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When you hear the word “hacker,” what comes to mind? A shadowy figure in a hoodie, breaking into banks, stealing passwords, or shutting down power grids? Hollywood has painted a dramatic picture, but the reality is far more nuanced.

The short answer? In fact, many of them are the only thing standing between your data and disaster.

So next time you hear “hacker,” don’t just picture a villain. Picture the person who finds the unlocked door in your bank’s system and locks it before someone else walks through.