We dive into the moral high points of hacker culture

Hackers. The news loves to report on them, and the public loves to completely misunderstand what they actually do. The word "hacker" has become associated with malicious computer criminals, largely because of the way it is used in the media and movies.

Originally, the malicious type of computer wizard was known as a “cracker,” but it seems the hacker community has given up on trying to make “cracker” stick. Instead, hackers with different moral leanings are being sorted into three different “hats.” And, as it turns out, so are wizards.

So if you think all hackers are “bad guys,” now is the perfect time to explain the basics of hacker morality. With great power comes great responsibility, and how a hacker chooses to use his knowledge determines which hat he will wear.