HACKED!

Today I was talking to a friend and she was telling me about this computer virus that had taken over her computer. She was working on homework with a friend and a message popped up telling her the FBI was looking at her computer for illegal downloading and activity. She was actually not illegally downloading or doing any activity of the sort. On her computer then, a screen shot of her at that moment was on the screen in the corner. While she began to panic and wonder what is going she asked a friend what she thought about it. Her friend replied that had happened to her roommate to and not to worry it was just a virus. She shut the computer off and turned it back on to a white screen and no functionality. While this is sad for my friend I would like to dig deeper into the "Hacking Culture" and just what hacking and virus creation is serving. The typical understanding of a computer virus or hacker is they are negative and malicious. While this can be true for some, there is a parallel that should be seen. A group by the name ANONYMOUS is a group of the best and most clever hackers. ANONYMOUS is responsible for completely eliminating child pornography from the web. The best hackers are the ones that cover their tracks well enough to not be found. That is why the members chose to call the group ANONYMOUS. Hacking can serve a positive and negative purpose as we can see, but just why do people do it? In an age where creativity is virtual and diminishing hacking is the newest form us of creativity. Creating solutions and breaching something that technology experts thought was hack proof is the new creativity. The hacking culture can then be compared to video games saving the world, while I dont believe that in ANY way playing a game will save the world, I do believe that hacking the game could. The logic connected to gaming and saving the world can be better applied here. People need the "Epic Win" discussed in gaming, hacking is that epic win. You are forced to create solutions and the materials necessary are all available. Hacking has become the actual "game" that will save the world. With hackers growing in number and in intelligence nothing is hack proof and societal problems such as child pornography can be eliminated. What does all of this have to do with my friend? Hacking in the simple and beginner states can start with simple computer hacking an virus's. Being hacked and getting a computer virus is also more common. The connection is clear hackers in training and professional hackers are increasing and it is up to the hackers and society to use this ability in an ethical manner.