Learning Curve

In the end, learning is what it's really all about.  Whether it's a specific command that yields a particular result or a philosophical lesson we learn over time, the world of hacking is a world of learning.  That's what makes it dangerous.  And that's what makes it fun.

We had a great learning experience again this summer with The Fifth HOPE as hackers from all around the world gathered in New York City for our fifth conference.  In an extension of what 2600 has stood for over the past 20 years, knowledge and information were passed around freely, dialogue was established, communities mixed, and ideas and inspiration flowed.

For many, this was their first look at the hacker world and we believe it was a positive one.  Of course, after the hatchet job the mass media does on a regular basis with regards to hackers, it's not too difficult to present a more positive image.  Still, it's always nice to see people's eyes opened a bit and that's one of the reasons we enjoy putting on the conferences so much.

For those who have been part of the community for years, HOPE serves as a reaffirmation of what we stand for and what we believe in.  And this is something which is sorely needed, especially today.  It's not hard to grow discouraged as civil rights evaporate and legislation seemingly written just for the likes of us gets passed by overwhelming margins.

We've witnessed some real changes in our society over the past two decades and the trend has most definitely been on the increasingly restrictive side.  It's easy to conclude that we are all quite powerless to reverse or even to stop this movement.  But by merely refusing to be cowed into submission we make a difference.  Our existence alone is a step.  And by realizing that there are others out there who don't want to live in a society of fear and surveillance, that there are those who believe in educating the people around them, we become stronger and we move closer to the day when we are able to actually make the pendulum start moving in the other direction.

Every day people pay the price for speaking their minds, for questioning authority, and for standing up to bullies.  We saw quite a bit of that this summer in various arenas.  While this sort of thing is almost always unfair, it nonetheless can serve as a catalyst to enact significant change - sometimes within a single individual, sometimes throughout a country or even the globe.

There is probably not one article we've ever printed or a single presentation at one of our conferences that someone didn't disapprove of or believe to be a threat of some sort.  We are always being challenged by those who believe the information we spread is not for us to know and that its dissemination can only result in chaos.  We have traditionally taken a very different view.  Information is there for people to discover and to share.  If it's out there, then people have every right to know about it.  We also believe people have a basic right to privacy through such means as encryption and education.  Everyone deserves to know how to keep information about themselves away from prying corporate and government eyes.  It's quite easy for our critics to cloud these issues and deceive the public into believing that hackers exist for the primary purpose of invading others' privacy.  In fact the opposite has proven to be frequently true.

Since 1984, our first year of publishing, we have heard from people who directly benefited from the knowledge they received from those in the hacker community.  They learned how to make intelligent choices when using telephones or computers, they discovered how to protect things like credit reports and Social Security numbers, and they were able to realize when they were getting ripped off.  And much of this came from reading articles that others questioned the value of since there could be "no other possible purpose" but to use the information within to cause harm.  They just didn't see the bigger picture.  Today, we're happy to say, so many more have taken some big steps away from that whole "security through obscurity" concept.

Privacy cannot be protected through mere faith in the system.  It can only be protected by learning everything there is to know about the system, finding the weak spots, theorizing on how vulnerabilities could be exploited, and constantly communicating this information and knowledge.

This is why we are seen as a danger.  Learning without a permit has always been a thorn in the side of those in supposed control.  We see examples of this all around us.  We see the individual who gets into trouble with parents or at school for asking too many questions or for pursuing knowledge that's been deemed off limits for one reason or another.  We see people who put their jobs and careers on the line by challenging unfair policies or refusing to hide who they are or where their interests lie.  We see the human race throughout history moving forward in spite of itself - because of the people who dare to stand up and make a difference, often at great personal expense.

Yes, our learning often comes at a price.  It's most always easier to not take a position and to focus primarily on one's own existence.  There is nothing dishonorable about this.  We cannot presume to tell people what they need to focus upon and what they are required to sacrifice.  But there are always ways each of us can make a difference without necessarily taking a loss.  Throughout the years we have met so many people who support what we're doing but who fear for their various positions were that fact to become known.  They range from school kids to business executives to government agents.

In many ways these are the people serving the most vital role because they offer a window into worlds we could never quite fathom otherwise.  Sure, it's great to be an information warrior and to let everyone on the planet know that you support the free exchange of data, are committed to overturning the DMCA, and hack the system in every way you know how.  But that's just one path.  We all learn so much from those anonymous people inside government agencies, corporations, the military, and even schools who provide us with the information that sheds light on these worlds.  These people have been a part of 2600 since the beginning and, in addition to supplying us with some of our best stuff, they inspire us with their support.

For those willing to go that extra step and publicly stand up to all of the nasty things that are happening, we feel a great affinity.  Courage is born in some unexpected places and it never ceases to amaze us to see how much of it comes via the keyboards and monitors of our readers.  If there's one thing we've learned over the years, it's that this bravery and fortitude are appreciated by far more people than any of us suspect.