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DEFCON's Latest Challenge: Hacking Altruism
jfruh writes: A casual observer at the latest DEFCON conference in Las Vegas might not have noticed much change from last year — still tons of leather, piercing, and body art, still groups of men gathered in darkened ballrooms furiously typing commands. But this year there's a new focus: hacking not just for the lulz, but focusing specifically on highlighting computer security problems that have the potential to do real-world physical harm to human beings.
Wouldn't want a Bluetooth vulnerability to crash the Ex-VP's heart.....
I've always enjoyed having a computer that's off and not even connected to the network, and watching people trying to hack my computer, while I'm fake typing and clicking. They seem to wonder what I'm doing and walk around to try to get a glimpse of my screen....
If you're helping fix something that could cause real world harm, it's an investment in your own safety.
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
As information technology rapidly invades every aspect of our lives it makes sense that the number of vulnerability disclosures that help people's day-to-day lives would increase.
There has always been some segment that is trying to pitch illegal intrusion efforts (please don't perpetuate the negative connotation of "hacking" that the incompetent media outlets use) as something good. If you haven't seen it at DEFCON before than you must not have attended recently. Remember the information deserves to be free push in the late 90s or the attack kiddie porn a couple of years ago?
Is this a security convention, or an S&M one?
I'm confused ... I've never been to one, is this one of those 'it can be two things' deals?
Is everybody walking around in their disco-bondage headgear and steampunk outfits talking about security?
I'm just imagining a keynote speaker in leather chaps, and suddenly I'm very afraid. No wonder the rest of the world still thinks we're all running around playing D&D and shouting "my wizard impales your elf".
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Publicize such vulnerabilities, find yourself dead.
"Groups of men" Check your fucking priveledge.
"Hacking Altruism" makes it sound like you're trying to exploit people's sense of altruism for some other goal.
"Altruistic Hacking" captures the idea that you're hacking for the benefit of other people.
...When "lulz" is acceptable as a real, albeit informal, english word.
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
Just looks like a bunch asians playing WOW. Mayhaps its their characters or dare I say avatars that are pierced and wearing the leather.
by evolution. That's why you feel better about yourself when you do something "for" "someone else".
And no I don't mean out of badges or the venue is full.
If you want to do something Altruistic start by giving the grey hats and assorted 0-day hoarding outfits you work for the one finger salute.
Instead of continuing to make money working symptoms of security problems actually do something meaningful to address underlying cause especially if it means certain implosion of your industry.
From reception of Keith Alexander it became crystal clear my friends have grown up and too many have become hypnotized pay checks.
(potential damage caused by actions of politicians) >>>>>>> (potential damage caused by hackers)
"disrupting hacking", or, "The hackers are hacking to hack Altriusm hack hack hack, you won't believe what happens next?".
Oh slashdot, my last refuse away from the idiotic click bait and endless dumb cat gifs. why, why do you do this?