Ethics separate a true hacker from a criminal. Simply put, they are a set of rules that one must adhere to. In my opinion, if you don't have them, you're not a hacker, regardless of intelligence or personal ability. This isn't anything profound- the entire gist of any ethical code is to be respectful. Here is my code of ethics: Never intentionally delete or damage a file on a computer you hack. Treat systems you hack as you would treat your own computer. Notify system administrators about any security breaches you encounter. Do not hack to steal money. Do not distribute or collect pirated software. Never take stupid risks - know your own abilities. Always be willing to freely share and teach what you know. Concise yet so very meaningful. Part of my goal in creating this site is to get the image of an ethical hacker out into the public. Those kids you see on the news, arrested for grabbing credit card numbers from AOL members or stealing some service from an internet provider, are not hackers. Yet that's what the media calls them. The stereotypes must be removed. Hacking undeniably requires a level of maturity, and this also plays into the ethical code. Getting into petty "wars" as many so-called "hacking groups" do is not the way of a true hacker. This isn't a revenge game, it's a quest for knowledge and deeper understanding.