: : Perhaps, given the potential for real harm, a hacker is much more culpable then a street thug. : Anyone who uses their computer to wield power over others is doing so because they can and because they have no compunction about it. In this, they are effectively acting like street thugs or robber barons. However, you can defend yourself against cracks and worms by practising security until it becomes second nature to you; you do at least have the power to defend yourself here, unlike the physical world.
Learning curve, larval stage, hmmmmm. So once the computer geeks get beyond this stage they become upstanding cyber-citizens, if I read you right. I understand the attraction of going where your forbidden to go, do the things your not supposed to; things that make for a well mispent youth.
But by the same token I would hope that once these guys have sown their wild bytes and have had their unforgettable one night assembly language programing sessions (doesn't quite roll off the tounge; oh well...) they would all become anti-hacker hackers, or crackers.
Uh, by the way, the Tamil Tigers. I think I said Tiger Teams. The Tamil Tigers are a militia group in Sri Lanka I believe. Or are we talking about two different things?
