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Hack This Site

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HackThisSite.org is a free, safe and legal training ground for hackers to test and expand their ethical hacking skills with challenges, CTFs, and more. Active since 2003, we are more than just another hacker wargames site. We are a living, breathing community devoted to learning and sharing ethical hacking knowledge, technical hobbies, programming expertise, with many active projects in development. Join our IRC, Discord, and our forums where users can discuss hacking, network security, and more. Tune in to the hacker underground and get involved with the project!

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All users are also required to read and adhere to our Terms and Conditions.

Get involved on our IRC server (irc.hackthissite.org SSL port 7000), Discord, and our web forums.

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Jun 2 2021:  Celebrating Pride

At HackThisSite, we have always tried to be a safe, welcoming place for people from every walk of life. This year we would like you to join us in celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month for the month of June. Pride is a reminder that while a lot of progress has been made over the past few decades, the fight is far from over and your help is needed.

You may wonder why people are flying those rainbow flags every year shouting that they are proud. Why do they feel the need to announce it, and why does there need to be a whole month for it? In the perfect world, this would not be necessary.

On June 28, 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan, New York, a riot happened. This riot would be the tipping point, starting the path for equality. This was the start of the Stonewall Riots, a violent stand against the police criminalizing LGBTQ+ identities. Pride is a celebration, yes; but it is also a protest against the struggles people face while living in a homophobic society. It’s a celebration of people's identities, in a world that discourages people from doing so. Pride is resistance.

Prior to the Stonewall Riots, being gay or queer was seen as a sickness. Something to be corrected. Sometimes it was even criminalized. This line of thinking unfortunately continued for quite some time, and even has remnants today. In the 1950s, not long before the Stonewall Riots, Robert Galbraith Heath was experimenting on deep brain stimulation in a hope to “cure” homosexuality. This process later become known as Conversion Therapy and has yet to be outlawed in many parts of the world.

At a time when more and more people are finding the courage to come out and be proud of who they truly are, it is disheartening to see that people all over the world are being pushed out against their will and ostracized, and sometimes killed, for being themselves.

This year, there have been over 250 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in state legislatures across the United States, and this trend is increasing across the world, too. Most of the laws target transgender people, specifically young people in sports. Doctors are finding it a real possibility that providing life-affirming care may be criminalized. These proposed laws are cruel, unnecessary, and blatant discrimination. Unfortunately, some have passed, and in some nations not being straight is a criminal offense, even punishable by death. At such a crucial point in the fight for equality, we cannot let up. In the U.S. alone, more than half the states allow the use of the "Gay Panic" defense. This is unacceptable. Just when the LGBTQ+ community was finally beginning to gain small steps forward in civil rights, those may soon be gone.

The time to fight back is now, more than ever. There are hundreds of LGBTQ+ rights organizations around the world that you can join and find out what you can do to make sure LGBTQ+ persons get the equal and equitable rights they justly deserve. In the U.S., GLAAD is one of many such organizations. The American Psychological Association provides a great guide for finding your Senators and Congresspersons and tips for how to communicate with them. Your help is needed, please act now.

Pride is not just for people to stand up and let their presence be known. Pride is a reminder of what people who are not LGBTQ+ can do to be an ally, to be supportive and provide a safe place. Pride is a reminder that the fight is not over.

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Dec 6 2020:  HackThisSite @ rC3

HackThisSite will be present at the Chaos Computer Congress again this year from December 27 - 30. However, with the ongoing human malware pandemic, CCC will be held entirely remotely and online only as rC3. Therefore, we will be present on both our IRC server (#rc3 channel) and Discord (#irc-rc3 channel), as well as the official rC3 communication platforms (when announced).

Make sure to follow the CCC blog and the official rC3 website for more details. The schedule of events will soon be posted, and as always, talks can be viewed online without a ticket.

See you soon in the virtual world!

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Sep 8 2020:  GO VOTE!

"Vote as if your life depends on it - because it does!"

