Hacking by our military or authorities, I'm fine with. I'm doing nothing that would interest them and they are trying to make me safer.
Hacking by private citizens should be illegal in all cases. It's an invasion of privacy and in many cases - theft.
If a skilled hacker wants to help bring down the next Hitler, join the military or law enforcement...or work with them and sell your ability as a contract hacker. If you are skilled at it I am sure it can be a very rewarding job with benefits. Unfortunately, it's mostly done by people making their own rules about who they think is bad and isn't bad. I just read the other day that hackers are now able to access smart tvs and watch you...they already can do it to computers and phones. Someone posted in the WTF thread a bunch of links that showed LIVE video of people in their homes. The first one I clicked on was a grandmother watching TV...i'm assuming their kids put a nanny cam or something in her home so they could monitor her. Some neckbeard hacked into it and now it's being broadcast around the internet. There were dozens of links posted...i was terrified to click another and wish i hadn't clicked the first. If there were dozens of these links being posted in and RCF thread, that means there are 1000's and 1000's and 1000's of people being watched in their homes that don't know it....their KIDS are being watched.
Also, think about how much negative impact hackers are causing our economy with viruses, theft of databases, theft of banking accounts, theft of intellectual property, etc.
Hacking by the public should always be a jailable offense. Period.
These are words from Anonymous -
"We are anonymous
We do not have members or leaders
We are a group of people doing what we want
The President fears us "
I fear them too...