Slashdot Mirror


Modest Proposal For Stopping Hackers: Get Them Girlfriends

kierny writes "Hackers/crackers who get arrested are typically male and young adults — if not minors. Why is that? According to research by online psychology expert Grainne Kirwan, it's because the typical hacker 'ages out' once they get a girlfriend, job, kids, and other responsibilities that make it difficult to maintain their hacking/cracking/hacktivist lifecycle. Could that finding offer a way to help keep more young hacking enthusiasts out of jail?"

3 of 566 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Agreed by Hatta · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Taking care of peoples basic needs would stop a lot of bad behavior. Prostitution is negatively correlated with rape. Heroin maintenance programs reduce the damage caused by drug seeking addicts. A guaranteed basic income can dramatically reduce the problems associated with poverty.

    Too bad our society cares more about appearing "tough on crime" than effective solutions to our problems.

    --
    Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
  2. Re:The Girlfriend(tm) by Anarchduke · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Being married is not an experience that is easy to convey. I am happily married even though there are times my wife drives me crazy. Marriage takes effort, its a kind of job. Its worthwhile, but it takes work to make a marriage work.
    And you are right, marriage - and especially children - creates a lot of problems to deal with. So I can see how this would stop hacking. On the other hand, good luck with that. You are suggesting going up to a girl and saying, "Hey, you're pretty cute. How would you like to date an anti-social computer geek that has learned to relate to women through 4chan?"

    --
    who prays for Satan? Who in 18 centuries has had the humanity to pray for the 1 sinner that needed it most? ~Mark Twain
  3. Re:Wow by X0563511 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    So, here's the question:

    Did your girlfriend stop you hacking, or did something else stop your hacking and the increased social interaction landed you the girlfriend?

    --
    For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...