Since the early days of computer connectivity there has been hacking attempts and no story is more exciting in the early days of breaches than the story of Cliff Stoll. A University of California Berkley scientist who's budget was slashed and he ended up in the computer center and was notified of a .75 cent charge that was unaccounted for that led to a wild science goose chase over a period of 6 months that ultimately led to the arrest and prosecution of 4 western Germans that were selling computer breached information to the KGB.
One sadly mysteriously died by being burnt in a forest and the reason was never confirmed if it was self inflicted or done as a way to send a message. None the less watch the classic film the real life Cliff created: