There are different forms of software "pirates," the most popular image being the nerdy high-school student copying the occasional disk or CD-ROM to swap among friends.

Although a hacker's ethic dictates that "information wants to be free," they know well the hard work involved in software developing and have a sense of respect for other people's work. Moreover, hackers have been known to cooperate with law enforcement in pinpointing and cracking down on illicit trafficking on the Net, like pedophile rings. These categories should never be confused.