by Steven Singletary

Created on: January 24, 2012   Last Updated: February 19, 2012

Imagine for a moment walking down 8th street in the heart of New York City. In front of you, a fifty dollar bill lays flat against the concrete. The color of the bill glistens in the morning sun; the number "50" jumps out at you. There are no bystanders, no onlookers. What do you do? If you are morally just, you continue on your journey. If you are morally just and fortified with dignity, you pick up the bill and hope that the owner is nearby; if he isn't, you turn it in to the nearest shop or police station. If you lack integrity and feel that you are able to get away with taking the fifty dollar bill without anyone noticing, then your morality is in the red.

Now excogitate this: imagine you are computer literate and an expert in every aspect of computing. You can see holes in software created by others. Your skills allow you to exploit these holes. The potential incentive for doing so is highly profitable. What do you do? If you are morally just, you continue on your journey. If you are morally just and fortified with decency, you take note of the holes and notify the owner of the software. If you lack integrity and have difficulty conducting yourself morally and subsequently think that you are able to get away with exploiting these holes without anyone noticing, then you are in the wrong, if not a criminal.

         The culprit is aware of several key points: 

         •          An issue that can be potentially exploited 
         •          Security holes, or gaps created involuntarily by the developer of the software 
         •          A lucrative pot of gold (metaphorically speaking) 
         •          Vulnerabilities that exist only briefly and must be exploited as soon as possible

         Why am I propelling you into practical scenarios? Why am I asking you to brand yourself with sole integrity, candor and compassion, or no integrity at all? What difference does it make? The difference dictates a fine line between a righteous and just citizen and a borderline criminal. I am trying to make a point - one that will hopefully convince potential opponents of this article to diversify their conviction.

         Among professional programmers,

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