Hackers, good or bad?

Before you continue reading this thread, ask yourself a question, what do you think when you hear the word hacker? Most people perceive the word as someone who commits a crime, such as stealing, from a computer. That brings me to the point of this thread, what's your opinion on hackers? Do you think they are good or bad?

Here's my opinion:
The word "hacker" has been misused and kicked around in the mud for so long people no longer know the original definition. Although I don't know the original defintion off of the top of my head, its along the lines of something like;

"A person who delights in having an intimate understanding of the internal workings of a system, computers and computer networks in particular."

Some claim that the term has been unrecoverably corrupted, and acquired a new meaning that we should simply accept. This descriptivist approach is predicated upon the assumption that there's no reasonable way to communicate effectively with the less technically minded without acquiescing to the nontechnical misuse of the term "hacker". I believe it's still useful to differentiate between hackers and security crackers, though, and that terms like "malicious security cracker" are sufficiently evocative and clear that their use actually helps make communication more effective than the common journalistic misuse of "hacker".

Dumbed down version of my opinion:
Hackers = Good

Well, uh, I'm down with anonymous.

The definition of a hacker IMO, is someone that specifies in the "art of exploitation".
The misconception that all hackers are notorious shady figures that only steal, manipulate, and destroy irritates the @poop out of me.

There are three types of hackers. Whitehat, GrayHat, and BlackHat.

WhiteHat: "White hat (computer security) The term "white hat" in Internet slang refers to an ethical computer hacker, or a computer security expert, who specializes in penetration testing and in other testing methodologies to ensure the security of an organization's information systems."

GrayHat: "In the hacking community, a grey hat refers to a proficient and tech-savvy hacker who is ambivalent enough to sometimes use his program manipulating skills to act illegally in either good or ill will. Grey hats (also known as grey hat hackers) are considered as hybrids of the black hat and white hat hacker types."

BlackHat: "A black hat hacker is an individual with extensive computer knowledge whose purpose is to breach or bypass internet security. Black hat hackers are also known as crackers or dark-side hackers."

IMO, I believe at the moment I am classified as a "GrayHat" Hacker.

No i dont think Hackers are bad i think there good without them Society would be lost with everything that is taken from us i enjoy it

Depends on what the situation is

I think hackers are good and bad. I think Anonymous is fine most of the time, as they try to represent something good and upstanding. They try to give off a sense of humility yet confidence. I respect it. (No I'm not affiliated with them)
I think when hackers go too far is when it goes badly, but hackers can do a LOT of good too.

I think Hackers are god, but not always

Bumping this. Wanna see more responses.

I'm fine with them but I just want to kill every little Anonymous f*ggot I see.

Not to sound like a newbie but there are the hackers that use there intelligence for the good and there are the bad onces that take advantage and use it for evil. Harming people just because its "fun". Their immature.

Sinclair said:

I'm fine with them but I just want to kill every little Anonymous f*ggot I see.

Click to expand...

What do you have against anonymous?

@God I believe he is talking about the people that "support" anonymous but really have no idea what they are talking about.