a month later
if I was a hacker, why would I want to pay 1000$ a year to join some club? what are the benefits?
Yeah, good idea for some hacker gathering. But the high price totally defeats the purpose.

I believe someone else posted this link on this forum already.
They seem pretty cool. Their tutorials and articles are up to date with current technologies, and are generally well chosen. I wonder if they have the legal right to publish them?

It's true that the price completely defeats the purpose. Especially that all the info is available for free around. Their community sound fun though :)
First time I hear of "secutiry professionals".
Here is an email they sent me a while a go and my reply:
Hello guys,

Hope you’re doing great…

This is an official invitation to join the Lebanese Hackers Network (LHN).

Who we are?


The Lebanese Hackers Network is a NPO (nonprofit organization/group) of experienced software engineers founded to share information, technologies, and all issues related to the computer and communications domain.

The main idea is to have a common workplace where everyone can join this location if he is already a member in the LHN.

Actually, that location is not yet defined, but it should be centralized somewhere in Beirut city. This can be determined later when we have a good number of members.

Why LHN?
The idea of founding the LHN based on the following:
- The needs to stay up to date in the computer & communications domain.

- The needs to share some information with others colleagues

- Spending more than 10 hrs in front of the pc doing some researches and working on some projects at home or at work getting bored. LHN has been founded to move you to somewhere other than home or work so you can increase your knowledge much more than any other location since it will


What LHN provides for the members?
When you become a member in the LHN you will have the following:

Shared desk, where you can put your own pc/laptop...
DSL internet access 24/24
Lock key, where you can use it to enter the location!
Cofee, water, tea....
Benefit from the available equipments (projector, servers, routers...).

Membership monthly price between $50 & $100 depending on the members number.

How to Apply?
Please use the following contact info:

- Landline: 00961 1 740015
- Mobile: 00961 3 716394
- Email: webmaster@hackspirit.com (Attach Your CV)
the reply:
Dear hackspirit webmaster, whoever you are,
I apprecieate the invitation, but...
I received this invitation, read the title, got interested, the idea of having some sort of real community as opposed to a virtual community for hackers is always interesting. You should also be careful how you interpret the word hacker here because it is not that picture portrayed in movies of geeks breaking security systems. The real definition is more about exploring the inner workings of anything interesting. Back to this invitation, here are a few points I noticed about the invitation:
It is mostly copied from your website (fair enough): http://www.hackspirit.com/index.php?goTo=LHN
You say: "Actually, that location is not yet defined" and yet you show a picture of the a location tagged "LHN location"
You say it is a "NPO (nonprofit organization/group)" yet you want "between $50 & $100" I am gonna assume it is just to cover the cost of the benefits I am going to go through below
Are you an organization with a real official legal existence?
I am still trying to see what would really motivate me to join and pay the fees:
Shared desk, where you can put your own pc/laptop... OK
DSL internet access 24/24 I hate DSL, limited quota, so in fact it is useless
Lock key, where you can use it to enter the location! So I can come and go as I please? Are there specific times? A schedule?
Cofee, water, tea.... OK
Benefit from the available equipments (projector, servers, routers...). So those equipment ARE already available??
"Spending more than 10 hrs in front of the pc doing some researches and working on some projects at home or at work getting bored. LHN has been founded to move you to somewhere other than home or work so you can increase your knowledge much more than any other location since it will ", I am still waiting for the rest of that sentence.
"Membership monthly price between $50 & $100 depending on the members number.", so how much is the needed total to get this thing going?
So, since no one mentioned their name from your side, I went ahead and looked at the "About" link on your site: http://www.hackspirit.com/index.php?goTo=details&dataId=54 and although the picture is good, a name to go with it would have been more professional, considering all the trouble you went through illustrating your work experience, Mr. ??Hackspirit Webmaster??
You don't mention any rules for using the place, what can and cannot be done there, how big is the place supposed to be, is it an apartment, warehouse or studio
How did you get my email? I am interested in knowing.
All in all this whole thing is just too vague for me to get involved but thanks again.
Thats interesting.

Your reply is spot on! Would you mind sharing their response if they ever get back to you?

The point about getting your private e-mail address better be explained.