[Ads-l] "Cracker" (Malicious Hacker) Not Yet in OED

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Interesting topic, Fred.
Fred’s citation is for  "system cracker".
I conjecture that "password cracker",  "system cracker", and "cracker"
(with the desired sense) all evolved from "safe cracker". The OED has
a citation for "safe cracker" in 1873.

There is some ambiguity because "password cracker",  "system cracker",
and "cracker" have been used to refer to both computer programs and to
the people who break computer security.

In 1974 the computer journal Communications of the ACM published an
article about passwords which were used to control access to early
time sharing computer systems. The author George B. Purdy proposed the
use of a one-way cipher to store encrypted computer passwords.

Purdy used the term "cracker" when he referred to a person attempting
to compromise the password system. Hence, this might be considered an
early use of "cracker" with the desired sense. Admittedly, one needs
some expertise to recognize what the "cracker" is attempting to
accomplish in this computer journal article.

Purdy used the pronoun "he" when discussing the "cracker"; thus, Purdy
was referring to a person and not a computer program.

Date: August 1974
Journal: Communications of the ACM
Volume 17, Number 8
Article: A High Security Log-in Procedure
Author: George B. Purdy (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Quote Page 443

https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/361082.361089
https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/361082.361089

[Begin excerpt]
We assume that the cracker has a list of all the assigned Yi and that
he keeps trying values of x chosen at random from 1 to P, possibly
trying the same x several times, until he finds an x for which f(x) =
Yi for some Yi.
[End excerpt]

Here is an example from January 1983 in which "password cracker"
referred to a computer program and not a human.

Discussion Forum: Usenet
Subject: PASSWD CRACKER CONTEST
Newsgroup: net.general
Poster:allegra!ran
Timestamp: Jan 6, 1983, 3:02:37 AM

https://groups.google.com/g/net.general/c/ZeultBaryvw/m/Y6k9WvNFRCcJ

[Begin excerpt]
Submit your ingenious /etc/passwd password cracker program (source
code) to the undersigned by January 31, 1983.
[End excerpt]

Here is an example from April 1983 in which  "password-crackers"
referred to humans who could have heart attacks.

Discussion Forum: Usenet
Subject: HACK Magazine
Newsgroup: net.jokes
Poster: floyd!trb
Timestamp: Apr 1, 1983, 11:48:33 PM

https://groups.google.com/g/net.jokes/c/YqzxiyFp_LE/m/vjxlZZkvQYMJ

[Begin excerpt]
Drive password-crackers nuts! Install a null shell that just prints
prompts which gets exec'd after 5 unsuccessful password attempts.
Guaranteed to cause heart attacks and early death.
[End excerpt]

Here is an example from June 1983 in which  "sys-crackers" referred to
humans. This date is later than Fred's excellent citation.

Discussion Forum: Usenet
Subject: Unix Security & Randoms
Newsgroup: net.unix-wizards
Poster: edhall%r... at sri-unix.uucp
Timestamp: Jun 20, 1983, 8:00:00 PM

[Begin excerpt]
In my experience most sys-crackers are 18 or under, and are out to
'prove' themselves or to engage in a cat-and-mouse game with an
'authority'. Many are very intelligent and talented; I can only shake
my head over the incredible waste of their mis-directed efforts.
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Fri, Mar 22, 2024 at 6:29 AM Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at yale.edu> wrote:
>
> The word "cracker" in its meaning of a malicious hacker is not yet in OED.  Below is the earliest citation I have found in a few minutes of research.  I am sure that people on thie list can push it back further.  Is Hugo still on the list?
>
> cracker (malicious hacker)
>
> 1983 _Albany_ (Ore.)  _Democrat-Herald_ 1 June 8/3 (Newspapers.com)  When a computer operator tried to check on company investing, the terminal replied only, "The system cracker strikes again."
>
> Fred Shapiro
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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