Those are the famous words of the late and venerable Justin Dart Jr., co-founder of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and 'Godfather of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)'. He said this long ago to underscore the importance of electing politicians, at all levels, that will be an ally to those less fortunate. Especially those whose lives literally depend on the outcome of an election.

All of our lives hinge on the result of this election in November. The current administration and those that side with it seek to inflict as much pain, suffering, and even death on people they disagree with. That is not hyperbole, that is literally their political ideology. From destroying decades of work building civil rights for Black people and LGBTQ+, to empowering and encouraging Nazis and white nationalists, to countless impeachable acts of outright fascism -- and lately the criminal and malicious negligence with the COVID-19 pandemic -- it is indisputable that we absolutely cannot allow these monsters to stay in power any longer, at any level of government. To allow them to stay in power is to invite fascism, suffering, and death at unimaginable levels, both domestically and abroad.

There are previously unthinkable efforts taking place every day to undermine this election. This may very indeed well be the last chance we ever have to elect politicians that do not seek to harm a huge portion of the population for simply existing. If you do not vote this time, and for the right people, you might never have a real chance to again. Listed below are some resources to ensure your ballot gets counted.

Resources5 mistakes that can disqualify your November mail ballot and how to avoid themCheck your voter registration statusRegister to voteRequest an absentee/mail-in ballotRules and deadlines for absentee/mail-in votingCOVID-19 voting guidelinesYour voting rights & election protection hotlineVote as if your life depends on it - because this time, it really does.

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Jun 4 2020:  Black Lives Matter

The unjustifiable murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many more have inspired uprisings not just in the United States but across the globe. The world is grieving, and we grieve with them. But the world is also angry, and rightfully so. For far too long, innocent people, especially minorities and persons of color, have been slaughtered by police with utter impunity, and now police are committing outright acts of terrorism against people protesting this injustice, against the press reporting on their heinous actions, and against innocent bystanders and even children that are not participating in any protests. Furthermore, state and federal officials up to and including the White House are using this as an excuse to implement the most egregiously fascist authoritarianism in the US.

This must end now. We must demand justice and accountability and we cannot stop until all police officers, their unions, and police departments are held to the highest possible standards and are mercilessly and unconditionally punished to the highest degree allowed by law when they brutalize the citizens they are sworn to protect, and when they shield the countless violent officers among their ranks. We must put an absolute end to the ongoing fascism, the empowerment of white supremacists, and the encouragement of violence all coming from our government. Anything less is entirely unacceptable.

Black Lives Matter. It's not just a movement, it's an indisputable truth. However, because of the racism that has been a cornerstone of the US since its inception (and still is to this day), Black Lives Matter remains controversial. The only thing that will destroy that cornerstone once and for all is education, acceptance, humility, equity (not just equality), and actively tearing down all institutions that reinforce this toxic and deadly culture. Now is the time not only to educate yourself and others, but to actively fight back against racism and its supporting institutions until they are permanently eradicated. Here is how you can do that:

Information and ResourcesBlack Lives Matter - Official WebsiteWays you can help

The frustrations behind the George Floyd protests6 harmful consequences of the 'White Savior' complexHow microaggressions can affect wellbeing in the workplaceMaintaining professionalism in the age of black death is...a lotHow racism shortens lives by impacting genesHow racism harms children

Police Violence MapNational Police Accountability ProjectCampaign Zero - End police violence in AmericaProtesting SafelyProtesting resources mega-list (Spreadsheet version - more frequently updated)How to protest safely during COVID-19Protest Safety ZineHow to protect yourself from tear gasPhone apps to record and upload police misconduct (iOS and Android)Know your rights as a protesterLessons from Hong Kong protestersVideo: Hong Kong protest tactics: occupy, disrupt, disperse, repeatVideo: How Hong Kong protesters evade surveillance with technology

read more... | comments disabled

Dec 25 2019:  HackThisSite @ 36C3

Come meet HackThisSite community members and staff at our assembly table, located near Chaos.Jetzt and WikiPaka WG in Hall 2 -- and check out our blinkenlights while you're there! You can also chat with us on our IRC channel at irc.hackthissite.org #36c3, or click here to join IRC by web. We will be competing again this year in the C3 CTF, so stop by our assembly table or join us on IRC if you'd like to join our team (regardless of whether you're at C3 or not).

