When is it O.K. to hack?

[Jake-X]

Let's talk about specific situations in which hacking would be justified? (Ethically, not legally.)

The first instance that jumps automatically to my mind is taking down a racist website. Racists are probably my least favorite type of person, and I'd jump at the chance to take a piece of their bigotry off the web.

Any other situations where you feel your hacking skills could be used benignly?

[tph23]

Adult sites exploiting minors, fraudulent sites, etc. It all depends on the person, really. Some feel it's never okay to attack a website while others feel it's fine to try and take down every site they come across. What do you mean by hacking? As in just taking the site down, or something like taking private information?

[Jake-X]

What I mean by hacking is one of the things that will vary from situation to situation.

[Goatboy]

I think hacking to convey a message is admirable. The ImageShack hack a while ago was meant to stress the attacker's view of nondisclosure. In a similar vein, the DDoS of Mastercard, while not something I would call a hack, is something of a modern, technological protest.

[insomaniacal]

Hacking to spread your message is still questionable. If we are to live in an open society, you can't go around destroying everyone's website which posts the opposition's opinion. That's just hypocritical.

However, I think it's always OK, ethically, to take down fraudulent sites that try to steal people's information.

[Jake-X]

I can definitely see your point, insomaniacal, but I would say it depends on the message you're trying to send, and how you send it.

[sanddbox]

The first instance that jumps automatically to my mind is taking down a racist website. Racists are probably my least favorite type of person, and I'd jump at the chance to take a piece of their bigotry off the web.

This attitude is one that I hate to the core.

[Jake-X]

The first instance that jumps automatically to my mind is taking down a racist website. Racists are probably my least favorite type of person, and I'd jump at the chance to take a piece of their bigotry off the web.

This attitude is one that I hate to the core.

Mine, or theirs?

[Orpheus 47k]

He means yours i think because taking down there website will be pointless first you are taking a risk that is not smart, second they can make a new one, third taking there website down will not stop them from being racist major point choose your battles wisely

[insomaniacal]

I can definitely see your point, insomaniacal, but I would say it depends on the message you're trying to send, and how you send it.

Depends on the message you're trying to send? That's making this totally subjective. Meaning that, by your logic, you would be A-Ok with Neo-Nazis painting an elaborate Swastika on the side of your house, because to them, it's a good message to send.

You're essentially saying Vandalism is OK, as long as you agree with the message. If you're doing what you're doing for the greater good, it's a different story. For example, you have taken control of a server that's storing and distributing people's personal information (SSN/Back Account #'s/etc...).

Being militant and one-sided about anything will never solve any problems.