There are different motivations behind hackers' actions. They can be stirred by anything from monetary gain to bragging rights to boredom ('because they can'). But frequently, the driving force behind breaking into systems, stealing information and disrupting services is to demonstrate civil disobedience.

We know about white hats and black hats, which are differentiated mostly by their motivations and ethical codes, but today we will dig deeper into another type of hacker—and no, we're not talking about grey hats (that's a topic for another time). We're talking about modern-day activists, not the ones who stand on the streets holding signs protesting the current political climate, but the ones who employ their technical knowledge, combined with a strong sense of justice, to convey their often politically motivated messages by performing hacks. We are, of course, talking about hacktivists.

The topic of "hacktivism" always sparks debate, not only on the legality and severity of their crimes but also on their ethical codes; whether they're freedom fighters or merely cyber criminals hiding behind the activist's veil. So before we form our individual opinions and decide whether hacktivists are our friends or enemies, it's important to understand the term, learn how it all began and familiarize ourselves with the individuals and groups operating in this manner.

So let's learn about all things 'hacktivist'.

So, what is hacktivism?

As technology has progressed over the years, so has the very real threat and sophistication of cyber attacks. And hackers have progressed right along with it. For better or worse, as we've stated in a previous blog post on "How web software gets hacked" — "the Internet has no future without hacking". Hackers serve a purpose in challenging the frameworks, foundations and security posture of all systems, software, applications and more.

Hacking has always been around, and coupled with the development of political awareness and a growing sense of social justice, it has drawn hackers to shifting their focus toward attacks that have an underlying, often ideological incentive.

Hacktivism is derived from the words "hack" and "activism". It's prescribed to individuals or groups who perform hacking of computers and networks with the goal of causing societal and/or political change and furthering their activism.

If we refer to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, hacktivism is defined as: "computer hacking (as by infiltration and disruption of a network or website) done to further the goals of political or social activism".

And what are those goals? Hacktivists have been known to protest against censorship, anti-piracy sites and companies, and in favor of freedom of information.

Debating hacktivism are two opposing sides who bring up the question of morality. Are hacktivists heroes, Internet vigilantes or merely cybercriminals who use their activism as a cover for criminal activities? It depends on who you ask.

The concept of Internet vigilantes—superhero-types who strike back against corrupt governments, corporations, terrorists and all those causing injustice—has always inspired praise from certain people. People taking justice in their own hands, and acting in place of the society. What were once activists, standing on the streets, chanting, holding signs and fighting for the good of people, are now the geeky types who have their fights in the digital realm.

But not everyone sees hacktivists as superheroes, fighting for the greater good.

Because of hacktivism's inherent anonymity, this subculture of hacking and its lack of accountability often raises questions about the ethics behind their actions. In addition, many corporations and organizations are, naturally, actively opposed to hacktivism and highlight their conviction that, no matter the cause, cyberattacks are illegal.

To better understand these conflicting views and the true origins of hacktivism, let's dive deeper into its history...