Nerd Word of the Day: Hacktivism
Hacktivism: n. The practice of gaining unauthorized access to computer files or networks in order to propagate a social or political message.
I think the definition above, from the Oxford English Dictionary, doesn’t cover the whole gamut of hacktivisim. I think it also includes setting up proxies to help people within a country access things denied by their government.
I’ve always felt that hackers are not always bad.. in fact, there are some hackers who actually hack for good! And these “hacktivists” came out in droves to assist those trying to get the word out from within Iran, during their recent election.
Even average Twitter users became “hacktivists” when they changed their home city to Tehran on their Twitter profiles to throw off the scent of the authorities.
Thanks originalistrick for the suggestion of this word.
Click here for more nerd words.
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The term “hacker” originally meant someone that was good at designing hardware, or programming software, in new ways that was considered creative by their peers. Usually it had to have a conciseness to it, or do a lot with little.
Later it took on a more negative meaning when it was applied by the popular press to people that “hacked” into networks or systems. A better term for those would have been “cracker”, similar to “safe cracker”, but alas the term “hacker” stuck.
But even so, figuring out how to “hack” into a system isn’t just for “bad guys”, since it will inevitably be done by somebody it is necessary to know where the weaknesses are.
Where did rebellion come from :?:
Hacking usually just means, letting thinks do what they were never intended to do. Hacktivism is just hackers being activists.
:roll: [clover] :mrgreen: In the late 1970s and ’80s drug tests became very sensitive and could detect the tiniest traces of morphine. Clover has a small amount of morphine, which is eaten by cattle and can end up in bottled milk. Eating clover can set off blood and urine analysis drug tests :oops:
This is a great example of how we often describe “good” and “bad.” I agree with Lady M’s ideas, but I am sure that many others would label some of our good intentions as disruptions or ill-doers. Some will definitely describe us as evil… to conform or not to conform, that is the question :roll:
BTW, excellent choice for a nerd word. Plenty of good stuff mixed in there.
{Somebody just loves it when the Lady’s rebeliousness shines through.}
What is [rebellion]? :???:
I love this [BAND] :razz:
Hi, Marina.
Interesting article as always :)
Here is a word that might interest you and the viewers:
[fiefdom]
Keep up the great work! :D
a hacker is someone knowing a lot about internet/computer security.
not always bad.
it could be preventing racism on the internet or hacking someone back!
i am trying to learn to hack.
but hotforwords, why do you have 6 trackers on your website?
it doesn’t really keep your visitors anonymous…
cookies ;) umm…that wasn’t a suggestion, but it sounds like it should be, so if you haven’t already done the word I’d like to know the meaning of [COOKIES!!!!]
yayayayayayaya
bai Marina, keep up the good work!!! <—–(yes i know i said "bai" instead of "bye") :D
[ordinary and extraordinary]
:mrgreen: The federal government has their own hackers who try to hack into government web sites so they can put a fix on sites that can be hacked. They call it preventative measures.
[jazz] I know what it iz but where duz it come from?
Meant having sex at first. Was an ethnic euphemism. Was grabbed as a name for music that was just “jazzing” around, making it up as it goes.
Word request: [diplomacy] :grin: diploma-crat is a rat and a knat :razz:
Nerds a[cross].. America…Some history anybody?
[" the Emigrant Indians of New York (as they were called by the ICC)]…LOVE of ? The United States Congress was amenable to this request for several reasons, primarily to create a lifestyle in which the Indians would become more acculturated or more American. In addition, granting the request ended the federal government’s responsibilities to the tribe. In 1839, Congress granted the Brothertown Indians full United States citizenship and title to their farmlands.
:grin:
When I think of the time and money wasted because of hackers, I think capital punishment is to good for them.
Danger Warning for Marina.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/22/comic.con.zombies/index.html
Good one Rick. Congratz on the mention and the cool nerd word. ;-) It ranks up there with being Teacher’s Pet. :cool:
Good Nerd Word Originalistrick! Better get yourself sized for some thick-rimmed glasses and button-down shirts!! JK. You rock!
