1. Stephen Teng has a degree in computer science. But he doesn’t have a highly paid job in a top company. Instead, he is a hacker. He spends his time breaking into the computers of big companies. When hackers break into computers they can steal information or change the information on websites. But Stephen doesn’t use his skills to steal. He is part of a growing online community of activists who hack for political purposes.
2. In june 2000 the Nike website was hacked. People who visited Nike’s website were sent to a protest website instead. The hackers targeted Nike because the company is very powerful. ‘Big companies and governments control what we read about them in the media,’ says Stephen, ‘but we can use the Internet to tell the truth. Stephen often attacks the websites of governments that don’t look after the environment. He says, ‘This kind of hacking is a good way to attract attention to an environmental problem. It also makes governments understand that some people are not happy with their policies.’
3. Governments are trying hard to stop hacking. Hacking is a crime, and many hackers have been sent to prison. But Stephen doesn’t think he will stop hacking. ‘I know hacking is against the law, but often the laws are unfair. Is it right that famous companies can cut down beautiful forests of trees in South America or use child labor in factories in Asia? As long as these things continue, I will be a hacker.