[SpookyZalost]

When people say hacker, the majority think of it synonymous with terrorist, Criminal, a scary existence who's only goal is to perform digital breaking and entering and steal from you like some common hoodlum.
this is because over the last 30 years Hollywood, TV, radio, newspapers, the media... they've worked to build that image, one of malevolence and uncaring, who's only goal is to destroy and cause pain to others.
however this was not it's original meaning.

Originally to hack something was to break or chop up something, to "hack" away at it however in the early 1960's at the dawn of early computing a new meaning was brought to light.
A hacker in the original terms is someone who studies, explores, tinkers with, and occasionally alters something for it's own sake, for personal enjoyment and curiosity alone.
this in it's self is not actively malicious... in fact many people who uphold the original term frown on what is considered hacking in the modern day, primarily because they have their own word for it, Cracker, someone who cracks code, breaks into stuff.

In an effort to undo the damage Hollywood did the terms white had and black hat were created in an effort to take back their term, unfortunately the media continues to this day to refer to crackers as hackers and continue this negative and mostly false view of hacking.
Some of the earliest hackers were more like cowboys, explorers finding the edges of a new frontier that had opened up in the digital age, they didn't have a fence and most malware and viruses were light hearted pranks which didn't cause permanent damage or to explore and see how something can be destroyed in a controlled environment in an effort to find ways to prevent it/secure it.
We do a lot of the same sorts of research in biology, genetics, physics, and other fields, but when it comes to electronics it's demonized the same way religious groups demonize genetics research as being against god, full of fear mongering and hate.
that's why Biohacking and doing independent research in DIY lab spaces is becoming prominent in the 21st century, the cost to do things has become affordable (much like in the mid to late 80's with computers), and people who would not otherwise know about or have an interest in it are suddenly able to explore new concepts and ideas.

So to reiterate, A hacker is someone who explores, tinkers with, and occasionally modifies something, be it technology, biology, whatever.
For it's own sake, to solve a puzzle, to answer questions, think, action scientist, or benevolent mad scientist.
This is the meaning of the word from the people who originated it, and I stand by that meaning.
because there are far more hackers doing good, either by securing systems, coming up with new technology and ideas, or working behind the scenes.
than there are crackers doing things for greed and hate and personal gain.
Crackers are the terrorists of cyberspace, and much like Isis and related groups are to Muslims, are extremists who in their actions lose the meaning of what they claim to be.

those are my thoughts on the subject, there's tons of stuff out there on it but I highly recommend reading the jargon file.
http://catb.org/jargon/html/meaning-of-hack.html
Also the introductory chapter of Hacking the Xbox by andrew Huang.

because both focus more on the original meaning instead of what it's become.

feel free to discuss.

“What hackers do is figure out technology and experiment with it in ways many people never imagined. They also have a strong desire to share this information with others and to explain it to people whose only qualification may be the desire to learn.”
― Emmanuel Goldstein, Dear Hacker: Letters to the Editor of 2600