Psychology of Hackers - Its the Generation

[DNR]

The Psychology of Hackers: Steps Toward a New Taxonomy

Marc Rogers
Dept. of Psychology
University of Manitoba
Senior Security Technical Architect
EDS Systemhouse Canada

Evolution of the Term


4 Generations of the term Hacker
1st Generation: Creative Programmer: MIT/Stanford (1960’s)
2nd Generation: Computer Evolutionaries (1970’s)
3rd Generation: Games & Copyright breaking (1980’s)
4th Generation: Criminals & Cyberpunks (1990’s)

1st Generation
Creative Programmers & Scientists
Novel methods for programming (code bumming)
Hacker Ethic (The Right Thing.)
Very respected (Gurus)
MIT (TMRC) & Stanford (SAIL)

2nd Generation
Computer Evolutionary
Hardware Hackers
Mainframe to personal systems
Computer Kits (Altair, Apple)
Founders of Major Computer Companies
Minor criminal activity: Phreaking/Blue Boxing
Software Piracy

3rd Generation
Computer Games & Copyrights
Game Hackers
Personal PC
Computer for entertainment
Methods for protecting and breaking copyright codes on games
Minor criminal activity

4th Generation
Criminals
Cyber-punks
Rarely technically elite
Motivated primarily by greed, power, revenge, malicious intent
Not respected


----
Ranking:

Novice (newbies\script kiddies)
Cyber-punks
Insiders
Coders
Old Guard
Professionals
Cyber-Terrorists


Novice (newbies)
Limited computer skills
New to the activity
Rely on software available on the Internet
Nuisance attacks: Denial of Service (DOS)
Can cause extensive damage to systems as they don’t understand how the attack works
Media attention

Cyber-punks
Better computer skills
Limited programming knowledge
Better understanding of how the attack works
Criminal intent, malicious behavior, credit card frauds, etc.
Media attention

Insiders
Computer literate
Technology/Information Fields
Disgruntled, Ex-employee
Able to carry out attack due to privileges inherent in position
Largest security problem: 70-80% of all computer security breaches

Coders
Technically skilled
Writes the scripts and automated tools
Acts as a mentor to the newbies
Motivated by a sense of power and prestige
Revered
Dangerous (hidden agendas, trojans etc)

Old Guard
No criminal intent
Values similar to 1st generation
Disturbing lack of regard for private property
Mentoring
Very defensive and limited view of hacker community.

Professional
Criminals
Thieves
Corporate Espionage
Guns for Hire
Highly motivated, highly trained, state of the art equipment

Cyber-Terrorists
Increase in activity since the fall of many Eastern Bloc intelligence agencies
Well funded
Very motivated
Mixing political rhetoric with criminal activity
---
Demographics
Caucasian
Male
12-28 years old
Middle Class
Limited Social Skills
Perform poorly in school: aptitude for computers & technology
Dysfunctional families

Personality Profiles
Socially Inept
Obsessive
Loners yet appear to crave membership
Inferiority Complex
Escapism
Motivation
Computer Addictive Disorder?

(this was a powerpoint presentation http://homes.cerias.purdue.edu/~mkr/Taxonomy2.ppt )
--

I don't agree with the Personality profile and the demographics. I think as hackers utilize social engineering, they become very socially adept. I know I don't have a inferiority complex, but I do have a computer addictive disorder (someone made that word up!) I did not perform poorly in school, I excelled in the topics I picked. As for the demographics, suck-o is proof that its not a white male anymore, its not limited to middle class anymore, and if you look at suck-o's membership you'll see a wide range of ages.

I did agree highly on the Generation of the hacker, perhaps this is the reason why old/new elite/newbie members have differences. I do worry that the newer generations will take technology for granted.

DNR

[moudy]

Although I might disagree with the demographics and Personality Profiles... In general this is a very descriptive text, and I suggest that as a hacker in the suck-o community we have to stress more on the psychology of hackers...
I have a project in mind...
wait for updates

[ayu]

I don't like the idea of being ranked >_>

Many of us here, have skills in all areas. Maybe some skills are more aimed then others, but to get into one area you have to learn a lot of other things, and go beyond some borders and commit some "less ethical actions" to achieve a greater knowledge. Over time we earn experience in a lot of different areas, not just by the limitations of these ranks (Although I admit some of them seems to fit rather good).

PS: I hate the kind of skiddie you meet on the street, who brags about the super 1337 tools he used to read his girlfriends E-mail. And you do nothing but stand there, because you have a higher sense of pride.

Just something that came to mind since we are talking about different generations, and these kind of idiots are more common now a days.

[DNR]

I agree, I never like ranking - to me that was judging people - and rank sometimes does not go on merit. Also the field of computers and networking is so diverse - who is to say they are smarter when there is no possible way to know every network protocol, every OS, and every code language?

I think the important thing was the Generation, I consider myself the Second Generation and I remember the hackers from the 1st Generation. I lived through the 3rd Generation and am now watching the 4th Generation.

Hackers should study and know where they came from - many just wanted the cheap thrills of calling themselves hacker - so they never developed the respect the 1st and 2nd Generation had.

I am not referring to some good newbies we have on suck-o - I am referring to many of the other sites listed on the progentic toplist.

DNR