What’s a hacker?

To me, a hacker can simply be defined as somebody involved in the exploration of technology, somebody who wants to learn about technology and make it do things that have never been done before. It’s about creativity, education, experimentation, having fun, and breaking the mold of conventional thinking. A “hack” in the technology world usually defines a new and novel creation or method of solving a problem, typically in an unorthodox fashion. This is my idealistic view and often corrupted by the (intentional?) misuse of the word by mainstream media to define any computer-related attack ranging from kids defacing websites to organized groups taking advantage of technology for illegal, financial gain. However, the world would be a very different place without contributions from true hackers. No Internet. No computers. No video games. No telephones. No radio. No television. Being a hacker is a lifestyle and a way of life and I use the term with pride.