Technology has made its way in every aspect of our lives, so it comes as no surprise that we see it depicted in Hollywood movies. However, the way it’s depicted is often far from reality.
Let’s take operating systems as an example. The operating systems movie characters usually have absurdly long progress bars, relentless beeping, helpful warning alerts, clicking every time a key is pressed and, of course, the ability to zoom forever.
With that being said, hacking has to be the most inaccurately portrayed tech topic. We know that movies require a certain level of suspension of disbelief, but when it comes to hacking, it gets a bit too much. Movie hacking is so out there that it has become a punchline among IT professionals and hobbyists.
Why is that? The easiest explanation would be that the writers, directors, and producers don’t think that an accurate portrayal of hacking would be entertaining enough.
For instance, the most popular hacking tool we see in movies is Nmap which is a scanner that can detect the devices connected to a network. Its popularity is most likely due to the fact that it generates the reams of text we’ve come to expect whenever a character is engaging in enigmatic tech wizardry.
However, these ludicrous depictions can cause non-technical people to have false expectations regarding what computers can do and how hacking works. In this article, we will explore the contrast between real-life and Hollywood hacking.
Hacking: An Elite Club for Loner Genius Nerds
Movie hackers are almost always loner genius nerds who manage to be both monotone and condescending at the same time. Only a select few who match their level of intelligence can understand their struggles and certainly not the simpletons that come to them for help. This image probably stems from a time when computers were far from commonplace.
Nowadays, anyone can learn how to hack through online resources. But if you’re going to look for them, it might be a good idea to use a VPN. You could also use that VPN to watch Popcorn Time. Perhaps you’ll come across some more realistic movies.
Hackers are not the only ones that learn these skills. Cybersecurity professionals like ethical hackers learn the same skills. It’s just that they use them for different purposes. Moreover, although some hackers might be geniuses, they’re typically not loners since networking allows them to stay ahead of the game.
Hardware & Software
When it comes to the type of hardware and software hackers need, movies can swing to either extreme. Some hackers will have their very own decked-out server farms and use virtual reality gear just to surf the web. Extra points if they keep all this equipment in their mom’s basement, where they also live.
At the other extreme, some movie hackers hardly need anything. They can do magic with a calculator and an internet connection.
In real life, the tools hackers need depend on the situation. For example, they can do phishing from a laptop, but they’d need a server farm to break into databases.
The Faster You Type, the Faster You Hack
In movies, you know hacking is getting intense when a character starts typing really fast, and you hear techno music in the background. In reality, even if a hacker can type fast, they wouldn’t. A single typo can cause a program to crash, so you’d only be increasing your chances of making errors and, in the process, making your life harder.
Software developers also don’t spend their working hours typing furiously like a piano prodigy. They usually take some time to think about how best to approach the problem, type a few lines of code, run a test, look for alternative solutions, and so on.
Movies also show hackers typing their way into anything: banks, major news networks, webcams, traffic lights – not a problem. The faster you type, the faster you hack—press five keys at once and instant magic. In reality, getting top-secret intel can take hours or days. Movie hackers seem to always know exactly what to look for and where to find it. In real life, hacking involves a lot more guesswork as you’re stumbling around in a digital maze.
Hacking Comes With Zany Graphics
In movies, instead of lines of code, hacking involves zany graphics like ticking time bombs, cartoon characters eating code, and laughing skulls.
In reality, it’s just data and lines of code. This trope is understandable because the producers want the audience to understand what’s going on without having one of the characters narrate it.
Hacking Is Super Exciting
Movies will have you believe that hacking is the most exciting and cyberpunk way to stick it to the man or make money. Or both. Hackers are shown as the outlaws of the digital age. Maybe they’re villains, rebels with a chip on their shoulder, or adrenaline junkies. After all, how are loner genius nerds supposed to get some excitement in their lives?
Well, reality disappoints again. Hacking is a lot like fishing. It requires skill, but once the bait is deployed, there’s a lot of waiting and bumming around. The guesswork we mentioned earlier also tends to be tedious, plus decrypting data takes quite a while, even with the most sophisticated programs. Most of the work involved in hacking is the exact opposite of fun. It really is work.
Convoluted Hacking Schemes
Compared to real-life hackers, movie hackers tend to over complicate things. The more intricate the scheme, the better. In reality, this would be counterproductive.
The tech drama series Mr. Robot, often praised for its accurate depictions of hacking, acknowledges that the most effective tactics are usually the simplest. When it comes to cybersecurity, humans tend to be the weakest link, which is why hacking relies heavily on social engineering.
This can mean email phishing, impersonating staff, and it can go as far as literally sifting through garbage to find valuable paperwork. Although this might not look as cool or exciting as shutting down a whole country for the sake of identity theft, it would raise awareness about how powerful these methods can be.
