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Hacker vs Phreaker - What's the difference?

hacker | phreaker |

As nouns the difference between hacker and phreaker

is that hacker is something that hacks; a tool or device for hacking while phreaker is a hacker or cracker specialized with telephone systems rather than computers.

hacker

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Something that hacks; a tool or device for hacking.
  • * 1825? , "Hannah Limbrick, Executed for Murder", in The Newgate Calendar: comprising interesting memoirs of the most notorious characters , page 231:
    • Thomas Limbrick, who was only nine years of age, said he lived with his mother when Deborah was beat: that his mother throwed her down all along with her hands; and then against a wall, and kicked her in the belly: that afterwards she picked her up, and beat her with the hacker on the side of the head; wiped the blood off with a dish-clout, and took her up to bed after she was dead.
  • * July 1846 , John Macleod, "The Tar and Turpentine Business of North Carolina", on page 15 of the Monthly Journal of Agriculture , volume II, number 1:
    • When the dipping is thus over, the next work is to "chip" or scarify the tree immediately over the box [...]. This is done by an instrument usually called a "hacker ," sometimes "shave." Its form is somewhat like a "round shave," narrowing at the cutting place to the diameter of an inch, with a shank, to be fixed securely into a strong, heavy handle of about two feet in length, while the faces of the trees are low, but the handle is made longer as years advance the faces higher.
  • * 1877 , Reports and Awards'' of the United States Centennial Commission (regarding the) International Exhibition, 1876 (Francis A. Walker, editor), ''Reports on Awards, Group XXI , page 13:
    • 23. George C. howard, Philadelphia, U.S.
    GRINDSTONE HACKER.
    Report''.--Commended for the contrivance of an instrument, called a "hacker'''," that is used in trimming grindstones. This ' hacker turns with the stone, and is drawn across in a slide rest, and fulfills its important function satisfactorily.
  • Someone who hacks.
  • * 1902 , Our Wonderful Progress , Trumbull White (editor), page 623–624:
    • In January or February the "hacker'," with his keen-bladed ax, begins the round which ends the season. [...] About a quart of sap is taken from each box by means of the trowel-shaped scoop used by the dipper, and then the ' hacker comes along and starts the flow afresh by wounding the tree again.
  • # Particularly, one who cuts with rough or heavy blows.
  • # Particularly, one who kicks wildly or roughly.
  • # Particularly, one who is consistent and focuses on accomplishing a task or several tasks.
  • (computing) One who is expert at programming and solving problems with a computer.
  • *
  • (computing) one who uses a computer to gain unauthorized access to data, or to carry out malicious attacks.
  • * 2007 , Committee on Improving Cybersecurity Research in the United States, ?Toward a Safer and More Secure Cyberspace
    • Typically, one hacker will annoy another; the offended party replies by launching a denial-of-service attack against the offender.
  • (computing) a computer security professional
  • (US) one who is inexperienced or unskilled at a particular activity, especially a sport such as golf or tennis.
  • (US) one who operates a taxicab
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    • Synonyms

    * cracker

    Usage notes

    * There are significantly more meanings of the word within the United States hacker - Merriam Webster Online (American English) than in other English speaking nations. * The use of the word (term) to indicate a person who displays skill, particularly with computers, may be misunderstood hack; hacker - Concise Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University Press (British English) as implying the narrow meaning of unauthorised intrusion into electronic systems (also known as a (cracker) or occasionally (black hat)). This serious misunderstanding in the field of computer expertise is perhaps particularly common outside the United States. * Some computer enthusiasts object to the use of (term) for a person who breaks into computer systems, preferring (cracker) for this sense.

    References

    See also

    * * Hacker's dictionary definition of hacker US only * RFC1392 - Internet Users' Glossary, Jan 1993 ----

    phreaker

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A hacker or cracker specialized with telephone systems rather than computers.