The media, who are very misinformed, have created this hacker scare by thinking that the viruses and destruction of computer systems is caused by hackers. They print article after article about how hackers are on the loose, and how everyone should update the latest safety features on their computer. This letter describes crackers and reasons why hackers should not be considered as criminals. The basic difference between hackers and crackers is that hackers build things and crackers break them. Crackers are mainly adolescent males who get a kick out of breaking into computers and cause mayhem.
Real hackers are the ones that created the system that the cracker broke into.
Hackers base their prestige not by race, religion, or skin color, much like most cultures. They base their status by how well one programs and uses a computer. Crackers have no real talent because they are just destroying what someone has already done. Hackerdom's most revered demigods are people who have written large, capable programs that met a widespread need and given them away, so that now everyone uses them. Hackers should be revered as modern day Robin Hoods, not thieves and robbers.