What Really is Hacking?

What Really is Hacking?

Hacking

Hacking is the practice of modifying the features of a system, in order to accomplish a goal outside of

the creator's original purpose.

The most fundamental meaning of hacking is gaining unauthorized access to data in a system or

computer.

Hacking is exploiting security controls either in a technical, physical or a human-based element. ~

Kevin Mitnick

The person who is consistently engaging in hacking activities, and has accepted hacking as a lifestyle

and philosophy of their choice, is called a hacker.

Computer hacking is the most popular form of hacking nowadays, especially in the field of computer

security.

The mass attention given to blackhat hackers from the media cause the whole hacking term is often

mistaken for any security related cybercrime.

However, the word "hacking" has two definitions. The first definition refers to the hobby/profession

of working with computers. The second definition refers to modifies computer hardware or software

in a way that changes the creator's original intent.

It is the art of exploiting computers to get access to otherwise unauthorized information. Now that the

world is using IT systems to gather, store and manipulate important information there is also a need to

make sure that data is secure. However, no system is without is problems. Holes are often present

within security systems which, if exploited, allow hackers to gain access to this otherwise restrictedinformation.               

• Purpose behind Hacking : When somebody tries to access other's computer systems with the aim
  of destroying or altering important information or data, such an activity is defined as hacking and
  the person is called a hacker. It is believed that hacking activities are not backed by solid logical
  reasons. On the contrary, hackers try to experiment with the computer brilliance by trying of
  affect other system with viruses. Hacking is done mostly for sheer pleasure by which a hacker
  wants to prove his skills. But if at all one searches for reasons behind it, it can be logically
  concluded Hacking is carried out with the objective of tracing vital information and affecting
  computer systems with viruses.
• 
  
  
• Hacker

  Hacker is a term used by some to mean "a clever programmer" and by others, especially those in

  popular media, to mean "someone who tries to break into computer systems.

  Cracking

  Cracking is the act of breaking into a computer system, often on a network. A cracker can be doing

  this for profit, maliciously, for some altruistic purpose or cause, or because the challenge is there.

  Some breaking-and-entering has been done ostensibly to point out weaknesses in a site's security

  system.

  Contrary to widespread myth, cracking does not usually involve some mysterious leap of hackerly

  brilliance, but rather persistence and the dogged repetition of a handful of fairly well-known tricks

  that exploit common weaknesses in the security of target systems. Accordingly, most crackers are

  only mediocre hackers. These two terms should not be confused with each others. Hackers generally

  deplore cracking.

  Cracker

  A cracker is someone who breaks into someone else's computer system, often on a network; bypasses

  passwords or licenses in computer programs; or in other ways intentionally breaches computer

  security.

•  Hacking as a Destructive Tool
  The common stance on hacking with the average person is that it is morally wrong. There have been
  several instances where hacking has proven to have caused problems. Hacking can create a variety of
  damages to people, groups and systems of broad spectrum. Negative Hacking Interactions:
  Identity Theft – Some hackers can gain access to sensitive information which could be used to fuelidentity theft. This identity theft can cause damages to credit ratings from consumer agencies, run-ins
  with the law because the person who stole the identity committed a crime, or other damages which
  may not be repairable at all.
•  E-mail Access – Hackers have the ability to gain access to personal e-mail accounts. These can have
  a variety of information and other private files which most people would regard as important. This
  information could also hold sensitive data which could be used against someone or simply cause ruin
  for those who are involved in the breach of privacy.
• 
  
  
  Website Security – Many websites have been victims of hackers. Usually the hackers would simply
  destroy data and leave the websites in an inoperable state which would leave website owners with
  the task of rebuilding their sites from scratch if they did not have a backup. This could also pose risks
  for companies who had their consumer's payment information hosted on their websites. Defacing the
  websites by leaving tags or "calling cards" stating the unknown group's signature was not uncommon
  in the early days of hacking websites.
   
