At 3:05 AM -0700 7/19/96, elfgard@pooh-corner.com wrote:

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What do you mean by "reverse engineer?" I have heard this word several times especially in the world of hacking, but... can someone tell me what it really meant?

Interesting question. Hmmm...

I would answer this question for you but then I would have to kill you.

That is basically like asking a car thief to tell yuo about how he breaks into cars and what cars hes broken into lately.

My suggestion to you is to pick up one of those MEGA lame books like "What is a Cyberpunk!" and read that. It may not tell you shit, but it will give you a broad understanding about what you want to know.

This is such a smug, superior, put-off that I have to give the original questioner his answer. Reverse engineering means taking a product and from inspection and analysis, figuring out a way to duplicate it. Engineering is starting out with specs and coming out with the product. Reverse engineering is starting out with the product, coming up with specs and then duplicating the product. David