What is hacking how does it harm a system

Computer hacking can be defined as an unauthorized means of gaining entry into a system or device, which isn't inheritantly malicious but has nonetheless become synonymous with illicit activities. Hacking, as a word in itself, means roughly cutting or chopping something. Of course, this has nothing to do with gaining illegal access to computer systems and devices. In fact, the word as a verb predates all modern computers and digital systems. The first incident of illegally manipulating a technical system was in A group of teenage boys, hired by the communications company, Bell Telephone, would abruptly disconnect and misdirect calls to mess around.

However, this incident is rarely mentioned as the first hacking incident. Members of the Tech Model Railroad Club used the word "hack" to mean cutting into a circuit and controlling the lanes and switches. Then later, in , a group of tech and model train enthusiasts at M. The first hack, as we recognize the word today, happened in Definition: Hacking is an attempt to exploit a computer system or a private network inside a computer. Simply put, it is the unauthorised access to or control over computer network security systems for some illicit purpose.

Description: To better describe hacking, one needs to first understand hackers. One can easily assume them to be intelligent and highly skilled in computers.

In fact, breaking a security system requires more intelligence and expertise than actually creating one. There are no hard and fast rules whereby we can categorize hackers into neat compartments. However, in general computer parlance, we call them white hats, black hats and grey hats. White hat professionals hack to check their own security systems to make it more hack-proof.

In most cases, they are part of the same organisation. Black hat hackers hack to take control over the system for personal gains. They can destroy, steal or even prevent authorized users from accessing the system. They do this by finding loopholes and weaknesses in the system. Some computer experts call them crackers instead of hackers.

Grey hat hackers comprise curious people who have just about enough computer language skills to enable them to hack a system to locate potential loopholes in the network security system. Grey hats differ from black hats in the sense that the former notify the admin of the network system about the weaknesses discovered in the system, whereas the latter is only looking for personal gains.

All kinds of hacking are considered illegal barring the work done by white hat hackers. Related Definitions. Browse Companies:.

Mail this Definition. My Saved Definitions Sign in Sign up. To avoid this happening to you, make sure you keep your software up to date, and pay special attention to the various security fixes that software creators roll out. You can also use firewall software, which limits hackers' abilities to access your computer across the internet and antivirus software, which detects and restricts automated malicious software.

Hackers can also use actual usernames and passwords or other credentials to impersonate the actual users, so that they can access the computers. They can either guess passwords if users choose weak or obvious ones or attempt to steal them from users by fraud. Fraudulent messages tricking people into revealing their usernames and passwords are commonly known as phishing messages, and they can be sent by email, text message or other channels.

If you're unsure whether a person, website or app asking for your password is legitimate, play it safe and avoid revealing your login information. Contact the person or organization in question and verify the request is legitimate. If you do think you've given your username and password to a scammer, take action as soon as possible.

Change the password and notify the organization that issued the account, whether it's your employer's IT department or a third party.

Anyone who uses a computer connected to the Internet is susceptible to the threats that computer hackers and online predators pose. These online villains typically use phishing scams , spam email or instant messages and bogus websites to deliver dangerous malware to your computer and compromise your computer security. Computer hackers can also try to access your computer and private information directly if you are not protected by a firewall. They can monitor your conversations or peruse the back-end of your personal website.

Usually disguised with a bogus identity, predators can lure you into revealing sensitive personal and financial information, or much worse. While your computer is connected to the Internet, the malware a hacker has installed on your PC quietly transmits your personal and financial information without your knowledge or consent. Or, a computer predator may pounce on the private information you unwittingly revealed. In either case, they will be able to:.