What Is Hacking and Why Is It So Dangerous?
Hacking is a multibillion-dollar industry that leverages stealthy techniques to breach security systems and access sensitive personal data. While many people associate hackers with lone rogue programmers in their bedrooms, the reality is that these individuals are highly skilled engineers and computer enthusiasts who love to push the limits of technology.
The term “hacker” first appeared in print in the mid-1960s as part of a tech culture that emerged in places like the MIT Tech Model Railroad Club to describe the process of rough cutting or hacking wood. By the early 1970s, hacker had acquired more negative connotations and became synonymous with a malicious meddler who poked around in computers for illicit purposes. The idea gained more traction in the media through articles and movies such as Tron and WarGames.
Today, the hacking threat is far more advanced. The bad guys of the hacker world, known as black hat hackers, use their technical skills to discover vulnerabilities in computer software and hardware systems for nefarious reasons such as stealing personal data, carrying out corporate espionage or even altering or destroying critical networks.
The infamous hacking process begins with reconnaissance where the hacker examines the target to identify potential weaknesses they can exploit. They can then use various tools to scan a network, find open ports, locate running services and other flaws they can exploit to gain unauthorized access. They may also attempt to cover their tracks by deleting log files or changing system configurations. While computers and mobile devices are often the target of hackers, Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as smart home appliances and medical gadgets can be vulnerable as well.