I recently attended Hackacon 2008, a series of seminars about Certified Ethical Hacking and similar topics such as Computer Forensics, Data Security and Penetration Testing.

I have been fascinated with hacking since my 1st experience with it 10 years ago when I watched our systems administrator demonstrate how a server can be vulnerable by breaking in to a public server. I've also been fascinated with movies involving hacking or in-depth computer use such as Sneakers (Robert Redford), The Net (Sandra Bullock), Swordfish (John Travolta) and Pirates of Silicon Valley.

During the two day seminar, I've been taking down notes and reviewing some of them has made me realize that some computer concepts aren't really different from real life teachings.

Here are a couple of quotes mentioned by the guest speakers which I noted down. Some may be cheezy but you'll get the gist.

"Nothing is hack-proof. It's only easy or hard to hack."

- similar to simple words of encouragement. Nothing is impossible. It's just a matter of how easy or difficult it may be but your goal can be attained. As the song goes ...

"Ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you"

"There is no impenetrable barrier."

- similar to the quote above. Also from the classic song "The Impossible Dream"...

"This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far
...
To reach the unreachable star"


And lastly, our very knowledgable instructor on Computer Forensics, gave us this cheezy but important insight on crime investigation.

"Wag kang magassume. Di ka naman taga Assumption."

It was a funny remark but when you think about it, it is one important thing that also applies to life.
Don't be biased. Don't be prejudice. Don't judge a book by it's cover. Be open to reasoning. Listen and think before you speak.

As the anthemic song of FrancisM's "Mga Kababayan Ko" raps it out...

"Wag takasan ang pag kukulang
Kasalanan ay panagutan
Mag malinis ay iwasan
Nakakainis marumi naman
Ang magkaaway ipagbati
Gumitna ka ang wag kumampi"
...
Kung may itim or may puti
Mayron naman kayumangi
Isipin mo na kaya mong
Abutin ang yung minimithi"


So it seems I didn't only get insight on Computer Ethcial Hacking but also with words of wisdom.