1 May 2000

Source: http://www.phrack.com/phrack/56/p56-0x04
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|--------- T H E  F U T U R E   O F   T H E   U N D E R G R O U N D ----------|

Asking this question is analogous to asking a question about the future of
8-tracks or dodo birds.

The underground is no longer underground.  Forums which once existed for the
discussion of hacking/phreaking, and the use of technology toward that end,
now exist for bands of semi-skilled programmers and self-proclaimed security
experts to yammer about their personal lives, which exist almost entirely on
the awful medium known as IRC.  The BBS, where the hack/phreak underground
grew from, is long since dead.  Any chump can buy access to the largest
network in the world for $19.95 a month, then show up on IRC or some other
equally lame forum, claiming to be a hacker because they read bugtraq and can
run exploits (or even worse, because they can utilize denial-of-service
attacks). The hacker mindset has become a nonexistent commodity in the new
corporate and media-friendly 'underground.'

And everyone who was a real part of the hacking/phreaking scene - at one point
or another decided they'd rather make money being legit than risk legal
troubles and wrecking their future for nothing.  Myself included.

The watered down underground's definition of a hacker is invariably something
like: "Someone who can code," or "Someone who can hack webpages," etc.

The motives and goals of this 'scene' are also entirely different, and it can
be safely concluded that it will continue to degenerate further, at a rapid
pace.  

On the flip side, going legit is a good thing... I, for one, would rather be
on the right side of the law, and getting paid for it - it was fun while it
lasted, and I learned a lot, but we all have to grow up sometime.  

And for those just getting into it now - why hack?  All the knowledge and
information you could possibly want is available at the click of a button in
any web browser (or push of an arrow, in Lynx).  

If you instinctively and successfully refuted the last two paragraphs of
bullshit logic... then you belong.