What Is Hacking?
Hacking is the art of tinkering with technology to make it do things that its creators didn’t intend. The modern definition of hacking includes gaining unauthorized access to computer systems, but there are legal ways to do this for a living, called ethical hacking.
Many people believe the term “hacker” has a negative connotation, but the truth is much more complicated. In the early days of computers and networks, hackers were enthusiasts and engineers who were exploring the possibilities of new technologies and pushing their limits. They hacked to gain a greater understanding of how the hardware and software they used worked, and they developed a reputation for breaking into hard-to-reach targets.
Throughout the 1970s, this hobbyist hacking culture evolved into two distinct subcultures. The programmer subculture of hackers (known as phreaks) built blue boxes and other devices to hack telephone networks; the more malicious programmer subculture of hackers (called black hat hackers) broke into computers to steal sensitive data or disrupt critical infrastructure. The resulting conflict spawned a variety of criminal enterprises, including organized crime, nation-states and cybercriminals.
To protect against hackers, organizations need to be proactive. This means implementing regular software updates that include security patches, and training employees to avoid opening suspicious links and attachments in emails or text messages. It’s also important to back up data regularly and ensure that the backup is secure. And, of course, the most effective countermeasure against hackers is a skilled cybersecurity professional.