bacically
hacker - life dedication to the intricaties of hardware and software. lone soldier but also team player whose knowledge is extensive. read: generally has ethics and morals.
cracker - similar to above but maybe less skills. read: zero ethics or morals.
script kiddie - reads blogs and forums about security vunrebilities and using low level programming techniques can replicate this on small or large scale - generally automated. read: ethics and morals have yet to develop, just someone cauding mischeif or malice without full knowledge of the repercusions.
when you talk about sites being "hacked" it is usually by the latter - script kiddies. when you look at large scale frauds it is by the seconday - crackers. when you are looking to hire someone to work miracles within your corporation it is the former - the hacker.
hope that clears it all up.
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