Hollywood loves a good hack—preferably one that takes ten seconds, involves furious typing, and ends with a triumphant “I’m in.” But how close are these iconic scenes to real-world hacking, and what can we actually learn from them?

From the green rain of code in The Matrix to Jeff Goldblum’s MacBook saving the world in Independence Day, Hollywood has never shied away from putting hacking on the big screen. But how accurate are these portrayals? Could they work in real life—or do they only work with a good soundtrack and some dramatic lighting?

In this light-hearted yet technically grounded talk, we’ll dissect some of the most famous hacking scenes, breaking them down from a security professional’s perspective. Are the tools real? Is the timeline remotely plausible? Could you really “just reroute the encryption” in five seconds? We’ll separate fact from fiction, highlight where filmmakers surprisingly got it right, and gently roast where they didn’t.

Beyond the entertainment value, we’ll explore how these portrayals shape public perception of cybersecurity—and whether there are any lessons, cautionary tales, or even inspiration we can draw from the screen.