Social networking site for hackers is unveiled

“We want to create a respectable, professional community for hackers,” Petko Petkov, founder of House of Hackers and GNUCITIZEN, an ethical hacker think tank, told SCMagazineUS.com on Tuesday.

“By saying ‘hackers,' I refer to the kind of people who have ‘outside the box' type of thinking. Hackers should be respected for who they are and what they have achieved. Hackers are not criminals. I hope that this network will help us change the public perception.”

Another goal of the House of Hackers' founders is to develop a free community where like-minded people can share ideas and knowledge.

In addition, the House of Hackers plans to open an information security market where respected and peer-reviewed hackers could find freelance positions.

Because membership into the group is open to anyone, Petkov admitted it may be hard to verify real people behind all of the made-up handles. However, he said he thinks it is a problem that will work itself out.

“When certain groups and individuals reach a certain level of credibility within the network, they will become featured and, therefore, they will stay on the top and be able to operate on a more professional manner,” he said.

One point he'd like to stress is that no one should be fooled by the site's name.

“House of Hackers is not a criminal community and it will never be,” he said. “We are planning to further develop the network by keeping the creative and cultural aspects of the community, and at the same time promote and enhance the professionalism among members.”