Another one was caught today; it’s all over the news. “Teenager Arrested in Cyber Crime Scandal,” “Hacker Detained after Bank Tampering.” These young individuals seem so similar.
But have you, with your traditional mindset and out-of-touch understanding of technology, ever delved into the mind of a hacker? Have you ever wondered what drives them or what experiences have shaped their actions?
I am a hacker; welcome to my world.
My world starts at school, where I find myself more intelligent than most of my peers. The mundane curriculum bores me, and people label me an underachiever. It seems we’re all the same.
I’m in middle or high school, listening to teachers repeatedly explain simple concepts like reducing fractions. I get it. “No, Ms. Smith, I didn’t show my work. I did it in my head.” They assume I copied it, assuming we’re all the same.
One day, I discovered a computer. This machine does precisely what I want. When it makes a mistake, it’s my fault, not because it dislikes me or feels threatened by me. People say I just play games on it, but they don’t understand.
And then, a door opened to a new world. Through internet connections, I found an escape from daily frustrations. I discovered an online community where I belonged. Though I may never meet these people, I feel connected to them. Adults complain about us tying up the phone lines, assuming we’re all the same.
We are alike in some ways; we hunger for more substantial intellectual nourishment than school provides. We’ve been oppressed or disregarded, and only a few inspiring teachers have quenched our thirst for knowledge.
Now, we inhabit a world of digital connections and endless possibilities. We utilize existing services that could be affordable if not for corporate greed, and you label us criminals. We explore, learn, and exist without bias, yet you call us criminals. You create weapons of mass destruction, wage wars, deceive us, and claim it’s for our benefit, while we are the criminals.
Yes, I am a criminal. My crime is curiosity. My crime is evaluating people based on their thoughts and words, not appearances. My crime is outwitting you, which you will never forgive.
I am a hacker, and this is my manifesto. You may stop me, but you can’t stop us all. In the end, we are all alike.
Addendum: This article is a reinterpretation of the original manifesto, “The Conscience of a Hacker,” written on January 8th, 1986, by a hacker known as The Mentor. The content presented above has been adapted by artificial intelligence to reflect the relevance and changes in technology and society since its original publication. Our aim is to offer an updated perspective on this historic document while preserving its core message and significance.
