If by yesterday you mean decades ago, then yes, hackers could do what they wanted because software protection was minimal both in software and hardware; time an

If by yesterday you mean decades ago, then yes, hackers could do what they wanted because software protection was minimal both in software and hardware; time and skills were what they needed most. Today every piece of software and hardware that doesn't come explicitly as FOSS is a black box that would require all the above, in addition to more expensive gear for reverse engineering or brute force attacks on encryption, therefore being a very talented techie might not be enough anymore, hence the need to ask to those in power for a change.