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If you own a computer or mobile device, chances are you’ve heard of hacking. While it might seem like a lone tech-genius’ peculiar hobby, hacking is now a widespread and dangerous threat that affects people from all walks of life in 2024. Learn more about what hacking is, why it’s important and how to avoid being hacked.

Hacking is a set of activities that use technical knowledge, problem-solving skills and creative thinking to bypass security measures. This can be done to steal information, disrupt systems, commit fraud or cause a data breach. Cybercriminals exploit these vulnerabilities to gain access to private information, sensitive corporate information and even critical infrastructure systems. Hacking can have devastating impacts on individuals, businesses and even entire nations.

White hat hackers are ethical hackers who work to keep systems secure. They’re usually employed by the system owner and are often paid quite well for their work. Black hat hackers, on the other hand, are those who hack systems for personal or criminal gain. This type of hacking is generally illegal and can result in fines and jail time depending on how severe the crime.

The term “hacker” is a controversial one because of its negative connotations. It first appeared in MIT’s student newspaper, The Tech, in 1963 as a derogatory term for those who phreaked (manipulated the telephone network). But it quickly took on an alternative meaning when computer enthusiasts started using it to describe their activities. The negative connotations were fueled by movies that reinforced hacker culture’s nefarious activity, including Tron and WarGames.