What Is Hacking?
Hacking is a way for hackers to break into computers and networks to access information or systems without authorization. This can be done for a variety of reasons. Some hackers have nefarious intentions and use their skills for criminal financial gain, such as stealing credit card information or breaking into bank systems to steal funds. Others hack for corporate espionage, seeking to obtain valuable data or intellectual property from competitors. Hackers may also be hired by nation states to spy on adversaries, disrupt their infrastructure or spread misinformation. Some amateur programmers hack for fun or to learn more about computing technology. Hacktivists have staged attacks to raise awareness of social or political issues, and the loose collective Anonymous is perhaps the best known.
Those who hack for good are called white hat hackers, and they can be extremely useful to enterprises. For example, they can perform penetration testing to find weaknesses attackers would exploit with malicious intent. They can also help remove malware once it is detected on the system. Hannan advises that enterprises work with a human resources specialist to ensure they have a strong vetting process for the individuals and companies with which they partner for ethical hacking services. He also recommends that organizations rotate the hacking resources they hire, as a stale team can erode the value of their partnership.
When hackers breach defenses, they do so by exploiting vulnerabilities in software and networks. These can be technical or social in nature, ranging from the simple (like a weak password) to the elaborate (like spoofing a heartbeat signal). For example, hackers who obsessively explored low-tech ways around the security of telecommunication systems and expensive long-distance telephone calls of their era were known as phreaks.