Today the word is generally positive, but in the past the word hacker also included those who
created cleaver but destructive or criminal applications of computer technology. Today the word used for the
???bad guys??? is cracker. In any case, hackers must be careful to avoid a feeling of superiority that might tempt
them to think that rules which apply to others do not apply to them.
Finally, as computers become ever more highly integrated into many critical applications, more and more
responsibility falls on developers to take every precaution in creating reliable applications. Computer-controlled
weapons, medical equipment, transportation systems, food processing, chemical manufacturing, and other
applications make quality computing systems a matter of life and death. Thorough testing must be part of the
activities of developers, but since testing cannot be exhaustive for most systems, because of their complexity,
developers must use a combination of best practices and relentless conscientiousness to create safe and
effective systems.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
9.1 Should software be copyrightable or patentable? Ignoring the law for the moment, argue the question
from the Kantian, Utilitarian, and Social Contract Theory perspectives.
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