I find it more interesting how the term "hacker" has evolved into becoming a positive value term. I wonder if the term "hacker" is still considered positive at the adolescent stage, or is it just a business class perspective?
The Jargon File, a glossary for computer programmers that was launched in 1975, lists eight definitions for “hacker.” The first reads, “A person who enjoys exploring the details of programmable systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users, who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary.” The following six are equally approving. The eighth, and last, is “[deprecated] A malicious meddler who tries to discover sensitive information by poking around. Hence password hacker, network hacker. The correct term for this sense is cracker.” http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/a-short-history-of-ha...
The negative connotation came from the bust of Kevin Mitnick and the American public's shameful lack of knowledge about computers, combined with 1984 style propaganda to scare the public.
Hacker or hacking always meant someone who approaches problems in novel ways. Cracker, like a safe cracker, is someone who breaks in for malicious reasons. The kids on 4chan who follow a guide to DDOS a website are script kiddies, by the way.
That's what these terms always meant, and we're starting to move back after an era of propaganda.
A hacker is just someone who does not respect boundaries, be it what could be done, and what should not be done, and then more. Just a hacky definition I just came up with :)
I think your information is out of date. In 2015, 60% of piracy incidents were in South-East Asia. http://www.agcs.allianz.com/insights/white-papers-and-case-s...
I like rms's definition https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/rms-hack.en.html
https://www.amazon.com/Hackers-Computer-Revolution-Steven-Le...
Back when I was younger, people who references to themselves as hacker (or were referenced as such by others) were usually not trustworthy.