If you aren't able to make it this year, you can always watch the talks live online (schedule here). If you are attending, make sur...

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retired

Teach Yourself To Hack, How To Become A Hacker And Make Money Legally

There's a widely held belief that the presence of hackers in and around your systems is always a terrible thing. Widely held, but wrong. The presence of cybercriminals is bad, and while cybercrime does often involve hacking, that's far from the whole story. All hackers are not cybercriminals and hacking itself can save your business money. Lots of money. What's more, some of the most successful and legitimate hackers are self-taught.

So, how can you teach yourself to hack and become part of a $27 billion risk-reduction business?

Hacking is not a crime, but it can be a gratifying job

I'm a great fan of the Hacking is NOT a Crime movement, an awareness campaign on this subject. Conflating all hackers with crime is a confusion that your business doesn't need and could damage your organization's bottom line. Without hackers, the world would be a very much less secure place.

Hackers like those who participate in the crowdsourced bug bounty and vulnerability disclosure platform Bugcrowd, for example. The hackers track down the security holes in products and services, getting rewarded with financial bounties for doing so dependent upon the criticality of the vulnerability revealed.

According to the new Bugcrowd annual report, Inside The Mind Of A Hacker, these hackers are mostly self-taught and have saved organizations a staggering $27 billion between May 2020 and August 2021.

MORE FROMFORBES ADVISORBest Travel Insurance CompaniesByAmy DaniseEditorBest Covid-19 Travel Insurance PlansByAmy DaniseEditorSelf-taught hackers feature heavily in the Bugcrowd annual reportBugcrowd

That $27 billion is one of the headline takeaways of the Bugcrowd report, putting a financial figure on the cybercrime that has been prevented by hackers working on the platform across 16 months. I did, of course, ask Bugcrowd how the $27 billion risk-reduction total was arrived at.

"We calculated the number of valid priority one (P1) findings made on the platform multiplied by the average cost of a breach, according to IBM in 2021," a Bugcrowd spokesperson says. This comes after analyzing millions of proprietary data points collected about vulnerabilities from a total of 2,961 programs. The annual report also analyzes survey responses and security research on the Bugcrowd platform and provides an intimate look at what makes a hacker.MORE FROM FORBESCan Time Be Hacked? Here's How One Hacker Demonstrated It CanBy Davey Winder

Inside the mind of a hacker

This 34-page report is both accessible and informative, so I'd recommend it as an essential read to anyone contemplating a career as a hacker. Some of the key takeaways include that a majority of hackers on the Bugcrowd platform (54%) are Generation Z, 34% are Millennials, and just 2% are over the age of 45. In addition, most hackers on the platform live in India, 79% speak at least two languages, and 21% identify as being neurodivergent. Sadly, 96% are male, with only 3% female and those identifying as non-binary, gender fluid or pan-gender making up the remaining 1%. This has undoubtedly got to change, something that Bugcrowd recognizes. "The glaring gender gap is not simply an issue to address down the line," the report states," it poses a real, immediate threat to the diversity and multiplicity of perspectives that make crowdsourced cybersecurity such a powerful force today."

Teach yourself to hack

One of the most positive statistics that caught my eye was that 79% of the hackers taught themselves to hack. Although there are plenty of courses available for those looking to take a traditional route to become an information security professional and plenty of certifications to take for those who want them, hacking can be a much more self-contained learning experience.

There are many variables when it comes to teaching yourself to hack; however, I asked hackers out there doing it already, along with infosec professionals, for advice on recommended educational resources to get would-be hackers started on their career journey. Do bear in mind this is far from a complete list, but hopefully, it will give you some food for thought if you are contemplating becoming a bug bounty hacker.

Bugcrowd University offers a good starting point for web hacking, with a solid collection of learning links.

Try Hack Me gamifies learning to hack through the use of real-world scenarios.

Hack The Box Academy is browser-based, interactive and for every skill level.

