Why The Media's Definition Of A Hacker Is Absolute Bs

So, you think you know what a hacker is do you?Grey hat hacker
I'm here to tell you that you're wrong.Script kiddie
Probably.Phreaker
At least to a certain degree anyway.Hacktivist
Unless you are involved in internet security to someComputer Security hacker
degree then the only definition of a hacker that you willHobby hacker
have heard is one given to you by the media, be it onNot all of the above are bad - white hat hackers, for
the news or in the movies.example, are often employed by large organisations
According to such sources all hackers are bad.who wish to have their networks tested so that they
Very bad.can identify any weaknesses before the real bad
Hardened criminals the lot of them.guys find them.
Of course that is true to some extent - a largeAnother example, the hobby hacker, is often
proportion of hackers really are bad guys who stealmisunderstood too.
money, deface websites and knock sites off theSuch hackers are probably better defined as tinkerers
internet for varying amounts of time.as though do not aim to break anything, preferring
There are many different types of hacker though andinstead to modify existing pieces of code or hardware.
all come with their own labels, such as -You can read more about the other types of hackers
Black Hat hackerin one of my recent posts on my blog - "So Just What
White Hat hackerSort Of Hacker Are You?