I am NOT a cracker!

When you hack, don't change anything.

If you gain access to a system, don't just execute every command you can, find out what it is you are into, and learn about it.

If you don't know what you are doing, ask questions! I don't know any better way to learn. If people call you a newbie, so what? Usually the people who do that are themselves newbies! "Real" hackers are almost always willing to answer a question or two. Don't be shy about it, and don't be afraid of losing respect. My motto is, "If you think you know everything, you obviously don't."

Don't act like a jerk once you do learn a few things. Always remember how you felt when you started out. Acting like a jerk just shows how little you really know.

Don't think you are good enough to not use social engineering.

99% of hacking is just waltzing through holes left in a system by a lazy operator. I'm talking about default logins like "root", "guest", "sysbin", et cetera. Getting in with one of these is not really anything to brag about. Once again, I learned this by experience.

Once you do get into someplace neat, don't screw it up. Learn what you can about the system, and get out.

Don't go around bragging about how "ELiTE" you are. This is the easiest way to identify a poser.

Don't start fights. They just get you enemies. Some people provoke others so they can look "k00l". Provoking people is NOT "k00l".

Don't tell people what you are currently working on. That is the equivalent of saying, "Please... come to my house and haul me off to jail."

Don't screw with the government. They are a lot bigger than you.

If you decide you are good enough to screw with the government, expect to get caught. Don't whine when you do.

When you get caught, do NOT attempt to be tough and try to lie. You'll just get in more trouble.