PortSwigger's Web Security Academy is free and comes from the creators of the penetration testing tool Burp Suite.

Pentester Lab has exercises ranging from basic bug-finding to tracking down advanced vulnerabilities.

Also, please don't underestimate the power of both Google and YouTube when it comes to both finding answers to your questions and getting hands-on hacking help. Browsing through security conference talks that have been posted online, infosecurity Twitter and Google are your friends here, for proof of concept (PoC) exploits that are well explained can also help get your head around the practicalities once you've advanced enough on your learning journey.

One thing to bear in mind, please don't try to hack live targets outside of those within an accredited educational resource, though, or you could soon discover that you've already crossed that line between being a hacker and a criminal.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here. Davey WinderEditorial StandardsPrintReprints & Permissi

HACK | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

HACK | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

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English

Meaning of hack in English

hackverb uk

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/hæk/ us

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/hæk/

hack verb

(CUT)

Add to word list

Add to word list

[ I or T, + adv/prep ] to cut into pieces in a rough and violent way, often without aiming exactly: be hacked to death Three villagers were hacked to death in a savage attack.hack something off The butcher hacked off a large chunk of meat.be hacked about UK figurative The article had been hacked about (= carelessly changed) so much that it was scarcely recognizable.

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

to cut somethingcutOuch, I've cut my finger!chopHe was chopping vegetables to make a stew.sliceSlice the mushrooms and fry them in butter.snipShe snipped the corner off the soup packet.slitHe slit open the envelope with a knife.carveHe carved her name on a tree.

See more results »

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Cutting and stabbing

abrasion

bayonet

butcher

carve

carving

chisel

chop

hew

impale

impalement

impaler

incise

score something out/through

shave

shave something off/from something

shear

shearing

sheep shearing

slash

sliced

See more results »

hack verb

(KICK/HIT)

[ T usually + adv/prep ] UK in football, to foul (= act against the rules) by kicking another player in the leg in a violent way: be hacked down He was twice hacked down in the second half by the other team's sweeper.

[ T ] in rugby, to kick the ball when it is loose on the ground: hack the ball The scrum-half hacked the ball through for the winger to run on to.

[ I or T, often + adv/prep ] to hit at a golf ball in a rough and violent way, often without aiming exactly: Most of us who hack our way around the golf course hope one day to be skilled golfers. He was hacking desperately in the deep rough. They had to hack their next shots out of the rough.hack around They have invited me to hack around with them sometime on the course.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Football/soccer

18-yard box

2 3 5

4 3 2 1

4 4 2

4 5 1

foosball

football boot

football player

football pools

football pyramid

fullback

nutmeg

premiership

professional foul

promedios

rabona

the Football League

the Poznań

the Premier League

woodwork

See more results »

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Rugby

Golf

hack verb

(INFORMATION)

[ I or T ] to get into someone else's computer system without permission in order to find out information or do something illegal: hack a computer Computer hacking has become widespread over the last decade.hack into A programmer had managed to hack into some top-secret government data. He claimed they had spied on him and tried to hack his computer.

[ I or T ] to use someone else's phone system without permission, especially to listen to their spoken messages: Police told the actor that his phone had been hacked.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Operating computers

admin

administrator

aliasing

always-on

back someone up

drag

keystroke

left-click

live streamer

logout

loop

malicious

surf

tap

untagged

untechnical

untick

user interface

vectorization

zip file

See more results »

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Communications - general words

hack verb

(MANAGE)

[ T usually in negatives ] informal to manage to deal successfully with something: can't hack I tried working on the night shift for a while, but I just couldn't hack it.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Dealing with things or people

addressable

approach

attend to someone/something

be all over it idiom

beard the lion (in his/her den) idiom

bed

cut

grip

have it out with someone idiom

hold

hold on idiom

I/I've got this idiom

ill-prepared

square

tend to someone/something

to get a handle on something idiom

to have a handle on something idiom

tough

tough something out

weather

See more results »

hack verb

(HORSE)

