This is cut-and-dried. Regardless of intent, gaining unauthorized entry is illegal, period. Why you do it is not the issue. The issue is that you do it. And once in, no matter what use you make of the entry, you must still have broken the law to be there.

Companies that are concerned with security conduct ethical hacks regularly. Let those that desire to break in do it in this legal fashion if they are sincere in their desire to help and remain within the confines of the law.

It is a requirement of society that we each give up some measure of personal choice for the good of all. It is unacceptable and always disastrous for people to re-interpret laws to suit themselves. The correct choice is to willingly restrain from illegal activities law while working within the law to change those things we believe need alteration.

I submit that, if hackers are really interested in helping out, they follow this time-honored principle.

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