I have here a copy of the first edition of The Hacker's Dictionary, published in 1983 (same year as the newspaper article cited). Under the definition for "hac

I have here a copy of the first edition of The Hacker's Dictionary, published in 1983 (same year as the newspaper article cited). Under the definition for "hacker", it lists multiple possibilities, including #7: A malicious or inquisitive meddler who tries to discover information by poking around. For example, a "password hacker" is one who tries, possibly by deceptive or illegal means, to discover other people's computer passwords. A "network hacker" is one who tries to learn about the computer network (possibly because he wants to improve it or possibly because he wants to interfere -- one can tell the difference only by context and tone of voice). I don't see anything indicating that this was considered a wrong or invalid definition at the time, just not a primary one. The current incarnation of The Hacker's Dictionary, perhaps now better known as the Jargon File, seems fairly direct about the distinction between hacking and security breaching.