[ I usually + adv/prep ] (also go hacking) to ride a horse for pleasure

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Horse riding

barrel racing

blinder

bridle

bridle path

capriole

chukka

chukker

cinch

curry

girth

horseman

horsewoman

pony trekking

rein

saddle

saddler

showjumper

sidesaddle

tack

whip

See more results »

Phrasal verb

hack someone off

hacknoun [ C ] uk

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/hæk/ us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/hæk/

hack noun [C]

(WRITER)

disapproving a journalist (= writer for newspapers or magazines) whose work is low in quality or does not have much imagination: Fleet Street hacks

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

News reporting & the press

ambulance chaser

breaking news

bury the lede idiom

citizen journalism

columnist

correspondent

dispatch

hit the headlines idiom

hot off the press idiom

investigative journalism

investigative journalist

journalism

journo

pap

paparazzi

paparazzo

photojournalism

photojournalist

the Associated Press

the Press Association

See more results »

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

People who write for work or pleasure

hack noun [C]

(POLITICIAN)

disapproving a politician, especially one who is not important: party hack tired old party hacks

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Politics - general words

anti-capitalism

anti-capitalist

anti-communism

anti-communist

anti-fascism

interparty

interpellate

interpellation

interventionist

lab

on message

Orwellian

overstep

parliament

party politics

spill

statesman

statesmanlike

stateswoman

subsidiarity

See more results »

hack noun [C]

(HORSE)

a ride on a horse in the countryside

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Horse riding

barrel racing

blinder

bridle

bridle path

capriole

chukka

chukker

cinch

curry

girth

horseman

horsewoman

pony trekking

rein

saddle

saddler

showjumper

sidesaddle

tack

whip

See more results »

hack noun [C]

(DRIVER/CAR)

US informal (the driver of) a car that is available for rent, especially a taxi

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

On the road: drivers

biker

bikie

bus captain

cab driver

cabbie

carter

charioteer

chauffeur

co-driver

designated driver

dispatch rider

motorcyclist

motorist

race car driver

racing car driver

racing driver

Sunday driver

taxi driver

teamster

truckie

See more results »

hack noun [C]

(HELP)

a good solution or piece of advice: life hack Here are 50 life hacks that will change your life for the better.

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

adviceadviceLet me give you some advice.helpI didn't know who to turn to for help.a piece of adviceLet me give you a piece of advice.counselI will miss his wise counsel.guidanceYoung people don't always appreciate the guidance offered by their parents and teachers.counsellingUK Victims of abuse usually need expert counselling.

See more results »

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Solving and solutions

band-aid solution

be at the bottom of something idiom

bottom

break the deadlock

clear (something) up

clue

figure

fix

heuristically

heuristics

holding operation

insolvable

iron

iron something out

resolution

solvable

solve

spackle

surmountable

talk something out

See more results »

(Definition of hack from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

hack | American Dictionary

hackverb us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/hæk/

hack verb

(CUT)

Add to word list

Add to word list

[ I/T ] to cut something or someone with rough or uneven movements: [ T ] We hacked a path through the underbrush. [ I ] He hacked away at the logs, splitting enough wood for a fire.

hack verb

(COMPUTING)

[ I ] to access someone else’s computer system without permission in order to obtain or change information: Someone managed to hack into the company database.

Idiom

can't hack it

hacknoun [ C ] us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/hæk/

hack noun [C]

(PERSON)

a person who willingly works or acts mostly for money or other rewards without worrying about independence, beliefs, or reputation: a political/party hack

A hack is also a writer who produces a lot of work for money without caring very much about its quality.

(Definition of hack from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

hack | Business English

hackverb [ I or T ] uk

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/hæk/ us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

Add to word list

Add to word list

IT to use a computer to access information stored on another computer system without permission, or to spread a computer virus: hack into sth Two employees were charged with hacking into the company's computer system and changing data. Studies have revealed that it's fairly easy to hack an electronic voting system.

