What's in a name?

[Coldicote]

Spying, prying, nosey parking, eaves-dropping, is as old as the words describing it. Now 'hacking' is added to the list. Does anyone know the chapter and verse that makes it illegal and is there a formal definition?

[jackthehat]

'Hacking' is the popular term for offences which fall under this piece of legislation.

http://www.legislatio...pga/2000/23/section/1

[rojash]

From http://www.iss.net/se...d/Hacking/default.htm
"The word "hacking" has two definitions. The first definition refers to the hobby/profession of working with computers. The second definition refers to breaking into computer systems. While the first definition is older and is still used by many computer enthusiasts (who refer to cyber-criminals as "crackers"), the second definition is much more commonly used. In particular, the web pages here refer to "hackers" simply because our web-server logs show that every one who reaches these pages are using the second definition as part of their search criteria. "

By extension, it has now come to mean unauthorised access to technological devices other than just computers.

You need to keep in mind that journalists are notorious for their sloppy use of language, especially when it comes to technical terms.

[Coldicote]

Thanks Jack and Rojash. It will be interesting to see what chapter and verse is used when someone is actually charged with an offence. I have a feeling it is going to take years to decide in this mass of legislation.

[ichkeria]

"You need to keep in mind that journalists are notorious for their sloppy use of language, especially when it comes to technical terms."

I don't think that is at all fair. "Hack" has a variety of meanings (one of which of course refers to journalism!). I work in IT and I have never heard the term "hack" in an IT sense used in any way other than to refer either to the practice of illegally breaking into (computer) systems or occasionally facetiously to refer to quick and sometimes less than assiduous programming.
I don't understand how journalists are being "sloppy" in their use of language here. By contrast, the (specialist) web page you are quoting is noticeably rather sloppy in its use of grammar ("every one (sic) are"??)

[rojash]

"I work in IT and I have never heard the term "hack" in an IT sense used in any way other than to refer either to the practice of illegally breaking into (computer) systems or occasionally facetiously to refer to quick and sometimes less than assiduous programming. "

Perhaps you're just too young :-)

[jake-the-peg]

In an IT sense hacking refers to segrammers who sit down and bash out code.

It is used in a derogatory sense by those who work with more structured techniques with formal designs and processes but can be a badge of pride for some.

If illeagal access to a computer has been used it could also be an offence under the computer misuse act. But I d

[jake-the-peg]

..dont think that's the case here.

<excuse double post cr@ppy keyboard>