"Fear and Flooding in Las Vegas"

Thanks to Brett Glass for pointing out his recent piece in Boardwatch. Very well written coverage about DEFCON 7, as well as the ethical side of hacking.

Comments

The future of cracking

[TheBeginner]

I think that it is slight ironic how this article and the last go together to prove my point, which of course you do not know yet.

So, to begin, where is the future of cracking (hacking/whatever it is GC (geek chic) to call attempts to trespass into electronic information spaces and either gather or disrupt data) heading in the next century? The fact of the matter is that it is heading away from the majority of us. Computer security systems (real computer security systems) are becoming harder than even to break.

While movies like War Games inspired us all to crack to the launch mechanisms of the U.S. nuclear missile defense, those days are gone. Truly secure systems are only available for acces locally, while important national systems are better protected than ever by the crackers of yesteryear.

What this all leads up to is that the only people left will truly be able to wreak havoc are the government and big corporations. Only they have the computing power and the money to be able to work past strong defense systems.

And at the same time, I see this electronic power becoming more and more important. So what kind of future do we have to look forward to? Well, I believe that electronic terrorism (or government/corporate action, when it comes down to it, there is really little difference beyod perspective) will bring the world to a standstill. My question, is will that bring about a world like that seen in Rollerball (great movie) with Corporations splitting up the world between them, or a 1984 scenario with Big Brother becoming all powerful because all of our lives can be catalogued electronically.

When I think of conferences like DEF CON, I wonder if there purpose should not be to prevent futures like this. So while I am not in support a violently breaking the law, or causing others intentional hurt, I so long live the hackers and even the crackers, for they may be the only hope for a medium between two horrible futures.