What Is Hacking?
Hacking is the act of breaking apart technology to create or make changes that its creators didn’t intend. The most familiar use of the word today refers to gaining unauthorized access to computer systems, which is often done maliciously. But there are also ways to do this for a job and get certified in the process—these people are called ethical hackers.
The term “hacking” has a surprisingly long history that goes back to the 1950s, when it was used at MIT to describe students who enjoyed tinkering with electrical systems and train sets. It eventually became a more technical term to describe working with computer code, finding shortcuts and improving efficiency. With the advent of the internet, hackers found new avenues to explore. The 1980s saw the rise of a subculture around the activity, with groups such as the Chaos Computer Club emerging. These groups were among the first to exploit hacking to break into computers for malicious purposes, such as stealing data or disrupting services.
Many different motives drive hackers to breach computer systems. Some may do it for the excitement or challenge of successfully breaching a target, while others seek to gain insider knowledge or an unfair advantage in business. Still others hack to wreak havoc, such as criminals behind the 1994 Citibank cyber heist or the 1999 Melissa virus, which spread so rapidly it crippled businesses and caused millions of dollars in losses. Finally, there are state-sponsored hackers—often referred to as black hats—who work with the government to spy on adversaries and undermine critical infrastructure.