I am a hacker.

It sounds bad, I know. We're the people who make ransom attacks on public services, cripple the workings of airports and banks, and force companies to shut down and slash their profits. Well, yes, we do those things. But I wasn't always like that . . .

This is the story of a life lived in the shadows, of going deeper and deeper into the cybercriminal world. A life where I thought I could do anything, have anything . . . and choosing to risk it all.

Now it's time to tell you why.