The Cult of the Dead Cow (cDc) and Hacktivism

Founded in 1984 in Lubbock, Texas, the Cult of the Dead Cow (cDc) is one of the oldest and most influential hacker groups. Originating in the BBS era, the cDc blended technical skill with media-savvy stunts and political commentary.

In 1996, the cDc coined the term 'hacktivism' to describe using hacking to promote political and social causes. They created the 'Hacktivismo' declaration, which asserted a right to access information online as a fundamental human right.

The group is perhaps most famous for releasing Back Orifice (BO) at DEF CON 6 in 1998. Named as a pun on Microsoft's BackOffice Server, it was a remote administration tool that could be used for system administration but also for malicious purposes, granting near-total control over a remote Windows machine. The release was highly controversial, sparking a global conversation about dual-use security tools and corporate responsibility for software security.

Timeline

• 1984cDc founded in Lubbock, Texas.
• 1996cDc coins the term 'hacktivism'.
• 1998Back Orifice released at DEF CON 6.