Hacking the Xbox

CHAPTER 13
Onward!
The state of the art in Xbox hacking is constantly advancing. Thousands of
hackers are constantly researching, innovating, discovering, and sharing
new methods and techniques for making the Xbox a more useful and
valuable piece of hardware to its end users. Keeping abreast of the latest
developments in hacking can be overwhelming. Hopefully, reading this
book has given you the faculties to understand the latest posts and news
on various websites and web fora dedicated to Xbox hacking. This
chapter discusses where you can go to find out more about the latest
hacks, where to ask for help, and how you can contribute your unique
abilities and perspective to the community. This chapter also discusses
some of the larger challenges that will face hackers in the future, namely
the trusted PC initiatives.
The Hacking Community
Xbox hackers are an anarchistic community that works mostly underground,
keeping in touch and sharing information through various Internet “fora”
(fora is the plural of forum, as data is the plural of datum). Most of the
Xbox hacking community keeps a low profile, and hackers often use
pseudonyms to protect their identities. The reasons for using pseudonyms
varies, but in general anonymity carries the benefit of greater operating
freedom. Hackers are more inclined to share their results and findings if they
know they can back away unscathed in case things get ugly. The use of
pseudonyms also levels the playing field. Hackers judge each other primarily
on the basis of the quality and frequency of their contributions, and little
else. The fact that you may be young does not detract from your first
impression or street credibility, as it might in other situations. Likewise,
many hackers have no qualms about being blunt when you’ve made an
error, and they have even less patience for stupidity presented as erudition or
rude assertions. On the other hand, many hackers are more than happy to
extend a hand to those who have made an honest effort to read the FAQs,
search the web and generally try their best to check and make sure that the
question hasn’t already been answered.