hacktivism, n.
Brit. /ˈhaktɪvɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˈhæktəˌvɪz(ə)m/
[Blend of either hack n.1 or hack v.1 and activism n. Compare slightly earlier hacktivist n.]
The practice of gaining unauthorized access to computer files or networks in order to propagate a social or political message.
| 1998Re: UNICEF was hacked for Mitnick in alt.hacker (Usenet newsgroup) 10 Jan. There is a phenomenon called ‘hacktivism’ that is valid if it is thought through and the point is delivered with lucidity, rather than adolescense [sic]. 2000 Village Voice (N.Y.) 1 Aug. 31/1 If you deface a Web site because that just happens to be the one you can deface, that's vandalism. But if you target a Web site because of its particular message, that's hacktivism. 2003 J. Pickerill Cyberprotest v. 126 Another form of hacktivism to have been encouraged is the physical tampering with computers. |