In this digital era, hacking is one of the most discussed words today, and we generally hear about it when a company faces data breaches or cyber threats. The concept of hacking, however, is much broader and more complex than you will see in the movies. Yes, hacking can involve criminal activities that breach the integrity of sensitive data, disrupt services or inconvenience users. However, it also implies a broad array of non-harmful (or even helpful) practices. This article is meant to clear the air surrounding hacking and offer an all-in-one guide for you to understand what white-hat hackers or cybersecurity professionals carry out as opposed to black hackers, also referred to as cyber terrorists.
What is Hacking?
Hacking definition refers to attempting some breach or cybercrime by taking advantage of a weak system. They were coined during the 1960s, in the early days of computer programmers and hackers trying to figure out new ways to work with or manipulate systems. In the early days, such hackers were typically driven by curiosity and industriousness to learn about how things worked or have fun while honing their skills. Today, however, the definition of hacking is much broader and crosses both lawful (i.e., security testing) and malicious territory, such as data theft, destruction or other cybercrimes. Lastly, for those who wish to engage in the ever-more complicated world of cybersecurity, knowing all shades of hacking is a must.
Types of Hacking
1. White-Hat Hacking
These ethical hackers help make systems more secure by exercising their skill set to legally examine and remediate weaknesses long before an unscrupulous hacker can do so illegally. Their mission is primarily to enhance cybersecurity and safeguard classified data, frequently by running penetration testing (simulating cyberattacks) to recognise vulnerabilities.
2. Black-Hat Hacking
This occurs when people enter a computer system illegally and violate privacy for damage or personal gain (e.g., they steal data, cause harm, and disrupt services). A typical example of how this can occur is when cunning cybercriminals conduct ransomware attacks, encrypting users’ data and making it inaccessible until a fee has been paid.
3. Grey-Hat Hacking
This is a controversial area, which means hackers may find vulnerabilities without permission, but they usually report the bugs to affected people instead of using them. For example, if a grey-hat hacker discovers an unreported vulnerability, they may inform the relevant company without permission; however, they do not have anything to gain from it.
Common Hacking Techniques
- Phishing: a fraudulent practice of sending emails that appear to be from reputable companies to steal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. For example, an email posing as a bank might prompt users to follow the link and fill in their username and password while redirecting them through that URL to a bogus website.
- Malware: Malicious software aims to cause damage or disruption, steal data or access systems without authorisation (e.g., viruses, worms, trojan and ransomware). For instance, malware is a trojan horse program that impersonates an actual application but grants hackers access to the computer.
- SQL Injection: is an attack in which a hacker bursts into your site database to fetch, modify, or delete data. For example, in a classic SQLi attack, an attacker may enter harmful SQL code into a website’s search field to access the backend database.
- DDoS Attacks: Flood a system with traffic from various sources to make it slow or unavailable (an example is when millions of phoney requests are sent on a website, crashing its servers).
The Evolution of Hacking
Hacking has come a long way since its origin. In the early days of hacking, hackers were often motivated by a desire to test new technology and innovative features. Nowadays, hacking captures various activities motivated by several reasons, such as money for political activism or vandalism.
Legislation and Hacking:
As hacking became more reliable, governments and organisations introduced laws to fight against malicious activities. There are laws worldwide, such as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) in the United States] for example, by which strict action can be taken against an illegal hacker to deter others from performing them.
The Role of Education and Awareness:
Knowing what hacking means is equally important for individuals and organisations. Education and awareness are crucial to the defence against hacking. Using Mastercard Intelligence, people can protect their privacy for a while and contribute to everyone’s security by identifying potential threats.
Conclusion
Hacking has many connotations, from ethical practices designed to increase safety to dangerous criminal activities that can lead to severe consequences. White-hat hackers are ethical and help you put systems in place to minimise the risk of unauthorised access; black-hat hackers participate in malicious activities that can harm any ordinary man or corporation, creating cyber threats. This grey hacking area—somewhere between unethical and illegal, yet often for reasons intended to bolster security like our white-hat friends above—throws an even bigger wrench into the works.
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