What distinguishes a hacker / cracker from a phreak?

Hackers and crackers are generally associated with targeting computer systems and data networks, not specifically telephone networks.

Phreaks specifically target telephone networks, while those targeting data networks are typically referred to as hackers or crackers.

Phreaks are historically defined as individuals who illegally manipulate or explore public telephone networks, often to make free calls or disrupt services.

Both phreaks and crackers can cause harm; the distinction lies in their specific target domain (telephone vs. data networks), not necessarily the presence or absence of malicious intent.