<p>Definitions taken from different dictionaries, with non-IT related definitions removed for relevance.</p>
<h3>"Hacker" :n</h3>
<ol>
<li>A programmer who breaks into computer systems in order to steal or change or destroy information as a form of cyber-terrorism [syn: cyber-terrorist, cyberpunk]</li>
<li>A programmer for whom computing is its own reward; may enjoy the challenge of breaking into other computers but does no harm; "true hackers subscribe to a code of ethics and look down upon crackers"</li>
<li>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.</li>
<li>One who programs enthusiastically (even obsessively) or who enjoys programming rather than just theorizing about programming.</li>
<li>A person capable of appreciating hack value.</li>
<li>A person who is good at programming quickly.</li>
<li>An expert at a particular program, or one who frequently does work using it or on it; as in `a Unix hacker'. (Definitions 1 through 5 are correlated, and people who fit them congregate.)</li>
<li>An expert or enthusiast of any kind. One might be an astronomy hacker, for example.</li>
<li>One who enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming or circumventing limitations.</li>
<li>[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.</li>
</ol>