Hackers get a bad rap. Businesses, industries, and even society as a whole covet their skills, yet they are often misunderstood and frequently despised. Is their vilification justified? This is the first book to use previously validated psychological inventories to explore and profile the personalities and behavioral traits of more than 200 self-admitted hackers. Many of the profiled are at the top of their game, revered by both the good hackers (white hats) and their more malevolent peers (black hats).While there are serious reasons to fear the darker elements of the hacker community, there is also much to admire in their nobler counterparts. Fascinating case studies on hackers who have been caught and convicted of their crimes, as well as those betrayed by their peers, offer a unique, credible understanding of what makes hackers tick. The authors examine current laws meant to control hacking and its collateral crimes-stalking and terrorism-along with other means of reining in the irresponsible scriptkiddies and vicious black hats. Moderated and balanced, this book is an easy-to-read, authoritative source information for anyone interested in who hackers are, and how much we should worry about them.

This is the first book to explore and profile the personalities and behavioral traits of more than 200 self-admitted hackers.

Hacker BasicsIntroduction: Fears about Hackers and Why This Book Was WrittenHackersom History: Highlights, Facts, and Headline MakersA Balanced View about Hackers: The Good SideA Balanced View about Hackers: The Bad SideHacker Study Findings and Related TopicsThe Demographic Profile of J. Random Hacker: What the Literature Says and What Our Study FoundThe Psychological Aspects of Hackers: What the Literature SaysThe Psychological Aspects of Hackers: What Our Study FoundThe Social Characteristics of Hackers: What the Literature Says and What Our Study FoundThe Black Hat Cyberterrorists: What the Literature SaysThe Black Hat Cyberstalkers: What the Literature Says and What Our Study FoundRemedies for Black Hat HackingSocial Controls on Hackers: Court Remedies and Legislation in North America and BritainThe Ethics and Morality of Hackers: Are Present Remedies Working?Further ReadingIndex