Why computers?

Most people are here at this site cause we like hacking/security or that's their chosen field. But I'm guessing we didn't wake up one day and I say, "Hey, I'm gonna learn about computer security."

So I'm wondering how you all got involved in this world. I'm sure its not just cause you had a computer when you were young. Most people do and most people dont understand this.

I'm asking why. As in what's so damn interesting about this stuff? Why do you want to know how the computer works? I'm sure some of you might have stories. Share 'em!

A few reasons come to mind. My father worked as a programmer for the government, and always bringing home random computer parts to play with. I still have fond memories of having to dial bbs #s, placing the phone on a cradle to connect, then watching characters begin to scroll across the screen.
I also think a lot has to do with personality. Most of my extended family remembers me as the kid who could work on a puzzle or legos in the middle of a busy room, completely oblivious to the dozen kids wreaking havoc around me.

My first box whas an Acermate 486
I learned a lot from it and somehow my intrest grew in computers.
Years later when the Internet whas available then I guess the security part kicked in.

i became interested for all the wrong reasons originally... in my younger days (damn that was like 10 years ago...) i was all into it because the power and possibilities were intoxicating. but then i learned about the way things work and ethics and such. but everyone has to start somehow.... even if it's for the wrong reasons (as long as you turn out right)

I first got into computers when i had a old compaq presario labtop, we played chess and other games, never got into security till i was 13. Im a big time online gamer, and decided to get into hacking/security. Knowing many basic things about them, i decided to read up on perl, and just got involved. Quake2,Quake3,UT! Woot! *Clan -=CD!* -wanting to be a linux geek pretty soon :)

bassic-'

computer cause ive had one since i was 3 always liked them but computer security well for 1 i was in to programming and i came across sub 7 yes i know its lame but i didnt have to ask for help on it lol and after about 2 weeks after having fun using it i decided to find out how it worked etc and i found this place after reading lots of docs i mean lots i baught a few books and then its grown in their

hmmm when i was a kid.. i want to be like those expert jewel theif.. those people who steal priceless stuff in the museum and by passing every single security measure the museum used..

i wasnt excited for the steal.. i was excited just by by passing security.. its juz shows how smart one can be when someone out smarts another smart one :)

and well hacking is exactly thesame.. whether u steal or not.. u still strive to be better than the others..

I was a freshman in college, and I couldnt figure out what I wanted my major to be. I always had a like of computers, but I also wanted to be an electrical engineer, and got a decent scholarship offer from Kansas State University for that. The problem was that it was boring to me. One day I woke up and decided that I was going to become a programmer. I signed up for 21 credit hours of courses at a local community college(kckcc ) and recieved two associate degrees, one with a major in computer information systems. I also took classes in networking and peripherals, and got my A+ certification. I transferred to Park University and discovered this site after a teacher had a discussion on security. I never knew how much I liked this sort of thing until college, so I might not know as much as someone who started at 8 and taught themselves, but I am working hard to learn.

I started out as a gamer, Doom, Wolf3D etc.. etc.. Then I got into hardware. Then I found out about Linux and FreeBSD, started to learn a little C and Perl. Then porting/installing Id Software games on my Linux box etc.. etc.. I ran across some security stuff and started reading, next thing I knew I was hooked. I still play Quake/II/III, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Doom and all that on Linux.

And here I am today, a CS student who wastes a lot of his free time on the net reading security stuff and playing Quake.

I didn't really become interested in security until a couple of months ago. I am a Network/Systems Engineering student and I thought a strong background in this area would make me a more valuable employee.
I first fell in love with a Commodore 64 way back when. Then I progressed to a Tandy 128 etc. It's been a long and educational relationship. I am not a self taught genius but I am more than willing to 'bust my ass and earn my stripes'!!!:cool:

Great question! I have always wanted to know how things work, I was one of those anoying kids always asking questions like "Why does it do that?" and whenever I didn't see any more use for a toy I would atack it with a screw driver. I remember My first computer was an Amstrad which I played Harier Atack on, We had RM Nimbus's and BBC's at school with a few Acorn's. I now sit at home surrounded by bit's of PC, Acorn and Mac.

I got into security since I hated one of my schools and had fun with the computers, I now try to help make systems secure, that seams harder than breaking into them.

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Two wrongs don't make a right,
Two lefts do!
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:ubergun:

Why do I use computers?? coz I find them interesting and at times a challenge.. also, they are nicer to me than my friends are...

Well, I have been playing games on computers since I got a mac plus back in 88 or so, and ever since then, my interest in games became an interest in computers.

