As a noun, a hack is the source code of a program. For example, the phrase "it must be done through a hack" means someone has to write programming code to solve the problem because there is no pre-written software that does the job.
As a verb, hack refers to writing a small program or adding code to an existing program to solve a problem in a hurry. A hack often implies writing in a low-level programming language rather than a high-level macro language or application generator that is oriented to the user. It may even mean writing and deploying a patch in machine language. See hacker, patch and machine language.
You're Not Supposed To!
A hack may refer to an enhancement made to a computer-based appliance that is not at all user programmable, such as a video game, music player, TV set-top box or cellphone. For example, a digital media hub (media extender) could be modified to play back additional audio or video formats not supported by the unit. This kind of hacking is done by the serious enthusiast, who first has to find a way to expose the software.
It may require opening the box to reach the chips, using tools such as a screwdriver, wire strippers and soldering iron. For example, to make the iPhone work in a non-AT&T network, the first step in 17-year-old George Hotz's hack required applying voltage to one line on its circuit board. It meant scraping the surface of a single wire trace without breaking the line and soldering a wire to it, a very delicate operation. Subsequently, far less extreme methods were found to successfully unlock the phone.
Geek Humor
From "The Best of The Joy of Tech" cartoon book by Nitrozac and Snaggy (O'Reilly Media, Inc., 2003, ISBN 0-596-00578-4). (Image courtesy of GeekCulture, www.geekculture.com)
Hack Everything!
The term is often used to refer to any tip or technique for improving performance or configuring hardware or software; witness these titles from O'Reilly Media, Inc. For information on all the titles in O'Reilly's excellent Hacks series, visit http://hacks.oreilly.com.
As a verb, hack refers to writing a small program or adding code to an existing program to solve a problem in a hurry. A hack often implies writing in a low-level programming language rather than a high-level macro language or application generator that is oriented to the user. It may even mean writing and deploying a patch in machine language. See hacker, patch and machine language.
You're Not Supposed To!
A hack may refer to an enhancement made to a computer-based appliance that is not at all user programmable, such as a video game, music player, TV set-top box or cellphone. For example, a digital media hub (media extender) could be modified to play back additional audio or video formats not supported by the unit. This kind of hacking is done by the serious enthusiast, who first has to find a way to expose the software.
It may require opening the box to reach the chips, using tools such as a screwdriver, wire strippers and soldering iron. For example, to make the iPhone work in a non-AT&T network, the first step in 17-year-old George Hotz's hack required applying voltage to one line on its circuit board. It meant scraping the surface of a single wire trace without breaking the line and soldering a wire to it, a very delicate operation. Subsequently, far less extreme methods were found to successfully unlock the phone.
Geek Humor
From "The Best of The Joy of Tech" cartoon book by Nitrozac and Snaggy (O'Reilly Media, Inc., 2003, ISBN 0-596-00578-4). (Image courtesy of GeekCulture, www.geekculture.com)
Hack Everything!
The term is often used to refer to any tip or technique for improving performance or configuring hardware or software; witness these titles from O'Reilly Media, Inc. For information on all the titles in O'Reilly's excellent Hacks series, visit http://hacks.oreilly.com.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- East Anglia: Chapter 3
- Of course we are"The global warming skeptics are perfectly happy to overlook the illegality of the hacking and theft of private emails, according to this blogger."Sure, how else would this information have been made public. Many of the emails highlight to obfuscation of information, others point to the planning to...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-22
- Ballmer: Windows 7 sales on a roll
- Oh boy... this should be a fun Talkback... ntntyeap...for sure we'll be hearing what everyone has already said "ad nauseum".BallSack is a MoronPlain and Simple.I'm sure Win7 sales are decent. After all, it's hard to get an OS-less computer.....It is easy enough to get linuxpre-installed.Or buy a MacHowever,...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-20
- Microsoft, former employee settle over spying claims
- So, if a hacker patents a hack ... MS can't do anything about it unless they license the hack?Sounds a bit deceptiveSo they guy knows his company is working on this patent, applies at MS while not telling them he's still working at the other company, then pitches this idea...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-17
- Five ways Android could get into trouble
- the only danger lies with patents owned by Apple, M$ or other trolls.Without them, the sky is the limit!Good points! Apples success, and closed software, and AT&T exclusivity are what are giving Android a big push. Verizon ONLY accepted Android on their network to combat iPhone / AT&T for example....
