they do it because they can.
let's face it, we built the internet this way, designed computers this way, and that is the way it is. we have no option right now, however, like all problems this has a solution.
hackers can have their fun now, in their "golden age", but banks and news agencies and games companies will get pissed off enough to apply the pressure necessary for real change. untraceable attacks will become harder and more expensive and not worth it. routers won't be accessible without the password :rolleyes:, etc, etc.
yesterday I saw an amazing thing: LFS master server down. I did some fun hotlapping offline in my favourite sim