" 1. A person who enjoys exploring the details of programmable systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users, who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary.
2. One who programs enthusiastically (even obsessively) or who enjoys programming rather than just theorizing about programming.
3. A person capable of appreciating hack value." [ This may not have any monetary or even practical value — often an experience that can not be explained; either you get it or you don't ].
" 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 congregate.) "
" 7. One who enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming or circumventing limitations. "

Then there is that meaning which is often used (incorrectly) by the media, but should be deprecated as a faulty definition:
"A malicious meddler who tries to discover sensitive information by poking around. Hence 'password hacker' or 'network hacker.' The correct term is cracker. "

"It is better to be described as a hacker by others than to describe oneself that way. Hackers consider themselves something of an elite (a meritocracy based on ability), though one to which new members are gladly welcome. Thus while it is gratifying to be called a hacker, false claimants to the title are quickly labelled as 'bogus' or a 'wannabee.' "

[ The words "quoted" above are from the Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (FOLDOC) Copyright(C)1993,1997 by Denis Howe. http://www.instantweb.com/~foldoc/ (U.S. mirror site). "Individual definitions from this dictionary may be used without restriction provided no more than twenty are used in any one work."]

As I said on another page: "A hacker may be said to have cracked a problem of some kind, and crackers are often said to have hacked into a system..." But, don't let the way the verbs are used confuse you about the differences between the two subjects. Basically, the difference between a hacker and a cracker (as I see it) is one of motive and intent. The cracker generally does what he does out of some kind of peer pressure, ego, vandalism (just because he can) or greed — that which they often say they are against in others. Whereas hackers would generally do things that tend to include the well being of others, often giving away the results of their work.

I don't want to confuse you any further, but I must point out that there are some hackers who may also describe themselves as crackers. Those who practice the art of reverse engineering just for the pleasure of being able to crack a program's protected code sometimes call themselves crackers. However, those who use such knowledge to distribute "warez" (cracked programs) and "program patches" to any lamer on the Net are often no better than crackers that steal from companies selling these programs.

I understand the frustration of many old hackers since the Net has become so commercialized. I certainly don't trust large companies like Microsoft^® to always encourage the free exchange of information over the Internet; especially if it is against their own best monetary interests. But software piracy isn't the answer! Those who are upset with the way things have become, should work at writing more free programs of their own rather than trying to cut into the profits of such companies by malicious acts.

The exercise of power over others — and often a little knowledge can give you that power — has always been difficult for individuals to handle! And in some cases, this might be the thrill that a cracker seeks (or getting to see his exploit in print). It's an odd feeling to be hacking away and suddenly come to the realization that at the press of a single key you could start erasing all of the files on someone else's hard drive thousands of miles away. Resist the temptation. Even if you knew without a doubt that you could never be traced ( getting less likely every day), pushing that button would cripple the core of your being forever!