Watch The Hacker Wars

The Hacker Wars is a 2014 documentary film directed by Vivien Lesnik Weisman that delves deep into the world of computer hacking and the inner workings of the online collective known as Anonymous. The film features interviews with some of the most well-known figures in the hacker community, including Andrew 'weev' Auernheimer, Andrew Blake, and Barrett Brown. These individuals are all known for their activism in the digital world, pushing for greater freedom of information and exposing corruption and injustice.

The story of The Hacker Wars centers on the ongoing battle between government agencies and hacktivist groups. The film portrays the government as the primary antagonist, attempting to silence and criminalize the work of hackers who have challenged the status quo. We see examples of this in the case of Jeremy Hammond, who is serving a 10-year prison sentence for his involvement in hacking the private intelligence firm Stratfor, and Barrett Brown, who faced multiple charges after reporting on documents leaked from the private intelligence firm HBGary.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is its exploration of the motivations behind hacking. The documentary delves into the idea of "hacktivism," where hacking is viewed not as a means of profit or destruction, but as a form of social and political activism. Many of the people featured in the film see hacking as a way to challenge unjust systems and to expose wrongdoing in the worlds of government and big business.

The Hacker Wars also explores the various tactics used by hacktivists, including distributed denial-of-service attacks, information leaks, and website defacement. The film shows how these tactics can be used to disrupt the operations of powerful institutions and to draw attention to pressing issues such as government surveillance and corporate greed.

The documentary is also notable for its focus on the human side of hacking. Rather than simply portraying hackers as mysterious and shadowy figures, the film shows them as real people with real emotions and motivations. We see how hackers form close-knit communities online and how their work can have a profound impact on their personal lives.

Overall, The Hacker Wars is a thought-provoking and engaging documentary that sheds light on a world that is often misunderstood and demonized in popular culture. It offers a nuanced and humanizing perspective on hacking and hacktivism, and highlights the important role that these movements can play in challenging injustice and promoting freedom of information.

The Hacker Wars is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4.