Phrasal verb

hack away at sth

hacknoun [ C ] uk

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/hæk/ us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

disapproving a writer, especially a journalist, who produces articles, books, etc. that are of low quality: a media/newspaper hack

disapproving someone who works mainly for money without worrying about beliefs or the opinions of others: a political/party hack

US informal a person who drives a taxi

IT an act of using a computer to access information stored on another computer system without permission, or to spread a computer virus : A hack into an employee's email provided access to a number of confidential documents.

(Definition of hack from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

What is the pronunciation of hack?

A1

Translations of hack

in Chinese (Traditional)

切, 砍，切，劈, （足球或橄欖球運動中）將（球）踢出…

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in Chinese (Simplified)

切, 砍，切，劈, （足球或橄榄球运动中）将（球）踢出…

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in Spanish

acuchillar, derribar, entrar sin autorización (en)…

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in Portuguese

retalhar, decepar, invadir…

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in more languages

in Japanese

in Turkish

in French

in Catalan

in Dutch

in Danish

in Swedish

in Malay

in German

in Norwegian

in Ukrainian

in Russian

in Arabic

in Czech

in Indonesian

in Thai

in Vietnamese

in Polish

in Korean

in Italian

（コンピュータシステムに）不正侵入する, ～をたたき切る…

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kesip parçalara ayırmak, başkasının bilgisayarındaki bilgilere izinsiz erişmek/ulaşmak, gazete ve kitap vb. yerlerde düşük kalitede yazılar yazmak…

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tailler, hacher, se tailler (un chemin)…

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entrar il·legalment (en), tallar a destralades, acoltellar…

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hakken, hak, inkeping…

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hakke, skære, hak…

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hacka, skära, hugga [upp]…

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lapah, menebas, tetakan…

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hacken, die Einkerbung, das Mietpferd…

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hakke (løs på), hogge ut, hakk…

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рубати, вирубати, зарубка…

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рубить, наносить резаную рану, взламывать (компьютерную сеть)…

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يَقْتَحِم (جِهاز الحاسوب لِسَرِقة المَعْلومات)…

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rozsekat, prosekat (si), zásek…

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memotong-motong, merambah, bacokan…

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สับ, เฉือน, เดินทางลัด…

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chặt, đốn, phát quang cây cối để lấy đường đi…

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rąbać, włamać się (do), pismak…

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해킹하다, 난도질하다…

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accedere illegalmente a, entrare illegalmente in, tagliare…

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habituation

habitué

haboob

háček

hack

hack away at sth

hack someone off

hackathon

hacked

More meanings of hack

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can't hack it idiom

hack someone off

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Hacking definition: What is hacking?

Hacking refers to activities that seek to compromise digital devices, such as computers, smartphones, tablets, and even entire networks. And while hacking might not always be for malicious purposes, nowadays most references to hacking, and hackers, characterize it/them as unlawful activity by cybercriminals—motivated by financial gain, protest, information gathering (spying), and even just for the “fun” of the challenge.

Who are hackers?

Many think that “hacker” refers to some self-taught whiz kid or rogue programmer skilled at modifying computer hardware or software so it can be used in ways outside the original developers’ intent. But this is a narrow view that doesn’t begin to encompass the wide range of reasons why someone turns to hacking. To learn about the various motivations different types of hackers might have, read Under the hoodie: why money, power, and ego drive hackers to cybercrime. Also, check out our Malwarebytes Labs’ podcast episode, interviewing hacker Sick Codes:

Hacking tools: How do hackers hack?

Hacking is typically technical in nature (like creating malvertising that deposits malware in a drive-by attack requiring no user interaction). But hackers can also use psychology to trick the user into clicking on a malicious attachment or providing personal data. These tactics are referred to as “social engineering.”

In fact, it’s accurate to characterize hacking as an over-arching umbrella term for activity behind most if not all of the malware and malicious cyberattacks on the computing public, businesses, and governments. Besides social engineering and malvertising, common hacking techniques include:

Botnets

Browser hijacks

Denial of service (DDoS) attacks

Ransomware

Rootkits

Trojans

Viruses

Worms

From script kiddies to organized cybercrime

As such, hacking has evolved from teenage mischief into a billion-dollar growth business, whose adherents have established a criminal infrastructure that develops and sells turnkey hacking tools to would-be crooks with less sophisticated technical skills (known as “script kiddies”). As an example, see: Emotet.