I started building computers from parts I would buy at a computer show, started web design and HTML, started learning C, then found AO and grc.com and thats what started my interest in security.

I started getting interested in safty and computers when some ass backorificed me back in 98 or something...

I wanted to be better... the Mess with the best die like the rest (hackers) kind of ****..

So i started reading and learning about this kind of thing.. Early 2000 I found this website ( www.antionline.com )..
I even got a mail adress here ( [email protected] )

And what's next... Together with a couple of m8s we're trying to hack our way into our own XP server... and ofcourse our LINUX backup server..

Betetr hack yourselve than get hacked..

I started using computers when my dad bought a commodore64 back in the time that was the hight in gameing and excitement :cool: ..
Then we got our hands on a brand new 286 12Mhz with vga graphics... the time i spent playing games and programming (QuickBasic 4.5) using a black and white (paperwhite) VGA monitor... Lateron we got a 133 Mhz pentium.. that was fun.. finaly I could run windows 95... (I only got 3.0 working on my 286, 3.1 wouldn't work :killcompu ! !)...


So what do I run now? A AMD 1.33Ghz running tripple boot...

What do I do with it? programm... Kylix, Borland c++B5, MS vC++6 you name it....

But thinking back... I still love the CBM64 most... call it nostalgia !!:hippy:

Basically my brother was into computers and it rubbed of me when I was growing up then it faded.

Then a friend of mine told me he was a hacker! A hacker jesus I was afraid to e-mail the guy in cause he blew up my puter. So I started wanting to protect myself against him when he told me he could take control of my pc from his.
I found out about trojans and decided jesus anybody could easily mess me up on the net if they wanted to I better get secure, he got me a firewall and began showing me tricks.
He then told me to install Linux, which I did and I began to get more interested as time went on until I got addicted.
He himself dosent get upt o much and is glad I got into security instead of becoming a script kiddie [he dosent use Sub7 btw he's actually pretty good at programming and so on.]
So here I am today all thanks to him I suppose.

I have ventured into the computer field because I never want to consider myself above learning (and because I enjoy it!!!!!!) There is so much to learn and apply in the computer field that I will never grow bored. If I do it is because I am lazy. I wanted philosophy or sociology, but these are fields you get your doctorate in and simply debate with your students if you go into teaching... which I would had I chosen philosophy or sociology. This is an attempt at prevent the crippeling of my mind as I grow old. We have all encountered those individuals who are unable to learn/grasp new technology and concepts because their brain hasn't been forced to learn and apply anything new.

I first got into computers about 3 summers ago, when I was looking for a summer job, as the school year was coming to a close. My father told me I could work for him as a sort of apprenticeship thing, as long as I was willing to learn computers. Of course, with such an opportunity presented to me, how was I to refuse? It was my first week, and I was spending it making copies (bleh). One day, in the middle of my copies, one of the techs had managed to get his account locked out. He walked into my dad's office (my dad was doing something elsewhere at the time), so I went to check it out, and he showed me what he was doing since he was already there. Not an hour later, an employee, not being able to find one of the techs, decided to come to me, saying he couldn't log in, and it was giving him "a locked out error, or something silly like that". I went into my dad's office, and unlocked his account. Him, not knowing much about computers, gave me this look like "you a genius or something, boy?". Just then, it was as if a light had switched on in my head. I started learning more. It was slow at first (you have to walk before you learn to run) but then I started learning faster, getting into the details about PC repair, and the fine points of networking. That was my first summer. I have since completed two more summers there, and I know a hell of a lot more than I did after the first summer. Hell, I could probably run that network right now. When I'm not working there, I'm usually at home working on my PC (which I built myself). It's about a year and a half old now, but it still kicks the ass of most new PCs out there in most areas. I spend a lot of time on it just dinking around. If I come across something neat I can do, I do it. I even built the network that this machine sits on. Right now, I'm learning Linux, and am getting ready to attempt to learn C. I hope to someday build myself a little supercomputer from nothing but old junkers I have been given for free. I know it's not too realistic, but don't squelch my dream, OK? ;)

Well im just like Slide009, my dad was always around computers, and he did a little h____ back in the day... aroung the first board rooms etc... but he knows of my bad habits and he always finds a way to out smart me.

but i really got interested two summers ago when i was looked up in my dads house, and all there was was a tv and a computer. and i was talking to my friend and he told me to go to this community )online) and make a page, well thas when i learned html.... and my intrest sparked then...... oh yea, playing around with school networks and security helped out alot....