In a technical field especially, we are taught to know as much as possible about computing and various other sub-fields. The more of this knowledge we gain, the more equipped we are to go into the world and make a difference. However, as we learn from Uncle Ben in Spiderman, "with great power comes great responsibility." And ultimately, this "great power" obtained by expertise in a field can lead down different paths. You can either be the villain, acting for personal gain, or you can be the hero, acting to help others. In The Cuckoo's Egg, we encounter both of these. Or do we?
I generally think of hackers as annoyances that invade our privacy and sometimes destroy our information. People that track down and catch these individuals are recognized as heroes. Using their "power", they can thwart the evil plans of the villains. But let's look at this from a different point of view. Suppose a person has gained these skills and "power" and wants to help their country in, say, a time of war. Using one's expertise to uncover secrets will also earn a person the title of hero. This presents a dilemma; which of these two is the hero, and which is the villain? When thought of in terms of war and espionage, the answer is turned into a matter of perspective.
However, even if a hacker is performing a supposedly heroic act, we should still shut him down in order to save our own skins. In our minds, he is still a villain. But the "power" gained from knowledge should be used in the best known way. For the "villain", that might mean hacking into an enemy network to save a country from attack. The moral implications of hacking are still a little hazy, though. What might be considered a noble act can still be illegal. Therefore, the skills and "powers" that one possesses should always be responsibly considered before being used.
Good points. This reminds me of the argument Stoll has with his anti-government friend. She says that if the hacker's on their side, fighting the government, Stoll is doing damage catching the hacker. But Stoll points out that if someone broke into your house you wouldn't let them traipse around just because they might be anti-government. So even if someone is hacking for "good" we have to remember that they're stealing and violating the privacy of the computer owners.
ReplyDeleteWho is "right" is a hard question. Often both sides are wrong. In defending ourselves, we sometimes feel justified in doing something wrong back. For example, if someone steals from us, we feel justified doing the same back. Someone has to be the bigger person and break the cycle.
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