In another example, Windows users are reportedly the target of a wide-spread cybercriminal effort offering remote access to IT systems for just $10 via a dark web hacking store—potentially enabling attackers to steal information, disrupt systems, deploy ransomware, and more. Systems advertised for sale on the forum range from Windows XP through to Windows 10. The storeowners even offer tips for how those using the illicit logins can remain undetected.

“Hacking has evolved from teenage mischief into a billion-dollar growth business.”

Types of hacking/hackers

Broadly speaking, you can say that hackers attempt to break into computers and networks for any of four reasons.

There’s criminal financial gain, meaning the theft of credit card numbers or defrauding banking systems.

Next, gaining street cred and burnishing one’s reputation within hacker subculture motivates some hackers as they leave their mark on websites they vandalize as proof that they pulled off the hack.

Then there’s corporate espionage or cyber espionage, when one company’s hackers seek to steal information on a competitor’s products and services to gain a marketplace advantage.

Finally, entire nations engage in state-sponsored hacking to steal business and/or national intelligence, to destabilize their adversaries’ infrastructure, or even to sow discord and confusion in the target country. (There’s consensus that China and Russia have carried out such attacks, including one on Forbes.com. In addition, the recent attacks on the Democratic National Committee [DNC] made the news in a big way—especially after Microsoft says hackers accused of hacking into the Democratic National Committee have exploited previously undisclosed flaws in Microsoft’s Windows operating system and Adobe Systems’ Flash software. There are also instances of hacking courtesy of the United States government.)

There’s even another category of cybercriminals: the hacker who is politically or socially motivated for some cause. Such hacker-activists, or “hacktivists,” strive to focus public attention on an issue by garnering unflattering attention on the target—usually by making sensitive information public. For notable hacktivist groups, along with some of their more famous undertakings, see Anonymous, WikiLeaks, and LulzSec.

Hacking news

Hackers take over 1.1 million accounts by trying reused passwords

Podcast: Hackers, tractors, and a few delayed actors. How hacker Sick Codes learned too much about John Deere

The Olympics: a timeline of scams, hacks, and malware

North Korean hackers charged with $1.3 billion of cyberheists

Credit card skimmer piggybacks on Magento 1 hacking spree

Misleading cybersecurity lessons from pop culture: how Hollywood teaches to hack

Video game portrayals of hacking: NITE Team 4

Hacking with AWS: incorporating leaky buckets into your OSINT workflow

Ethical hacking? White, black, and grey hats

There’s also another way we parse hackers. Remember the classic old Western movies? Good guys = white hats. Bad guys = black hats. Today’s cybersecurity frontier retains that Wild West vibe, with white hat and black hat hackers, and even a third in-between category.

If a hacker is a person with deep understanding of computer systems and software, and who uses that knowledge to somehow subvert that technology, then a black hat hacker does so for stealing something valuable or other malicious reasons. So it’s reasonable to assign any of those four motivations (theft, reputation, corporate espionage, and nation-state hacking) to the black hats.

White hat hackers, on the other hand, strive to improve the security of an organization’s security systems by finding vulnerable flaws so that they can prevent identity theft or other cybercrimes before the black hats notice. Corporations even employ their own white hat hackers as part of their support staff, as a recent article from the New York Times online edition highlights. Or businesses can even outsource their white hat hacking to services such as HackerOne, which tests software products for vulnerabilities and bugs for a bounty.

Finally, there’s the gray hat crowd, hackers who use their skills to break into systems and networks without permission (just like the black hats). But instead of wreaking criminal havoc, they might report their discovery to the target owner and offer to repair the vulnerability for a small fee.

Hacking prevention

If your computer, tablet, or phone is at the bull’s-eye of the hacker’s target, then surround it with concentric rings of precautions.

