It is a political or social activism through computer networks taking advantage of vulnerabilities in the systems of governments or entities that threaten its causes. While their actions are not always criminal, in many cases they make public private or sensitive information for a State, and that can be considered illegal so there is an ethical discussion about whether it is right to report a serious crime committing another minor one. The neologism is an acronym for hacker activism.
HACKTIVISM action and effect of the activity as a HACKER, person who illegally intervenes computers, cell phones and other equipment, and the information contained therein, in order to obtain illegitimate benefits.