Hacking in cyber security refers to the act of identifying and exploiting weaknesses in a computer system or network, usually to gain unauthorized access to personal or organizational data. Hacking can be used for both malicious and non-malicious purposes. Malicious hacking is associated with cybercrime and data theft, while non-malicious hacking is associated with ethical hacking, which involves identifying weaknesses in computer systems and networks and devising countermeasures to protect against them.
Hackers use a variety of techniques to achieve their aims, including social engineering, password cracking, and exploiting security vulnerabilities. They are highly skilled in creating attack vectors that trick users into opening malicious attachments or links and freely giving up their sensitive personal data. As a result, modern-day hacking involves far more than just an angry kid in their bedroom. It is a multibillion-dollar industry with extremely sophisticated and successful techniques.
Ethical hacking is a legitimate profession, and ethical hackers often work as security consultants or employees of the companies theyre hacking. Ethical hackers follow a strict code of conduct: they always get permission before they hack, dont do any damage, and keep their findings confidential. One of the most common ethical hacking services is penetration testing, in which hackers launch mock cyberattacks against web applications, networks, or other assets to find their weaknesses.
