Soifer was luckier. Before the attack, he had visited Shields Up, a Web site dedicated to Internet security advice. Soifer followed its recommendation to download and install ZoneAlarm, a free personal firewall program. The ISP cut off the intruder's service, but the miscreant could likely open an account with another ISP and continue his misdeeds. And law enforcement is unlikely to take action on any but the largest, most prominent computer crimes.
Hackers come in all flavors.
Many are simply curious folks who want to find out how a program or system works. They may not do any harm, and some even provide a service by discovering programming bugs and helping fix them. But malicious or criminal hackers use their skills for devious purposes. Criminal hacking incidents can range from obnoxious to destructive. If you're an individual or small-business user, probably not.