Thanks for noticing, Dearest Teach.
Always.
An honorable mention! :cool:
I love it!! :grin:
To the front of the class you may go. :smile:
I’m askeered to sit up there with you smart folks. I’ll just stay in the back and keep on misbehavin’.
Are you kidding?! :o
My desk has been permanently mounted at a 45 degree angle to face the right rear corner of the classroom…farthest away fron the AC vent! :sad: :lol:
I’m not even allowed to turn around.. I have to use a pocket mirror to even see the chalkboard!
Being in class with you would have been BAD fun!
Sure is great being here in Marina’s with everybody.
We not fart smuckers some of us are juss average folks. :lol:
“Fart Smuckers” – I love it. Similar to “Fart Smellers”.
Some of us just pass ’round pictures of engineering wonders, such as Canada’s tallest building. Which, for some reason is hard to find.
What building…?
Way to Go Rick! Good word! :grin:
Hey Rick, great word suggestion!
;-) that was choice originalistrick
Way to go!! :smile:
Happy Birthday :smile:
Yeah, Che, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Amigo!
Happy Birthday, CHE :!:
Unless this is the ‘day after’ and you have an aching head:
happy b-day, che :mrgreen:
:cool: CONGRATZ originalistrick :!: :grin:
“I’ve always felt that hackers are not always bad.. in fact, there are some hackers who actually hack for good!”
Marina, Im so happy you said this! You’re very correct about this statement. There are thousands of hackers that do much good. Many of the alert sysadmins about security loop holes.
Look at Steve Woz. He was a hacker. I could list thousands of hackers here. So yes, there are many good ethical hackers. White hat hackers they are sometimes called. In contrast there are black hat hackers. Interestingly enough that the term Cracker never caught on to describe a black hat hacker. We have to blame in on the ignorance of the reporters back in the day.
So I learn something new today, good, the day was not totally wasted. :smile:
just saying the wetware share is there. the entire data glut contents of the library of congress can easily fit on a grain of salt with room to spare.
we’re hardwired in so don’t f ;) ck with us
some clever ad slogans on this movie poster…their crime is curiosity…
If you change it to Tehran who’s authorities are you messing with?
The Iranian authorities were doing some kind of search for all Twitter users with Tehran as their hometown to search for all tweets that were originating from within the country to try to arrest them.. something like that I think.
that’s why people asked to change your location to tehran, so it’s not easy to figure out who’s in tehran and who isn’t, to make it harder for them to find people.
What happened to the green?
still there.
ribit ribit
you don’t see it leonard(?)
You R a K*00*L comment maker…hEar :cool: Johnny Guitar Watson – Gangster Of Love…
white lime soda, or kermit peasoup :lol:
guess the authorities didn’t want the birds to fly the coop. gee, too late. the tweets got sent out and the world knows what’s going on now.
Thanks Marina.
I had a goofy notion of changing it to Tehran Iran.
Then posting a link to “HotForWords Dances”
Then saying it was a wild party at the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei house and that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was the bartender.
Is it a revolution or a love of hate? I still do not get the reasons of all the propagation? Is it to act like some kind of job is being accomplished?
What happened to the green?…youtube recommended this one lecca / BIG POPPER ダイジェストã€æŒè©žä»˜ã】（For You・紅空・Goin’ home）to me**!**I liked it for the colors…made me think of phrase request: [Green Revolution]…feed the worldPS… Featured Video
Added1:37[TRANSLATED] My new BFF :-)
[TRANSLATED] My new BFF :-) PRE-ORDER MY BOOK HERE http://bit.ly/GdSRx http://www.hotforwords.com/ http:/… 2 weeks ago 545,865 views hotforwords …grease the wings :smile:
ooo; good nerd word :-) …hats off to Rick