What Is Hacking?
Hacking is a skill that’s used to gain access to security systems and devices, such as surveillance cameras. Successfully hacking a system allows you to access information and disable or enable various security features.
The term ‘hacking’ was first used in the 1970s, originating from the subculture of phreaks, which were obsessed with breaking through the limitations of telecommunication networks. These hackers often found ways to use low-tech methods of accessing and modifying equipment.
It’s a skill that can be used for criminal activities, such as the theft of data, but it can also be useful for businesses to test their networks for vulnerabilities. Organisations hire ethical hackers to perform penetration tests on their systems, looking for weaknesses and identifying security flaws before they are exploited by cybercriminals.
Identifying vulnerabilities before they’re exploited provides organisations with the confidence they need to take steps to protect sensitive data and comply with the ever-changing requirements for cybersecurity. Ethical hacking also ensures that organisations adhere to existing legal and regulatory obligations when it comes to protecting their customers’ information.
Learning the skills involved in hacking is a worthwhile undertaking for anyone who has a desire to explore how computers and networks work. A knowledge of C and C++ will help you learn how to manipulate memory in the operating systems that run on them, while Python and Ruby are also helpful.
Be aware of the risks associated with hacking and try to avoid them where possible. For example, you shouldn’t try to break into a corporate network or government computer, even if the network is not very secure.