Learning About Hacking and Protecting Against Attacks
Hacking is a dangerous activity where hackers gain unauthorized access to systems or information and use it for illicit purposes like making unauthorized purchases, steal personal information, or sell confidential data to third parties. Cybercriminals use hacking techniques to spread malicious software or malware that infects users’ systems and can cause damage to the victims’ hardware, software, or data. This is why learning about hacking and understanding how to protect against attacks is important for any professional to have.
While hacking is typically seen as an illegal and ill-intended act, it can be used for ethical reasons as well. Ethical hackers use their skills to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities in computer systems or networks before a cyberattack occurs. They can also help clients improve their security posture by evaluating their current state and providing suggestions for improvement.
Many popular culture depictions of hackers portray lone rogue programmers who are highly skilled in coding and modifying computer software or hardware systems. But a hack can be much more than this, ranging from sending mass phishing emails to steal passwords to an advanced persistent threat (APT) that quietly lurks in a victim’s network for months before attacking.
While some famous technologists, such as Donald Knuth, Ken Thompson, Vinton Cerf, and Steve Jobs have been considered hackers, the term is mostly used to describe people who break into computers for nefarious purposes. Examples include corporate espionage in which hackers steal trade secrets from their competitors; and hacktivism, in which hackers promote political or social movements by defacing or destroying websites and distributing private information online.