-3

Reading the extended FAQ on badges I recognize the rules for losing badges. There are two of them and both are completely justified.

But, considering, that this is about Tech and Coding and Wizz, shouldn't there be a badge for "Cheating". This badge should be awarded if someone cheated the site (reputation/badge/vote system) in a creative, successful and funny way. For example someone receives the Populist-badge without having outscored another answer. Obviously he loses this badge, either if caught or because he turned himself in. Especially in the latter case he could also have the badge "Cheater" assigned in return. (Generally as a cheating case will always need human intervention, this badge is not automatically assigned.)

A Cheater-badge probably should be a gold badge because the cheater beat stackoverflow and not some fool's homepage.

Well, actually the badge should only be awarded if the cheater turns himself in, reveals the cheating technique and generally helps to improve the site.

Improve this question
  • 4
    -1 This does not encourage positive behavior. – uɐɯsO uɐɥʇɐN Oct 4 '11 at 22:02
  • That Question was not Worth -5.. Well a +1 From Me... – ScoRpion Nov 17 '11 at 11:38
  • +1 to this question. Hacking attempts should not be feared of, in fact they should be welcomed. Security by obscurity is not the way to go. – Alex Shesterov Apr 9 '13 at 21:33
18

There is a super secret badge that is handed out to users who are exemplary in their service to the sites (such as discovering and helping correct a security vulnerability). This is the "hacker" badge. Perhaps you could attain for that instead.

Improve this answer
  • 2
    Has this ever actually been awarded? – Kyle Cronin Jul 24 '09 at 13:51
  • I do not believe so Kyle. – TheTXI Jul 24 '09 at 14:13
  • Actually that very much is what I searched for. – Don Johe Jul 27 '09 at 7:22
  • Shouldn't this be added to the list of badges? – Chris Frederick Aug 30 '11 at 17:20
15

No.

Questionable behaviour should not be rewarded in any way.

Improve this answer
  • I seem to be misunderstood here. The emphasis should have been on "disclosing the way of cheating-possibilities by PoC", which, AFAIK is the usual way of improvement in application security (and general debugging). – Don Johe Jul 27 '09 at 7:25
4

Two points:

  1. Badges are specifically for behavior that we want to encourage.
  2. We want to encourage professional behavior, not behavior that games the site.

So, no. That said, if you find an "unusual" exploit and report it you can already earn a the "hidden" Hacker badge.

Improve this answer
  • Has this ever actually been awarded? – Kyle Cronin Jul 24 '09 at 13:50
4

It's not a bad idea, but it has been declined. As others have said, what you call a "cheating" badge basically describes the Hacker badge. Well, the Hacker badge "was never implemented and probably won't be at this point" according to Jeff on Sep 11, 2011.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .