Become a hacker: 1) Don't accept the status quo, when you see/imagine a better way. Become a good hacker: 2) Exercise discretion and consideration. Assume y

Become a hacker: 1) Don't accept the status quo, when you see/imagine a better way. Become a good hacker: 2) Exercise discretion and consideration. Assume you might (will) break stuff -- important stuff -- and design with adequate defenses in mind and demonstrated. Next step? 3) Recognize where and how much risk is present. Don't over-engineer where the cost/benefit leaves it unwarranted or where it is outright counter-productive. You're going to make mistakes at each step. It's a learning process.