It used to be that hackers were just considered nerds in their basements that had no life; they got their joliies by basically screwing with other people and just being annoying. Then, the public image shifted to hackers as criminals; those who would break into others’ accounts online and steal money and even peoples’ very identities. Today, with the rise of hacker group Anonymous, the public image has shifted again.
Anonymous is a group of hackers that have almost a Robin Hood-like appeal. Sure, a lot of what they’re doing is illegal, but in the end they’re defending the little guy in the eyes of many. Government networks come under cyberattack every single day and Anonymous is not doubt a part of that. Say what you will, however, some governments end up hiring those selfsame hackers as protectors for their networks. They “flip” them, in Mafia terms.
Of course, no one will endorse hacking as a way of getting a government network job.
What does this have to do with hacking your PS3, Xbox 360, PS Vita, etc.? It’s simply, really; you are being lumped into the group of “hackers” once you take that step.
I was recently at a Christmas party, and as soon as I mentioned writing for a hacking site the guy I was talking to (a government worker) started treating me differently. I explained that it was merely about hacking consoles for games and the like, but it was too late – the damage was done. I’ll probably never see that guy again, so I could not care less, but it demonstrates what I’m talking about in terms of being lumped in with criminals.
What do you think about the current public image of hackers?