Learn the Basics of Hacking
Hacking is the practice of gaining access to systems that you do not own or have permission to use. When used for malicious purposes, it is illegal and can lead to financial losses and system damage. Ethical hackers, on the other hand, infiltrate systems to find vulnerabilities and report them to the proper authorities. Whether you are an independent developer who wants to learn a new skill or you want to improve your security awareness, learning hacking can be beneficial.
While many people think of hackers as a lone, angry kid in their room, the truth is much more complicated than that. Hacking is a highly technical skill that requires creative thinking and fearlessness to push past the boundaries of normal technology. Some of the most famous technologists, like Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, can be considered hackers at heart for their desire to explore the limits of technology and its capabilities.
A hacker will typically begin by finding a flaw in a software or system, such as a bug that can be exploited to cause an unexpected action. They will then study how that bug works and try to figure out how to get around it. A good hacker will be able to use their knowledge of programming languages to create their own tools or scripts to automate certain tasks.
Criminal hackers are a threat to our online lives because they can gain access to personal information, like credit card or bank account numbers, and commit crimes like theft and identity fraud. To prevent them, it is important to lock down your online presence by making your Facebook private and locking down your privacy settings on other sites and apps.