Comments on: Thank You (Sort of) to the Guy Who Hacked My Blog http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:26:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Shefaly http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-139035 Shefaly Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:14:47 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/#comment-139035 @ Robert W.: You say: "..A hacker is a person who writes malicious software code and unleashes it on one or more computers..." Since we are being pedantic about terms, may I suggest that the definition with a negative twist, that you provide, is NOT what the term 'hacker' means? Especially if you are a programmer. To most or all programmers, a hacker is a whiz programmer, who sorts complex problems and is creative - and fast - with workarounds. Since the 1960s, the term 'hacker' has been used at MIT to mean things beyond computer software e.g. all MIT pranks including the Lord of the Rings ring or the police car on the dome are called hacks. There are layers of ethics that govern hackers but by and large, the software coder community uses 'hacker' as a term of respect and not as a derogation. The negative use of the term is a media invention dating back to the 1980s. Which, if my arithmetic is right, would be when you started writing code. :-) @ Robert W.:

You say: "..A hacker is a person who writes malicious software code and unleashes it on one or more computers…"

Since we are being pedantic about terms, may I suggest that the definition with a negative twist, that you provide, is NOT what the term 'hacker' means? Especially if you are a programmer.

To most or all programmers, a hacker is a whiz programmer, who sorts complex problems and is creative – and fast – with workarounds.

Since the 1960s, the term 'hacker' has been used at MIT to mean things beyond computer software e.g. all MIT pranks including the Lord of the Rings ring or the police car on the dome are called hacks. There are layers of ethics that govern hackers but by and large, the software coder community uses 'hacker' as a term of respect and not as a derogation.

The negative use of the term is a media invention dating back to the 1980s. Which, if my arithmetic is right, would be when you started writing code. :-)

]]> By: Chris Butterworth http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-138779 Chris Butterworth Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:31:38 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/#comment-138779 Hi Penelope, Any way you can post the remedy? One of my blogs got spam injected last night - I got poker links instead of porn.. It only shows up in google reader, nowhere else. I'm not sure how to fix it. :( Thanks Hi Penelope,

Any way you can post the remedy? One of my blogs got spam injected last night – I got poker links instead of porn.. It only shows up in google reader, nowhere else. I'm not sure how to fix it. :(

Thanks

]]> By: Mark W. http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-138677 Mark W. Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:46:48 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/#comment-138677 Robert W. - you're right, I shouldn't have used the term 'hacker' or copied the 'hacker mentality' thing above in hindsight. I think we can agree though there was a breech in security and Penelope's IT guy should be able to fix it. Robert W. – you're right, I shouldn't have used the term 'hacker' or copied the 'hacker mentality' thing above in hindsight. I think we can agree though there was a breech in security and Penelope's IT guy should be able to fix it.

]]> By: Robert W. http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-138674 Robert W. Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:26:07 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/#comment-138674 Mark W: Having built sophisticated software for over 25 years, I just like the facts and correct terminology to be used - especially when it comes to my industry. For example, your use of the term "hacker" is incorrect. A hacker is a person who writes malicious software code and unleashes it on one or more computers. That's not what happened here. As I stated previously, I have GREAT sympathy for Penelope. My CAPTCHA idea, if available to her, is a good first step to reducing such spammers. Mark W: Having built sophisticated software for over 25 years, I just like the facts and correct terminology to be used – especially when it comes to my industry. For example, your use of the term "hacker" is incorrect. A hacker is a person who writes malicious software code and unleashes it on one or more computers. That's not what happened here.

As I stated previously, I have GREAT sympathy for Penelope. My CAPTCHA idea, if available to her, is a good first step to reducing such spammers.

]]> By: Don http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-138656 Don Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:21:28 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/#comment-138656 I wouldn't disagree that sexism comes out in anonymous venues like the internet, but I don't think this hack is an example of it. On the college campus where I work, numerous pages on our Web site were hacked in exactly the same way, and the pattern was totally random. In fact, I assumed the process was automated. I wouldn't disagree that sexism comes out in anonymous venues like the internet, but I don't think this hack is an example of it. On the college campus where I work, numerous pages on our Web site were hacked in exactly the same way, and the pattern was totally random. In fact, I assumed the process was automated.

]]> By: Danielle http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-138644 Danielle Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:20:41 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/#comment-138644 LOL - I actually reported this to my RSS feed reader website... for some reason I assumed it was on their end and not yours! Glad to know you found it and its fixed. LOL – I actually reported this to my RSS feed reader website… for some reason I assumed it was on their end and not yours!

Glad to know you found it and its fixed.

]]> By: Peter Fletcher http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-138638 Peter Fletcher Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:34:09 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/#comment-138638 Some numb-nut helped themselves to my Twitter feed and I found a version of myself on a spoof adult dating site looking for like-minded males. Some people have zero intelligence and even less respect. Your approach of taking preventative measures whilst maintaining your dignity is admirable. Keep up the good work. Some numb-nut helped themselves to my Twitter feed and I found a version of myself on a spoof adult dating site looking for like-minded males. Some people have zero intelligence and even less respect. Your approach of taking preventative measures whilst maintaining your dignity is admirable.

Keep up the good work.

]]> By: MJ http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-138604 MJ Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:52:48 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/#comment-138604 Your information on disparity in paychecks is wrong. Misinformation makes a better soundbite, but it does not serve the truth. Your information on disparity in paychecks is wrong. Misinformation makes a better soundbite, but it does not serve the truth.

]]> By: Jennifer http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-138603 Jennifer Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:21:56 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/#comment-138603 You know you've really made it when a hacker decides that you are worthwhile prey. You know you've really made it when a hacker decides that you are worthwhile prey.

]]> By: E http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-138602 E Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:18:16 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/03/17/thank-you-sort-of-to-the-guy-who-hacked-my-blog/#comment-138602 There was porn?? Why wasn't I informed?? Now I feel cheated.. There was porn?? Why wasn't I informed?? Now I feel cheated..

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