18 Brilliant (and Scary) Computer Hackers on TV Shows
Lizzy Buczak
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Hackers and computer programmers can serve as villains or heroes, it all depends on what they're getting accomplished.
We're impressed with their particular set of skills, yet sometimes, it's frightening to see how much damage they can do with just the click of a button.
However, you always need a skilled hacker on your team in case you have to take down a large corporation, dig up some blackmail on someone, or, you know, locate God's coordinates deep within New York City.
1. Elliot - Mr. Robot
A self-proclaimed cyber vigilante, Elliot gets deeply involved in illegal situations involving the dark web when he's recruited by a mysterious hacktivist group trying to eradicate the world's debt by eliminating E. Corp. I'd think twice about crossing wires with him.
2. Nolan Ross - Revenge
Nolan Ross is the brains and billions behind NolCorp. His technical skills play an integral role in helping bestie Emily take down the Graysons, a prominent Hampton's family responsible for framing her father, David Clarke. Switching identities, wiping people off the grid, hacking security systems -- it's all child's play for Nolan.
3. Huck (And Quinn) - Scandal
Not only is Huck a skilled B6-13 spy he's also a masterful hacker which comes in handy for Olivia Pope. He does whatever is asked of him to help his boss, the White House and the Republic. There's no task too big for him and no firewall he can't take down. Sometimes, it's downright scary. Quinn later becomes his apprentice and earns the title.
4. Winn - Supergirl
Winn goes from programmer at CatCo Worldwide Media to the D.E.O's secret weapon. His skills include breaking into any computer system, hacking alien devices, locating criminals who don't want to be found, and creating tools to weaken their powers. He's also responsible for creating Kara and James' indestructible super suits. And when he gets called into the future for a mission, equally as savvy Brainy stays behind to hold down the fort.
5. Skye - Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D
This whole hacking thing comes "naturally" to Skye, an inhuman, genius-level hacker who serves as a S.H.I.E.L.D operative. She can reverse an e-hack in her sleep and does most of her work from the back of a van with a laptop she won in a bet.
6. Mouse - Chicago PD
Mouse is an ex-soldier who served with Jay Halstead and scored the job of "technical expert" after Sheldon Jin's death. His responsibilities included installing trackers into phones, hiding wiretaps, tracking down suspects and informing Intelligence of their location.
7. Felicity Smoak - Arrow
It's no surprise the MIT grad who has a master's degree in Cyber Security and Computer Sciences and claims to have built computers starting at the tender age of 7 is on Team Arrow -- she's a technological genius! She was initially introduced as an IT girl who served as Oliver's hacker but we know she eventually became CEO.
8. Chloe - 24
There's a reason Chloe is Jack Baure's most trusted colleague, she goes above and beyond for him often doing unauthorized favors. She's proficient in many computer languages, can defeat encryptions, find data no one wants found, and can even access government-controlled networks. In other words, you would probably want her on your team too.
9. Abby Sciuto - NCIS
Abby Sciuto is a forensic genius not only in the traditional sense -- she's also into computer forensics and hacking. Her wacky, colorful character has masterful sleuthing skills which have been crucial in putting away all the bad guys for 15 seasons.
10. Chuck - Designated Survivor
Chuck is the only reason Maggie Q's character, Hannah, gets anything done on Designated Survivor. He's an FBI agent who put his skills of tracing phones, pinging locations, and digging up security footage to help her solve a large-scale government conspiracy.
11. Mac - Veronica Mars
Mac made being a woman in STEM the epitome of cool. Mac is the "James Bond" to Veronica Mars' character not only when it comes to cyber sleuthing but also witty banter. She uses her world-class hacking skills to solve difficult and twisted cases.
12. Gordon Clark - Halt and Catch Fire
The middle-aged coder tries to shake the failures of his disastrous COMDEX. He impressively reverse-engineers an IBM PC alongside partner Joe MacMillan in one weekend which puts their company on track to being a leader in the market. Only geniuses can accomplish such feats in such a short period of time.
13. Cameron Howe - Halt and Catch Fire
Cameron is here to shake things up. This is the 80s after all and female hackers were scarce. The 22-year-old hot shot programmer was a shock to the conservative & primarily male-dominated industry. Some people are just born with it and at a young age, she found the mathematical accuracy of coding to be an escape from her troubled childhood.
14. Caleb - Pretty Little Liars
Caleb is a car thief turned computer hacker. He used his particular set of skills to help Aria, Hannah, Spencer and Emily take down skilled (yet deranged hacker) A. It took them quite some time to figure out A's identity, so while Caleb might not be the best hacker on TV, for a high school student he's pretty darn impressive.
15. Tech Wizards - Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley follows introverted computer programmers Richard Hendrick, Bertram Gilfoyle, and Dinesh Chugtai as they try to strike gold in the Bay Area start-up scene. They all serve different purposes when it comes to the Pied Piper -- coder, online security expert, and Java programmer.
16. Rakesh - God Friended Me
Rakesh Sehgal is the light and technological brains of the show. His hacking skills are only slightly greater than his enthusiasm to locate God... or rather, the God account. He's joined Miles' crusade to track down the account, famously to Hell's Kitchen, and runs reverse coding to get even the slightest of clues.
17. Penelope Garcia - Criminal Minds
Penelope fights crime from behind the computer. Dubbed "the world sexiest hacker" by Prentiss, Penelope is the technical analyst of the Behavioral Analysis Unit on both shows, Criminal Minds, and the short-lived spinoff Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior.
18. Miles Lydon - Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D
Most shows say it, but S.H.I.E.L.D means it -- Miles Lydon is known as one of the best hackers in the world thanks to his highly skilled training. He's a member of the "hacktivist" group Rising Tide which believes all information should be free and readily available. He's also the hacker who taught Skye many of her skills. His greatest accomplishment? Recovering embarrassing photos of Vladimir Putin.