- Discussion threads 2009-11-17
- Psystar massacred in court
- I wouldn't.....buy even with a 100% discount, Psystar is toast and part of Apple's claim would invoke a recall of all machines and buyer's info. Apart from the 'no support' from Apple, there will be no support from a defunct company too.Yep, there is pent-up demand for an expandable cheap...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-16
- Hackers bypass Windows 7 activation
- lol...and double lolwhoever thinks that windows 7 is any better than any previous disaster they created will be dispelled soon.Google will take over and leave MS in the dustGoogle is going to take over and leave the lethargic Windows in PC dust.loverock's mother herei must apologize for my 44 old...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-16
- Photos: Random Hack of Kindness
- The Hacker Dojo in Mountain View, Calif., hosts a community working on emergency preparedness technologies, and so-dubbed hacking for humanity. by CNET News.com
- Image galleries 2009-11-15
- Apple nukes Psystar
- Why is this legal?What I want to know is *why* is it legal for Apple to say "OSX can only run on hardware we provide"? Wouldn't that constitute a monopoly on OSX since they stifle competition and someone else can't provide OSX software systems? Isn't that the literal...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-15
- Guardian Password Manager 1.0 (Windows)
- Guardian Password Manager is a program made to keep your passwords safe. You might have a lot of passwords to remember, for every site you have an account on, every mail you have, you might also have software licenses that you do not want to lost. Here comes Guardian Password...
- Software downloads 2009-11-13
- Psystar: Cocaine, car crashes and a chance to beat Apple
- Monopoly Much?How has apple been able to get away with this? Microsoft gets sued for sending their browser with their operating system while not blocking anyone else's browsers on their systems. Apple does not allow anyone else to use their operating system on other hardware, not sure how...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-12
- Mac OS 10.6.2 breaks hackintoshes
- Author's views please ...... does the ZDNET author of this post care to say:1. Whether the 'hack' in 'hackintosh' is morally acceptable and/or legal?2. Whether there is any merit in Psystar's case that OSX is tied to Apple hardware? i.e. the vendor makes it a condition of purchasing the OS...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-11
- File Encryption XP 1.5.149 (Windows)
- File Encryption XP is password protection software for Windows. Files are encrypted with hack-proof Blowfish algorithm. This tool works with USB drives, flash memory cards, HDDs, ZIP drives, and works with any Windows PC. When encrypting files, the passwords are not "inserted" inside the encrypted files, so if you lose...
- Software downloads 2009-11-11
- Clan Lord 624 (Mac)
- Clan Lord is a world of high fantasy role-playing on the Internet. Join thousands of players around the world whose online characters are exiled to a dangerous island chain, threatened by monsters, sorcery, and political strife. Not just hack and slash -- heal the wounded, study magic, and solve puzzles....
- Software downloads 2009-11-11
- Source code for ikee iPhone worm in the wild
- iPhone is officially the most malware ridden mobile platform in the worldAnd since the "bad guys" always go after low hanging fruit, that [b]proves[/b] that iPhone is the [b]least[/b] secure mobile platform in the world. Buy an iPhone if you want to be infected [b]within seconds[/b] by malware [b]that requires...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-10
- Wolverine 14.0.35 (Mobile)
- DARE TO PLAY AS WOLVERINE in this action-adventure combat game inspired by the new movie, X-Men Origins Wolverine, only in theaters Forge your way through 7 thrilling levels of traps to take on an army of foes. Fight soldiers specialized in baton, assault and marksmanship using your signature moves such...
- Software downloads 2009-11-10
- Worm inflicts Rick Astley wallpaper on jailbroken iPhones
- But... but... but... OS X is Unix! It is immune!Hmm, guess not.Now, let's list the "attacks" and then cue the double standards...1. iPhone must have the [b]worst[/b] security model out there because hackers only go after the low hanging fruit.2. I don't care [b]why[/b] no one attacks Windows Mobile, all...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-08
- Protect VBA Code 2.2 (Windows)
- Protect VBA Code protects VBA projects from password cracking in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher, Outlook, FrontPage, PowerPoint, and Project files. There are several password recovery tools on the Internet somebody could misuse to get your code if you protect it with a VBA password regardless of its length...
- Software downloads 2009-11-06
- Which antivirus is best at removing malware?
- Run a Linux distro or a MacIt is funny, when you 'weld' a web_browserinto an operating system and viruses/worms/malware/trojans and spyware come in from outside sources it is amazing how insecureit makes an Operating System.Say what you will, Linux distro's power theInternet with Bind dns, dhcp, routers/switchesand they do not...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-05
- Twitter and web forgery
- Last evening as I was winding down after a long journey imagine my surprise when I started to receive a tsunami of @ replies on my Twitter account. Apparently I was direct messaging a stack of people I don't know with a link to something that...
- Blog posts 2009-11-05
- iHacked: jailbroken iPhones compromised, $5 ransom demanded
- ... WHAT?Who in their right mind keep a server running with default usernames/passwords on the default port....I doubt that jailbroken iPhones are alone in this. It's possible, specially if iPhones have a ssh server running, that this could happen on non-jailbroken iPhones also.Just one question...Has this person been remanded yet?...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-03
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