Editing Hacker (section)

== Representation in media ==
The [[mainstream media]]'s current usage of the term may be traced back to the early 1980s. When the term, previously used only among computer enthusiasts, was introduced to wider society by the mainstream media in 1983,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Deffree|first=Suzanne|date=2019-09-05|title=EDN - 'Hacker' is used by mainstream media, September 5, 1983|url=https://www.edn.com/hacker-is-used-by-mainstream-media-september-5-1983/|access-date=2020-09-07|website=EDN|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-04-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429123857/https://www.edn.com/hacker-is-used-by-mainstream-media-september-5-1983/|url-status=live}}</ref> even those in the computer community referred to computer intrusion as hacking, although not as the exclusive definition of the word. In reaction to the increasing media use of the term exclusively with the criminal connotation, the computer community began to differentiate their terminology. Alternative terms such as [[Security cracking|cracker]] were coined in an effort to maintain the distinction between hackers within the legitimate programmer community and those performing computer break-ins. Further terms such as [[Black hat hacking|black hat]], [[White hat (computer security)|white hat]] and [[gray hat]] developed when laws against breaking into computers came into effect, to distinguish criminal activities from those activities which were legal.

[[News media in the United States|Network news']] use of the term consistently pertains primarily to criminal activities, despite attempts by the technical community to preserve and distinguish the original meaning. Today, the mainstream media and general public continue to describe computer criminals, with all levels of technical sophistication, as "hackers" and do not generally make use of the word in any of its non-criminal connotations. Members of the media sometimes seem unaware of the distinction, grouping legitimate "hackers" such as [[Linus Torvalds]] and [[Steve Wozniak]] along with criminal "crackers".<ref>{{cite web|last=DuBois|first=Shelley|title=A who's who of hackers|url=http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/06/16/a-whos-who-of-hackers/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619062251/http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/06/16/a-whos-who-of-hackers/|archive-date=June 19, 2011|access-date=19 June 2011|work=Reporter|publisher=Fortune Magazine}}</ref>

As a result, the definition is still the subject of heated controversy. The wider dominance of the pejorative connotation is resented by many who object to the term being taken from their cultural [[jargon]] and used negatively,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tmrc.mit.edu/hackers-ref.html |title=TMRC site |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060503072049/http://tmrc.mit.edu/hackers-ref.html |archive-date=2006-05-03}}</ref> including those who have historically preferred to self-identify as hackers. Many advocate using the more recent and nuanced alternate terms when describing criminals and others who negatively take advantage of security flaws in software and hardware. Others prefer to follow common popular usage, arguing that the positive form is confusing and unlikely to become widespread in the general public. A minority still use the term in both senses despite the controversy, leaving context to clarify (or leave ambiguous) which meaning is intended.

However, because the positive definition of hacker was widely used as the predominant form for many years before the negative definition was popularized, "hacker" can therefore be seen as a [[shibboleth]], identifying those who use the technically oriented sense (as opposed to the exclusively intrusion-oriented sense) as members of the computing community. On the other hand, due to the variety of industries software designers may find themselves in, many prefer not to be referred to as hackers because the word holds a negative denotation in many of those industries.

A possible middle ground position has been suggested, based on the observation that "hacking" describes a collection of skills and tools which are used by hackers of both descriptions for differing reasons. The analogy is made to [[locksmithing]], specifically picking locks, which is a skill which can be used for good or evil. The primary weakness of this analogy is the inclusion of [[script kiddies]] in the popular usage of "hacker", despite their lack of an underlying skill and knowledge base.