Sony Entertainment Group has recently been hit by what seems to be its second cyber attack by a group of “hacktivists” who have identified themselves as Guardians of Peace.

FBI officials have announced that North Korea was behind this hack, citing their unhappiness at the impending release of “The Interview”, a movie starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, which mocks the North Korean government.

This piece of news comes at a time when numerous attacks on institutions and organizations across the world have recently transpired, forcing one to wonder whether more should be done to protect not only the physical well-being of a nation’s citizens, but their cyber security and safety as well.

In recent years, hacktivists have begun to gain more traction in influencing the events that has shaped the Information Age.

In our 21^st century world, where interconnectivity and information play an integral role in every individual’s lives, it is no wonder that hacktivists have sought to exploit this outlet in hopes of advancing their cause.

Looking at the general progression of hacktivism it seems to be far from dying down. In fact, in recent years, the number of hacking scandals has been on the rise.

What then, is the difference between a hacktivist and a terrorist?

To some, they are one and the same, sparking the coinage of a new term ‘cyber terrorism’ which poses a real threat in developed countries all over the world.

Timothy Wang, 22, an international relations major says, “Hacktivism is a form of terrorism and should be regarded as such. The United States government should crack down on these individuals with as much force as they do terrorists. Only then can we achieve safety not only in our country but also in our cyberspace.”

Dwi Choong, 21, a linguistics major, agrees.

“Hacktivism is something that not many people are aware of, but poses a threat to the cyber security and privacy to every one who is an active Internet user,” he says. “It is for this reason I think hacktivists should be monitored closely. We do not have to suppress them completely, but we do need to ensure proper regulating of their actions.”

However, others beg to differ.

Business major Mitchel Kwok, 22, says, “The main difference between a hacktivist and a terrorist is that a hacktivist acts on actions that will be beneficial to the public, exposing the truth and seeking out culprits. Terrorism serves to do the opposite. Terrorists are often on a path of destruction, whether or not individuals are innocent. Therein lies the difference.”