What Is Hacking?
Hacking is the ability to gain access to information, computer systems and networks. Hackers can use this access for financial or personal gain, to spread malware causing damage to computers or networks, steal data or even hold companies hostage for a ransom.
Early hackers were interested in improving computer technology and developing programs that would go beyond the limitations of existing ones. For example, Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson developed the UNIX operating system in the 1970s and went on to create Linux, a free UNIX-like operating system. In the 1980s as personal computers became more widely available they began to be used by people who were not primarily concerned with computer improvement. This changed the nature of hacking as hackers were now primarily motivated by personal gain. This included pirating software, creating viruses and breaking into computers to steal information.
The majority of hackers are black hat hackers who exploit vulnerabilities in computer systems and software for malicious reasons. This can include stealing trade secrets from competitors, carrying out corporate espionage or accessing government files for political purposes such as interfering with elections or causing social unrest.
White hat hackers are also known as ethical hackers and they aim to help prevent cyber-related crimes by finding flaws in company security systems and helping them patch these. These individuals are hired by companies to find these weaknesses and then fix them before criminals can take advantage of them. Some hackers are self-taught prodigies and others work for a company as part of their technical support staff.