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Hacking is any action that enables a person to gain unauthorized access to a system. This can be accomplished through any method that allows a digital path into a device, account, or network that the system’s designers did not intend for it to have. This could include changing computer code to create a hacking opportunity or using a social engineering technique such as impersonating someone who works for the organization to get access to information.

The term “hacking” actually has a long and varied history that predates the invention of computers. The term first emerged in the 1950s at MIT as a label for students who enjoyed pushing technology to its limits and finding clever solutions with things like train systems and electrical circuits. Over time, the hacker culture gained negative media coverage and grew to be equated with nefarious cyber activities. Movies such as the 1995 Hackers further reinforced this negative connotation.

Ethical Hackers are cybersecurity professionals trained to identify and secure vulnerabilities before malicious hackers exploit them. They work under strict authorization, document their findings, and provide a risk and vulnerability scorecard with suggestions for improvement. They are also often required to have a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, computer science, or information technology.

Black Hat hackers are criminals who seek to profit from the compromise of a business’s confidential data. This can include identity theft and financial fraud. They may also seek to enact political or social change by defacing websites, or they might leak relevant confidential information from hacked devices of their target’s competitors. Some are even state-sponsored.