Hackers don't really exist

The modern image of the adolescent computer nerd who uses his digital savvy to mount malicious attacks on companies and governments is generally derived from movies like War Games. The screenwriters, in other words, invented it. This isn't terribly harmful, until you consider that the myth surrounding them allows lawmakers to justify legislation that compromises the rights of internet users (a.k.a. everyone):

The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the cornerstone of domestic computer-crime legislation, is overly broad and poorly defined. Since its passage in 1986, it has created a pile of confused caselaw and overzealous prosecutions. The Departments of Defense and Homeland Security manipulate fears of techno-disasters to garner funding and support for laws and initiatives, such as the recently proposed Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, that could have horrific implications for user rights. In order to protect our rights to free speech and privacy on the internet, we need to seriously reconsider those laws and the shadowy figure used to rationalize them.