Steven Levy, in 1984, coined the expression that today refers to Hacker Ethics, by describing this world as a world of Superheroes ready for the computing revolution, and while it is true that there have been many cases where Black Hat Hacking has caused the demonization of the term hacker, its contribution to the advancement of Information Technology is also undeniable. In this installment the ZARZA Engineers expand on the subject, following the great reception of other articles we have addressed in previous weeks, where we contrast the current doctrine with its practical appreciation today.
Hacker Ethics, a philosophy of values and precepts
Hacker Ethics is and has been a center of discussion among hackers and non-hackers, having been aired since the beginning of the revolution of which we are currently part, and this has led, for some decades now, to the consolidation of a series of accepted conditions that classify it as potentially a science that can be taught and directed, inside and outside the community.
Pekka Himanen, a renowned Finnish philosopher, who alongside other high-caliber names stands as a clear exponent of the hacker doctrine, shared in 2001 a series of values which axiologically constitute part of the theory of Hacker Ethics, with which we wish to begin this analysis and which we list below.
Values within Hacker Ethics
- Passion
- Freedom
- Social awareness
- Truth
- Anti-corruption
- Fight against the alienation of man
- Social equality
- Free access to information (free knowledge)
- Social worth (recognition among peers)
- Accessibility
- Activity
- Responsible concern
- Curiosity
- Creativity
- Interest
Reviewing the list, we see how we went from labeling hackers as computer criminals in the face of the hacker threat and we ask ourselves whether in the end Are they really as bad as we have been told? This difference is basically understandable between the bad boys and the lovers of White Hat Hacking, so these values, fully subscribed to the concept of Hacker Ethics, set out, in a utopian way, what all hackers should pursue and who, without a doubt, in many cases do not even know this list.
However, for those who, like the ZARZA Engineers, dedicate themselves to protecting systems and scientifically analyzing the vulnerabilities and shortcomings of the industry, they become a list of values to follow. Ultimately Hackers are a reflection of humanity, where there are good ones, bad ones, also very good ones and very bad ones…
Another perspective that has already become part of the doctrine related to Hacker Ethics is the one contributed by Erick S. Raymond, who put forward 5 precepts that are today accepted by the hacker community:
Precepts within Hacker Ethics
- The world is full of fascinating problems waiting to be solved.
- No problem should ever have to be solved twice.
- Boredom and drudgery are evil.
- Freedom is good.
- Attitude is no substitute for competence.
Is Hacker Ethics Utopia or Justification?
Once we know both the values and the precepts, we can begin the discussion that has had no end since it began, where some use the concepts of freedom and the values to justify their actions at the edge of the law, and where many times it is the innocent who are affected.
In the modern world there are so many sites outside the Law, inside and outside the Deep Web, that it is difficult for government authorities to fight against a growing movement, where at increasingly younger ages, the fascinating world of Information Technology seduces children who, even because of their age, cannot be tried in many places on the planet, and they, with impressive ease, even without knowing the difference between what is real and what is forbidden, begin to immerse themselves in a world of ideals, where values undoubtedly motivate fights and wars among adults, and who distort the concept, both of these and of the pretexts, according to their own criteria, according to their own opinion.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it is the way of death.Proverbs 16:25, The Bible
It is then that Hacker Ethics turns against the collective, when analyzed from the perspective of what one believes to be right or not, without taking into consideration what society, by consensus through its laws, considers appropriate.
Does Hacker Ethics stop bad habits?
In the Deep Web, we see how some hackers, for example, defend the sites and systems of non-governmental organizations, protecting them and intervening in attacks by other hackers… We also see how some dedicate themselves to and hold contests to take down child pornography sites and, like superheroes, deliver evidence to the authorities, so that those who profit from what they consider unethical are prosecuted… However, it is a small number, but they do exist.
Hacker Ethics, like Ethics in general, is a value judgment that changes geographically, from culture to culture, and where the important thing is always to be protected against what others may consider unfit, or not in line with their values.
For the ZARZA Engineers, who are trained within White Hat Hacking, Hacker Ethics is a concept up in the air, where what matters are the values of what is defined in society and what we must respect inside or outside the spheres of the hacker world.
