The goverment will no doubtingly benefit from the public's fear and panic about cybercrime. The Clinton Administration has already gotten increased funding for internet security, and they are asking for more. This is not to say that internet security should not be developed more, but since when did the government spend our money on the things we gave it to them for. In growing numbers people are conducting more and more business online, and email is replacing a letter and a stamp. We should be concerned about the privacy of our lives on the internet.
Crackers are people with the abilities of hackers, but with malicious intent.
Hackers are people with extensive knowledge and understanding of computer systems, programming, and the internet in general. Hackers are usually legitimately employed computer experts and closet geeks. Script kiddies seem to be teenagers, who do have some hacking abilities, but use other's programs to crack. Hackers do not get arrested, because they do not generally participate in illegal activities. The debate should not be how dangerous crackers are, but where the line is drawn between hacker and cracker.