many have stated that this is the golden age of hacking; however, the true nature of hacking has only started to surface.  As our world continues to become hopelessly interconnected in ways we never suspected or dreams, network security continues to worsen.  The internet is increasing at a faster rate than security, meaning that like wise the number of exploitable problems in the network is increasing faster than secure networks.  I foresee that in the close future just about everything will be tied into a network.  If that level of interconnected technology is reached, then hacking likewise will start to have a bigger effect on not just one network, but all IT technology in a country.  It is already possible to shut of power grids in the US through hacking, in the future it may be possible to shut off everything worthwhile through hacking.
      When the US government has already seen this possibility and is in the process of employing hundreds of IT professionals.  China and Russia has started to wage cybernetic warfare against their enemies.  This is how hacking will be legalized eventually, working for one's home country as a government hacker will no doubt be a highly payed job in the future.  This legal hacking will no doubt be a thing to watch for.