 Sharing your creations (time, creativity, open sourceSharing your creations (time, creativity, open source
programs)programs)
 Learn to code efficientlyLearn to code efficiently
 Hackers like “well-coded” programsHackers like “well-coded” programs
 Better the program- more kudosBetter the program- more kudos
 Become recognized when top hackers recognize youBecome recognized when top hackers recognize you

9. 1.1. reject hierarchiesreject hierarchies
2.2. mistrust authoritymistrust authority
3.3. promote decentralizationpromote decentralization
4.4. share informationshare information
5.5. serve your community (i.e. the hacker community)serve your community (i.e. the hacker community)
The hacking community- the HackerThe hacking community- the Hacker
EthicEthic

10. Reject HierarchiesReject Hierarchies
 User no less important than authorUser no less important than author
 User may be able to improve productUser may be able to improve product
 Authors are also users of other’s productsAuthors are also users of other’s products
 People are only judged on skillPeople are only judged on skill
 No social class, age, gender, race restrictionsNo social class, age, gender, race restrictions
 Open source programsOpen source programs
 Hacking into secure networksHacking into secure networks
 Hackers ignore what society says about classHackers ignore what society says about class
 Have their own communityHave their own community
 Have their own systemHave their own system

11. Mistrust AuthorityMistrust Authority
 Believe in libertarian environmentBelieve in libertarian environment
 Everyman for himselfEveryman for himself
 Government shouldn’t dictate our boundariesGovernment shouldn’t dictate our boundaries
 A rule is meant to be brokenA rule is meant to be broken
 If said can’t be done; green light to do itIf said can’t be done; green light to do it
 Increased security= better “problem to solve”Increased security= better “problem to solve”
 Increased security is better reason to find loopholesIncreased security is better reason to find loopholes

12. Hacker Joke of the day!!Hacker Joke of the day!!
Not your typical hacker

13. Promote DecentralizationPromote Decentralization
 Every man for himself mentalityEvery man for himself mentality
 Segregation from society goodSegregation from society good
 Keeps your identity more secureKeeps your identity more secure
 More efficient work can be doneMore efficient work can be done
 Cooperation can occur over internetCooperation can occur over internet
 Don’t need to be physically near each otherDon’t need to be physically near each other
 Communities operate worldwideCommunities operate worldwide

14. Share InformationShare Information
 Believe all info should be freeBelieve all info should be free
 no restricted infono restricted info
 no “top secret” filesno “top secret” files
 Governments should NOT hide thingsGovernments should NOT hide things
 software should be “open source”software should be “open source”
 Open source= free/no copyrightsOpen source= free/no copyrights
 Increases awareness of software “out there”Increases awareness of software “out there”
 Value of info increases when sharedValue of info increases when shared
 Data can be basis for learningData can be basis for learning
 software can be improved collectivelysoftware can be improved collectively

15. Serve Your CommunityServe Your Community
 Contribute to open source projectsContribute to open source projects
 Become beta testerBecome beta tester
 Code new projects to shareCode new projects to share
 Make improvements to existing onesMake improvements to existing ones
 Keep Hacker infrastructure intactKeep Hacker infrastructure intact
 Make FAQ’s on how to be a hackerMake FAQ’s on how to be a hacker
 Establish websites/meeting places for hackersEstablish websites/meeting places for hackers
 ““Boring” jobs: maintain mailing lists, projectBoring” jobs: maintain mailing lists, project
databases/archives, moderate hacker news groupsdatabases/archives, moderate hacker news groups

16. ConclusionConclusion
 Gave broad overview of hackers/hacker cultureGave broad overview of hackers/hacker culture
 what is a hacker?what is a hacker?
 White hatWhite hat
 Grey hatGrey hat
 Black hat/crackerBlack hat/cracker
 Hacker motivationsHacker motivations
 Hacker CommunityHacker Community
 Who belongsWho belongs
 The “rules” of the game (aka Hacker Ethic)The “rules” of the game (aka Hacker Ethic)