Hollywood hacking: facts vs fiction

We all love a good Hollywood hacking scene—the suspense, the drama, and the sheer brilliance of the protagonist as they tap furiously on their keyboard, cracking the code just in time. But how accurate are these depictions?

While hacking frequently makes headlines due to incidents affecting millions, depictions in movies and television have also had a major influence on shaping public views of this complex issue over time. Just as studios themselves have faced real-world cyber threats, they have contributed to establishing common tropes and representations of hacking that fuel imagination but may stray from reality.

The ways in which technical issues like hacking are portrayed through language, visuals, and storytelling have far-reaching consequences. They influence how people understand complex cybersecurity concepts that affect their daily lives. Media representations can spread fear or empowerment, shape public policy, and even inspire future hackers. So, it's crucial to examine how accurate these portrayals are and their potential impact on our understanding of cybersecurity.

Through this research, NordLayer aims to separate fact from Hollywood fiction in the world of on-screen hacking. By exploring a wide range of films, from Tron to The Emoji Movie, we will divide Hollywood hype from reality and discuss the implications for cybersecurity education and public perception.

Cybersecurity and the silver screen

Given digitalization’s integral role in our lives, it's no surprise that protecting or attacking computer systems has become a staple of Hollywood blockbusters. Movies have the potential to educate and engage audiences about cybersecurity.

However, when they don't get it right, films can spread misconceptions and shape inaccurate mental models of cyber threats and solutions. Films often represent hackers and hacking using specific tropes and themes, from their elite status and outcast nature to the power dynamics and ethical dilemmas they face. In some ways, movies simply play into the broader culture of cyber security as shown in marketing hype and other fictional representations.

Decoding the portrayal of a hacker

The elite test

One of the most iconic themes in hacker portrayals is their recruitment. Often, it involves a high-stakes test designed to push the candidate’s skills to the limit, sometimes under the threat of violence. This trope emphasizes the elite skills and exclusive status associated with hackers, creating a sense of intrigue and mystery. The “prove your worth” moment adds tension and showcases the hacker’s ability to perform under pressure.

The outsider

The cultural perception of hackers often casts them as outcasts or anti-heroes. Their visual representation often leans towards dark hoodies, symbolizing anonymity and a sense of rebellion. Behaviorally, they may exhibit anti-social tendencies or, at times, inaccurately portray traits like autism. Hackers’ “outsider” status adds to their allure and reinforces their unique societal position.

Interestingly, hacker movies have featured strong and capable female characters for over 30 years now. Gender representation in this realm is relatively well-balanced, showcasing powerful women who are just as skilled and fearless as their male counterparts. This aspect challenges stereotypes and reflects a more inclusive portrayal of hackers.

Power, ethics, and the hero-villain dichotomy

White hat vs. black hat

The representation of power and ethics plays a crucial role in shaping the audience’s perception of hackers. The “white hat” and “black hat” hackers embody the classic good vs. evil dichotomy. “White hat” hackers are positioned as heroes, often taking a stand against evil corporations or governments or even assuming the role of modern-day Robin Hoods, fighting for the underdog. On the other hand, “black hat” hackers are depicted as villains, exploiting their skills for malicious purposes.

The greater good

The integration of hackers into movie plots often aligns with the broader theme of overcoming obstacles or defending valued ideas. Whether a complex computer network or a social/political structure, the system becomes the hurdle to be surpassed or the cherished entity to be protected. This dynamic reflects the complex relationship between hackers, technology, and the societal systems they navigate.

However, understanding the difference between Hollywood hype and actual risks is crucial in a world where cybersecurity threats are ever-present. By educating ourselves and others about the realities of hacking and cybersecurity, we can foster a more informed and proactive approach to safeguarding our digital world. Let's delve into the fascinating world of on-screen hackers and decode their portrayal.

Common tropes in the Hollywood movies

We asked cybersecurity experts at NordLayer to identify the on-screen representations that seemed most unrealistic to them. From most to least accurate, the main tropes were:

• Hacking time warp: Hacking is shown as much faster than in reality
• Race against the clock: Hacks include unrealistic timers or progress bars
• Sudden super skills: Average characters suddenly exhibit advanced hacking skills
• Furious fingers: Hackers type rapidly to achieve their goals
• Magic tech: The use of devices or software that can “hack anything”
• The lucky guess: Hackers easily guess complex passwords
• Hype and hyperbole: Exaggerated descriptions like “military-grade encryption”
• Tech-talk gibberish: Inaccurate jargon to impress or confuse
• Flashy hacking visuals: Over-the-top graphical interfaces
• Access granted/denied clichés: Simplistic feedback popups
  
  

Storytelling demands excitement, but accurately portraying hacks takes time. Skills representations are also important. Both time and skill are often oversimplified into linear tropes. Similarly, interfaces prioritize visual flair over practicality.

While concise devices advance plots, overreliance on them risks reducing rich technical domains to superficial signifiers. Tropes inherently simplify complex topics, but consistent inaccuracies undermine authentic understanding. Let's examine each trope in more detail to analyze the tensions between fiction and fact better.

Hacking time warp

Movies often depict hacking as something completed in an unrealistically short amount of time. This is due to the need for efficient storytelling. Filmmakers must manage time to fit the plot, build towards action sequences, or maintain balanced pacing to keep the audience engaged. In reality, hacking usually takes a lot of time and patience.

