Hacker

From Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia written in simple English for easy reading.

A hacker is someone who likes to do new things with computers.

One incorrect meaning of the word hacker is "someone who tries to get into another person's computer, or tries to make computer programs or software that can hurt other people's computers". The correct meaning for this is cracker, however, hacker is used often in news stories even though it is incorrect.

Some mislabled hackers have made trojan horse programs, computer viruses, or computer worms that can hurt other people's computers.

The older and true meaning of the word hacker is "someone who understands computers very well, and likes to do new and unusual or difficult things with them, not for their initial intended use". This meaning of the word hacker is usually a compliment, meaning to hack.