What is Hacking?
Hacking is the use of computer systems and networks to gain unauthorized access to a device or piece of data. It requires a combination of technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, creativity, and persistence to bypass cybersecurity measures and breach computer systems. Hackers use a variety of tools and techniques to exploit vulnerabilities in hardware, software, network, and personnel for self-motivated reasons. They use their access to steal sensitive information, disrupt operations, spread viruses or malware, or carry out other malicious objectives. Hackers may also engage in criminal financial gain, such as stealing credit card numbers or defrauding banking systems. They are often motivated by a desire for excitement or revenge, or by ideological and political motivations.
Hackers are depicted in popular culture as hooded figures typing at computer screens. The term first appeared in the public eye in 1980 when an article in Psychology Today ran with the headline “The Hacker Papers” in an exploration of computer usage’s addictive nature, and two years later the movies Tron and WarGames introduced hacking to a larger audience. The term grew in popularity when computers became more widely available and affordable in the mid-1990s, as well as inexpensive Internet home access.
Hackers pursue a range of goals, including corporate espionage, stealing personal information or intellectual property, and interfering with elections or influencing politics. They may be motivated by greed or a desire to wreak havoc, including enacting blackmail through access to private data. Some hackers are hired by large corporations, government agencies, or nation states and operate in a legal context. A third group, known as grey hat hackers, are in between the other two groups and perform hacking for legitimate purposes or to inform companies of vulnerabilities.