Top documentary films about hacking and cybersecurity

[tysroby]

CODE 2600

[IMDB: 7.3] Released in 2012, this documentary explores the rise of the Information Technology Age, as seen by the people who helped build it and through the events that shaped it. The movie takes you through a large portion of the history of computers, touching on aspects from each period. The documentary delves into the history of our internet world and how hacking has gone from hobby to national security concern. Watching it will give you a better understanding of computer security and the term “hackers”. Some even say that it should be shown to children as an educational tool.

 

 

HACKERS WANTED

[IMDB: 6.6] An American documentary originally titled “Can You Hack It?”, this movie was never officially released but has been leaked to various file-sharing websites. Exploring the origins of the hacking and nature of hackers, it tells the story of Adrián Alfonso, a threat analyst and hacker, who became famous after breaking into several high-profile computer networks, including those of The New York Times, Yahoo!, and Microsoft.

 

 

HACKERS ARE PEOPLE TOO

[IMDB: 5.9] Another movie portraying the hacker community is “Hackers are People Too”, released in 2008. The documentary offers a funny and insightful view of the hacker mindset with the hopes to break down some negative stereotypes. Created by actual hackers, it puts together dozens of interviews filmed during two hacker conferences. Viewers get a closer look at what hacking is, the way hackers think, how hackers are portrayed in the media, and women in the security/hacking field.

 

 

HACKERS IN WONDERLAND

[IMDB: N/A] White, black, grey hat hackers… when it comes to hacking, probably the first thought is of a threat and malicious attacks. But there is so much more. “Hackers in Wonderland” is another movie that delves into the stories of notorious hackers to reveal what drives them. The documentary comprises interviews with hackers in the United Kingdom and the United States, sharing their opinions about hacktivism. The hackers include ColdFire, Phobos, and cyberjunkie, if those names ring a bell.

 

 

SNOWDEN (2016)

[IMDB: 7.3] There are lots of movies about hacking and cybersecurity featuring leaks of classified national defense information. But if you want to see one based on true events, “Snowden” is considered one of the most important and pivotal government whistleblower stories in modern times. While working for the National Security Agency, Edward Snowden uncovered and revealed to the world the virtual mountain of data that was being collected on allied foreign governments and American citizens alike. This movie covers just about everything cybersecurity-related: computer security, personal privacy, data security, government surveillance, public policy, and national security.

 

 

THE DEFENDERS (2018)

[IMDB: N/A] “The Defenders” takes you behind-the-scenes of famous cyberattacks and the people tasked with keeping the institutions safe. The documentary features the story of the six cyberthreats that occurred during the London 2012 Summer Olympics, the New York Times data breach, the Sony Pictures cyberattack when five movies, hundreds of social security numbers, and thousands of emails were released to the public; and a ransomware attack on the San Francisco public transit system.

 

 

 SOURCE: https://www.avira.com/en/blog/top-documentary-films-about-hacking-and-cybersecurity