Directors use montages to convey the complexity and time-consuming nature of hacking without boring the audience. These montages can be seen in various contexts, like training sequences that show skill improvement (as in Rocky) or explaining intricate plans (as in Ocean’s 11).

However, this time compression often leaves viewers with a simplified and misleading understanding of how hacking actually works, skipping the extensive details and challenges involved.

Race against the clock

Hacking in movies is often portrayed with unrealistic counters, timers, or progress bars to heighten the drama. These visual cues are used to create tension by linking the hack to time-sensitive plot events, such as the physical aspects of a complex heist. While this can help illustrate the passage of time and keep the audience on edge, it introduces several inaccuracies.

For example, it may suggest that certain hacks can be achieved merely by letting an exploit run long enough, twisting genuine concepts like automated trial-and-error attacks into unrealistic confrontations. In reality, hacks require intricate interactions and cannot be easily portrayed by a simple countdown or progress bar.

Sudden super skills

Movies frequently show a supposedly mediocre programmer suddenly displaying advanced cybersecurity skills when needed. This is a trope used to depict hackers as possessing elite skills. However, it often goes too far or doesn’t align with the character’s established abilities.

Similar to action heroes who can perform any necessary feat to advance the plot, these characters often appear capable of executing complex hacks regardless of their prior expertise. In real life, hacking requires specialized knowledge in specific areas, such as hardware attacks, software vulnerabilities, or particular operating systems.

Representing any programmer as a jack-of-all-trades in cybersecurity is unrealistic and undermines the complexity of the field.

Furious fingers

Another common depiction is hackers typing incredibly fast throughout the entire hacking process. While typing quickly is indeed a useful skill for hackers, programmers, or anyone who frequently uses a computer, it is not the most critical aspect of hacking. This portrayal often contradicts the visual interfaces shown in movies.

A more realistic depiction would involve a terminal interface, where commands are entered and then executed, with time taken to observe the outcomes. Fast typing might look impressive, but in reality, it is the analytical and problem-solving skills, not just typing speed, that contribute to effective hacking.

Magic tech

Movies often lean on the idea of a magic device, like a USB stick or a piece of software that can “hack anything.” This is used to bypass the need for characters to demonstrate advanced cybersecurity skills and provides a convenient plot device.

While some malware does operate autonomously and plugging in unknown USB drives can indeed be dangerous, the portrayal of such devices as capable of universally hacking any system is highly unrealistic. Real hacking tools and malware typically require specific adaptations to the target system, and no single piece of hardware or software can magically breach any security measure without customization.

The lucky guess

In many films, hackers are shown effortlessly guessing complex passwords. While it’s true that many people use weak passwords, the notion that a hacker can simply guess a supposedly secure password is far-fetched. Movies sometimes depict this as a trial-and-error process, relying on fast typing or a magic algorithm, but this oversimplifies the reality.

Secure systems often have mechanisms to lock out or slow down attempts after several incorrect guesses. Even if there’s a limit on password attempts, the hacker in films always seems to guess correctly just within the allowed tries. A more realistic approach, seen in movies like Ocean’s 8, involves phishing attacks to extract passwords, though even these are often dramatized for effect.

Hype & hyperbole

To escalate the stakes and tension, movies frequently describe systems with exaggerated terms like “military-grade encryption”. This kind of marketing hype is misleading. While “military-grade” sounds impressive, it isn’t a precise security measure. In reality, the required security level depends on the specific context.

For instance, some military operations prioritize speed or efficiency over high security because the risk window is limited (such as during a drone flight). Movies use references to military systems because they evoke secrecy and advanced technology, but in practice, similar encryption methods are used across various sectors.

Effective security focuses on appropriateness, attacker profiles, and operational aspects rather than generic high-grade labels.

Tech-talk gibberish

Hackers in movies often spout strings of complex but inaccurate keywords. This technique aims to impress both the audience and other characters, standing in as a modern equivalent of the chorus in ancient Greek plays, which voiced the audience’s perspective.

However, this often results in jargon that is plausible-sounding but inaccurate, frustrating real cybersecurity professionals. Writers should consult experts to ensure the terminology used in hacking scenes is realistic. Proper use of jargon can enhance realism, but randomly selected terms can make the scene fall apart for those with actual knowledge of the field.

Flashy hacking visuals

Movies often use flashy but unrealistic graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to represent hacking. This is done to capture the audience's attention since a realistic terminal interface, where little might seem to be happening, would likely be less engaging. While visual tools can aid in portraying ideas, the elaborate and often over-the-top GUIs used in hacking scenes can be misleading.

The amount of effort required to design and implement such interfaces would usually be impractical for real hacking tasks. These representations often mislead viewers about how hacking technologies work, favoring visual appeal over accuracy.

Access denied/granted clichés

Another unrealistic aspect of movie hacking scenes is the portrayal of “Access denied” or “Access granted” popups. These visuals are clearly intended for the audience and do not reflect how actual technical systems provide feedback. Popups, especially those with iconic green text on a black screen, are a major cliché associated with hackers.

This imagery, used widely in movies and stock photos, perpetuates a simplistic and inaccurate view of hacking. Real systems typically offer more nuanced responses, and such popups oversimplify the complexities of hacking processes. Filmmakers face the challenge of balancing technical accuracy with engaging storytelling, often opting for dramatized visuals that may distort reality.

Tropes in famous movie scenes

Now that we know the most common tropes, let’s explore which ones are demonstrated in key hacker scenes from some famous movies: