ABSTRACT
In the past when the term hacker was first mentioned it was not uncommon for people to conjure up an image of a small, fragile, nerdylooking teenager sitting in front of his computer, playing video games. Today it can be said that not only would such an appraisal of hackers be inappropriate, it would be troubling and incorrect for people to believe that only teenagers and children are engaging in hacking-related behaviors. The truth is that there are many adults who engage in hacking on a day-to-day basis, and many times these older perpetrators commit very malicious acts involving computers and networks. So why did people historically conjure up the image of the teenager? There are several possible reasons that would explain such an initial response. First, when computers were originally released, it may have seemed to some that the devices were reserved for teenagers or those who were among the intellectually elite, a scenario that would explain the nerd-like image of the hacker. Additionally, many teenagers did devote countless hours to learning how to operate computers when they were first released. Several of these individuals foresaw the potential role that computers could play in the future of society. With this in mind, many teenagers were intent upon learning more about computers as a means of ensuring that they would have a secure job when computers eventually began to catch on with businesses and corporations. For others, playing with the technology provided an opportunity for young people to challenge themselves while having fun.
