Define Hacker

I’ve often used the word “Hacker” as a derogatory term targeting maliciously intended computer users. In actuality, I’ve heard “Hacker” used in a variety of other ways.

- A skilled programmer
- An unskilled programmer (that’s ironic )
- A computer researcher
- A systems penetration tester
- A computer security specialist
- Me on the golf course

There is even a certification called the “Certified Ethical Hacker ” issued by EC-Council. However, for the sake of this and most of my entries, I will refer to those whom attack computer systems as “Hackers”. If I use the word conversely, the meaning should be obvious through the context in which I use it.

Hacker Assumptions

Pop culture has morphed the public’s perception on who hackers are, what their objectives are, and how they perform their magic.

The cult hit “Hackers”, the classic “Wargames”, and the big budget movie “The Core” all depict hackers as young nerdy high school students, but geniuses with computer systems. Each character has a shady past of unlawfully breaking into top notch government computer systems. Ironically, they all have a heroic quality where they use their expertise to thwart the antagonist’s plot.

In “Die Hard 4: Live Free or Die” the villainous hacker is a former U.S. computer security engineer who turned on his country. He ends up being matched against, once again, the geeky high school student with hacking skills.

“Enemy of the State” takes it in a different direction and portrays the National Security Agency’s computer masterminds abusing their power and technology to further individual needs.

The media has seen fit to tag “Hackers” as either government employees or nerdy high school kids. In reality this is inaccurate.

Who are Hackers

Hackers

My definition of “maliciously intended computer users” sums it up perfectly. Hackers can be anyone, young, old, male, female, unpredictable, intelligent, not so smart, sophisticated, or a trusted insider. They could be the girl next door, the guy you sit with at lunch, a thousand miles away, or even a coworker. Narrowing our mindset to just nerdy kids in their mother’s basement is detrimental to understanding motivation.

The motivation for an attack is also countless, and could range from the stealing of financial records, identity theft, terrorism, money laundering, extortion, corporate espionage, revenge, or simply to make a point. Computer crime, summarized from the United States Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986, is the intentional access of a computer without authorization or exceeds authorized access for malicious purposes, such as actions to injure the United States, obtaining unauthorized information from financial institutions, illegal access to U.S. departmental systems, conduct intended to further fraudulent activity, unlawful acquisition of anything valuable, impairing medical treatment, defrauding e-commerce traffic, and altering, damaging, or destroying other’s data (US 18 USC 1030).

Hacker’s can be anyone who attempts to commit a computer crime. Don’t be fooled by stereotypes.