•  Hacking as a Political Statement
  Some hackers are out to get the government and show the vulnerabilities that the government has in
  trusting their systems too much.
  This is extremely illegal in the United States and other countries. This has led to some vulnerability in
  security systems to being fixed and made the government computer systems even stronger. Of course it
  is difficult to do this kind of hacking without a trace being left behind.
  Most if not all hackers who get into the government systems around the world are captured by the
  government and punished for unauthorized access to their systems.
•  Hacking as a Learning Tool
  Hacking leads several people into the interest of creating newer, better software which can
  revolutionize the electronic world.
  Although it is important to remember that hacking is a varied skill and those who have been hacking
  the longest will have more success because they know how computers work and how they have
  evolved over time.
  Ethical hackers use their knowledge to improve the vulnerabilities in systems, their hardware and
  software. The ethical hackers come from a wide variety of different backgrounds.
  The best examples are from ex-malicious hackers who decide their purpose is to help prevent
  damages to companies by holes in their security. These companies pay their ethical hackers
  handsomely as they are providing a service which could be extremely useful in preventing damages
  and loss.
  They can be hired by single companies who need advanced protection while others could be hired by
  software designers who will reach millions of people around the world.

•                  Classification
            various Kind of hacking

Computer Hackers have been around for so many years. Since the Computer and Internet became

widely used in the World, We have started to hear more and more about hacking.

As the word ‘Hacking’ has two meaning, so the word ‘Hacker’ is a word that has two meanings:

Traditionally, a Hacker is someone who likes to play with Software or Electronic Systems. Hackers

enjoy Exploring and Learning how Computer systems operate. They love discovering new ways to

work electronically.

Recently, Hacker has taken on a new meaning that someone who finds weaknesses in a computer or

computer network, though the term can also refer to someone with an advanced understanding of

computers and computer networks.

Normally, Hackers are people who try to gain unauthorized access to your computer.

With controversy, the term hacker is reclaimed by computer programmers who argue that someone

breaking into computers is better called a cracker, not making a difference between computer

criminals (black hats) and computer security experts (white hats). Some white hat hackers claim that

they also deserve the title hacker, and that only black hats should be called crackers.

         

     

Classifications of Hacker

There are many more types of hackers in the world according to their motive and type of work. The

following list forwards one mote steps to better knowing hackers.

 White hat hacker

The term "White hat hacker" refers to an ethical hacker, or a computer security expert, who

specializes in penetration testing and in other testing methodologies to ensure the security of an

organization's information systems. Ethical hacking is a term coined by IBM meant to imply a broader

category than just penetration testing. White-hat hackers are also called penetration tester, sneakers,

red teams, or tiger teams. Generally, White hat hackers or ethical hackers are the good guy in the

world of hackers.

 

Black hat hacker

A black hat hacker is an individual with extensive computer knowledge whose purpose is to breach

or bypass internet security. Black hat hackers are also known as crackers or dark-side hackers. Thegeneral view is that, while hackers build things, crackers break things. They are computer security

hackers that break into computers and networks or also create computer viruses. The term “black hat”

comes from old westerns where the bad guys usually wore black hats.

Black hat hackers break into secure networks to destroy data or make the network unusable for those

who are authorized to use the network.

They choose their targets using a two-pronged process known as the "pre-hacking stage".

Step 1: Targeting

Step 2: Research and Information Gathering

Step 3: Finishing the Attack

 Grey hat hacker

A grey hat hacker is a combination of a black hat and a white hat hacker. It may relate to whether they

sometimes arguably act illegally, though in good will, or to show how they disclose vulnerabilities.

They usually do not hack for personal gain or have malicious intentions, but may be prepared to

technically commit crimes during the course of their technological exploits in order to achieve better

security.

Blue hat

A blue hat hacker is someone outside computer security consulting firms who is used to bug test a

system prior to its launch, looking for exploits so they can be closed. Microsoft also uses the term

BlueHat to represent a series of security briefing events.

Elite hacker

A social status among hackers, elite is used to describe the most skilled. Newly discovered activities

will circulate among these hackers.

 Script kiddie

A script kiddie (or skiddie) is a non-expert who breaks into computer systems by using pre-packaged

automated tools written by others, usually with little understanding of the underlying concept hence

the term script (i.e. a prearranged plan or set of activities) kiddie (i.e. kid, child an individual lacking

knowledge and experience, immature).

Neophyte “newbie”

A neophyte, "n00b", or "newbie" is someone who is new to hacking or phreaking and has almost no

knowledge or experience of the workings of technology, and hacking.

Hacktivist

A hacktivist is a hacker who utilizes technology to announce a social, ideological, religious, or

political message. In general, most hacktivism involves website defacement or denial-of-service

attacks.

Nation stateIt refers to Intelligence agencies and cyber warfare operatives of nation states.

Organized criminal gangs

Criminal activity carried on for profit.

Bots

Automated software tools, some freeware, available for the use of any type of hacker.