Most people hear the word "hacker" and think about computers, malware, or people breaking into networks. Jayson Street thinks that's one of the biggest misconceptions in cybersecurity.
During a recent CYBR.HAK.CAST interview, Street argued that hacking is not a technical skill. It's a way of thinking.
"Every person on this planet, living or dead, has been a hacker," Street said. "You ever been around a three-year-old? What exemplifies them? Hacking."
For Street, the defining characteristic of a hacker is curiosity. Three-year-olds constantly ask questions. Why is something built that way? Why can't it work differently? What happens if I try this instead?
That's hacking.
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Bill Brenner
The problem, Street argues, is that many people lose that mindset over time. School systems, workplaces, and social expectations often discourage experimentation and curiosity in favor of conformity. The people who retain that questioning nature become the hackers, builders, researchers, engineers, and innovators who push industries forward.
Importantly, Street rejects the idea that hacking belongs exclusively to cybersecurity.
He points to lowrider car culture as one of his favorite examples. Builders modified suspensions, redesigned frames, and transformed vehicles into something entirely different than their original purpose.
"How was that not hacking?" Street asked.
That broader definition also explains why community matters so much.
When discussing CYBR.HAK.CON, Street said the technical content was only part of what made the event successful. Conferences can always deliver presentations and research. What separates great events from ordinary ones is the community they create.
"To go to a con where you feel like a connection to the community, where you meet new people but also see old friends, that's what makes the conference."
Street was especially passionate about recognizing volunteers and organizers.
"Speakers are a dime a dozen," he said. "The volunteers, the organizers... those are the people that are giving back to the community."
That perspective reflects a larger truth about hacker culture. The strongest communities are built less around technology and more around people helping one another learn, experiment, and grow.
For Street, hacking is ultimately about maintaining the curiosity most people had as children. Technology simply happens to be one of the newest places where that mindset can thrive.
More on hacking culture:
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Bill Brenner
