New word: Hacktivism 1

[BJCooperIT]

Formed by combining “hack” with “activism,” hacktivism is the act of hacking into a Web site or computer system in order to communicate a politically or socially motivated message. Unlike a malicious hacker, who may disrupt a system for financial gain or out of a desire to cause harm, the hacktivist performs the same kinds of disruptive actions (such as a DoS attack) in order to draw attention to a cause. For the hacktivist, it is an Internet-enabled way to practice civil disobedience and protest.

Something about this definition seems fundamentally wrong.

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[CajunCenturion]

What I see as fundamentallyl wrong is labelling this activity a way of practicing civil disobedience. Vandalism never has been, nor should it ever, be a part of civil disobedience. That in my opinion, is a frightful misuse of terminology, and because of that abuse, lends credence to the cause.

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[SantaMufasa]

Barb, there is a reason that the definition of "Hacktivism" seems fundamentally wrong:

civil disobedience:
refusal to obey governmental demands or commands especially as a nonviolent and usually collective means of forcing concessions from the government.

First, "Hacktivists" usually damage or impair private computing or networking resources via "cyber-violence"; their "Hacktivities" are typically not protesting governmental demands, but attempting to impair private activities which are contrary to their personal "value set".

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
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[PaulTEG]

Cracktivism" might be a better choice of word

cigless ...

 

[BJCooperIT]

I recently took a test that indicated that, rather than being "right-brained" as most lefties are, I am "balanced-brained". The test indicated that, while this is a good thing to be, it results in the two halves of my brain conflicting making decisions difficult occasionally. This was exactly how I felt when pondering "hacktivisim". I was sure it was not quite right, but not sure why. Did you ever solve a math problem in your head, but not know how you arrived at the answer?

Thanks for pointing out the issues my brain refused to acknowledge at the surface. My left-brain wanted to know since when is civil disobedience synonymous with destructive behavior? My right-brain pointed out that, while everyone is entitled to their own private political/social opinions, the method of expressing them this way was wrong. The resulting brain fog was dismaying.

^{Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw}
Consultant Developer/Analyst Oracle, Forms, Reports & PL/SQL (Windows)
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[tgreer]

Did you ever solve a math problem in your head, but not know how you arrived at the answer?

I made it through Algebra in Junior High, by solving problems geometrically, often in my head. The teacher would routinely mark my right answers as incorrect, because I didn't show the algebraic proofs. His argument was that the answer wasn't the issue, rather that he was teaching a METHOD, which I wasn't learning, therefor, my correct answers were irrelevant. I countered that by his reasoning, someone who derived the WRONG answer using the RIGHT method should have their answers accepted as correct.

Thomas D. Greer

Providing PostScript & PDF
Training, Development & Consulting

 

[PaulTEG]

Correct ;-)

 

[Thadeus]

...lends credence to the cause...

..."Hacktivists" usually damage or impair private computing ...

...the method of expressing them this way was wrong....

My problem has to do with the concept that hacktivism is wrong. I don't see it as such. There are many ways to be a hacktivist and take the moral high ground.

~Thadeus

 

[SantaMufasa]

There are many ways to be a hacktivist and take the moral high ground.

I'm open minded, Thadeus...Please present your case.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
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[Thadeus]

It's a big world out there...
Being an activist for:
-Pirate attacks on Chinese sites in order to promote Democracy (post info or deny access to govt. propaganda)
-DoS attacks on Child Porn websites
-DoS attacks on Terrorist websites

Just some off the top of my head...
~Thadeus

 

[PaulTEG]

...
-DoS a phishing site
-SQL injection on phishing site

Rotated IP's of course

 

[SilentAiche]

don't forget [blue]Lacktivists[/blue]

those who'd do something if they gave sh&t.

Tim

[blue]______________________________________________________________
Once, while sitting on the bank of Stick Creek, I found myself thinking about small lakes. Then, I realized, I was probably just pondering. [/blue]

 

[AnotherHiggins]

don't forget Lacktivists

those who'd do something if they gave sh&t.

There are a lot of those folks. I think that rampant apathy is a real danger to our society. It’s a shame that I just can't bring myself to really care about it.

[tt]_____
[blue]-John[/blue]
[/tt][red]Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur[/red]

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[SilentAiche]

[purple]

..Ap...

...Apath...[/purple]


Whatever.



[blue]______________________________________________________________
Once, while sitting on the bank of Stick Creek, I found myself thinking about small lakes. Then, I realized, I was probably just pondering. [/blue]

 

[Chopstik]

Being an activist for:
-Pirate attacks on Chinese sites in order to promote Democracy (post info or deny access to govt. propaganda)

So does the same hold true for Chinese hackers going after US sites? People are entitled to their own particular views, but I'm inclined to agree that hacktivism is no more a form of civil disobedience than someone defacing (or worse) the property of a government/private company with which they disagree. Just because you support one group and not another does not justify the act itself.

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[PaulTEG]

I don't think "hacktivist" cuts the mustard of what's being attempted to be defined, it looks like a port of succour on the part of the 'lexicologist/lexicographer'/journo to get a word that fitted the mood of the story "at that time".

I'd suggest this won't make it to the printed version, at least I hope so.

My opinion of "hacking" is sussing out what works, and how it works ... not a term I'd like to see bandied about with abandon wrt "government policy", "private industry", "corporate institutions" or any such term a 'narrator' may wish to place upon it.

Before using a term such as "hacktivist", the coiner might be well advised to poll the affected audiences ...

--Just a thought

cigless ...

 

[tsdragon]

I'd say I'm more of a "yaktivist". I'd rather talk about a problem than do something about it. (Not really.)

Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[blutekhnd]

In my view, a hacktivist is still a criminal. It's the same if someone broke into your home or business. It's wrong whether they steal anything or not. It's not their property and they have no legitimate reason to be there.

 

[LFI]

If you reduce the webopedia definition to just the first sentence, it'd be much better. The bias (remaining sentences) suggesting that this is an okay thing to do is really editorial and has no place in a standard definition anyway.

 

[Thadeus]

So does the same hold true for Chinese hackers going after US sites?...

Did I imply somewhere that it doesn't? I never stated that I need to agree with the hacker's views or approach. I was asked to point out examples where a hacker-activist could take the moral high ground. I believe I was successful.

...I'm inclined to agree that hacktivism is no more a form of civil disobedience than ...

I didn't say I feel that "hacktivism" is a form of civil disobedience. I said that I don't think it is necessarily a wrong thing.

~Thadeus