Anti-malware protection

First and foremost, download a reliable anti-malware product (or app for the phone), which can both detect and neutralize malware and block connections to malicious phishing websites. Of course, whether you’re on Windows, Android, a Mac, an iPhone, or in a business network, we recommend the layered protection of  Malwarebytes for Windows,  Malwarebytes for Mac,  Malwarebytes for Android, Malwarebytes for Chromebook, Malwarebytes for iOS, and  Malwarebytes business products.

Be careful with apps

Second, only download phone apps from the legitimate marketplaces that police themselves for malware-carrying apps, such as Google Play and Amazon Appstore. (Note that Apple policy restricts iPhone users to download only from the App Store.) Even so, every time you download an app, check the ratings and reviews first. If it has a low rating and a low number of downloads, it is best to avoid that app.

Protect your info

Know that no bank or online payment system will ever ask you for your login credentials, social security number, or credit card numbers by means of email.

Update your software

Whether you’re on your phone or a computer, make sure your operating system remains updated. And update your other resident software as well.

Browse carefully

Avoid visiting unsafe websites, and never download unverified attachments or click on links in unfamiliar emails. You can also use Malwarebytes Browser Guard for safer browsing. 

Password safety

All the above is basic hygiene, and always a good idea. But the bad guys are forever looking for a new way into your system. If a hacker discovers one of your passwords that you use for multiple services, they have apps that can breach your other accounts. So make your passwords long and complicated, avoid using the same one for different accounts, and instead use a password manager. Because the value of even a single hacked email account can rain disaster down on you.

“Know that no bank or online payment system will ever ask you for your login credentials, social security number, or credit card numbers by means of email.”

Hacking on Android phones

While most associate hacking with Windows computers, the Android operating system also offers an inviting target for hackers.

A bit of history: Early hackers who obsessively explored low-tech methods for getting around the secure telecommunication networks (and expensive long-distance calls of their era) were originally called phreaks—a combination of the words phone and freaks. They were a defined subculture in the 1970s, and their activity was called phreaking.

Nowadays, phreakers have evolved out of the analog technology era and become hackers in the digital world of more than two billion mobile devices. Mobile phone hackers use a variety of methods to access an individual’s mobile phone and intercept voicemails, phone calls, text messages, and even the phone’s microphone and camera, all without that user’s permission or even knowledge.

“Cybercriminals could view your stored data on the phone, including identity and financial information.”

Why Android?

Compared to iPhones, Android phones are much more fractured, whose open-source nature and inconsistencies in standards in terms of software development put the Androids at a greater risk of data corruption and data theft. And any number of bad things result from Android hacking.

Cybercriminals could view your stored data on the phone, including identity and financial information. Likewise, hackers can track your location, force your phone to text premium websites, or even spread their hack (with an embedded malicious link) to others among your contacts, who will click on it because it appears to come from you.

Of course, legitimate law enforcement might hack phones with a warrant to store copies of texts and emails, transcribe private conversations, or follow the suspect’s movements. But black hat hackers could definitely do harm by accessing your bank account credentials, deleting data, or adding a host of malicious programs.

Phishing

Phone hackers have the advantage of many computer hacking techniques, which are easy to adapt to Androids. Phishing, the crime of targeting individuals or members of entire organizations to lure them into revealing sensitive information through social engineering, is a tried and true method for criminals. In fact, because a phone displays a much smaller address bar compared to a PC, phishing on a mobile Internet browser probably makes it easier to counterfeit a seemingly trusted website without revealing the subtle tells (such as intentional misspellings) that you can see on a desktop browser. So you get a note from your bank asking you to log on to resolve an urgent problem, click on the conveniently provided link, enter your credentials in the form, and the hackers have you.

Trojanized apps

Trojanized apps downloaded from unsecured marketplaces are another crossover hacker threat to Androids. Major Android app stores (Google and Amazon) keep careful watch on the third-party apps; but embedded malware can get through either occasionally from the trusted sites, or more often from the sketchier ones. This is the way your phone ends up hosting adware, spyware, ransomware, or any other number of malware nasties.

Bluehacking

“Bluehacking gains access to your phone when it shows up on an unprotected Bluetooth network.”

Other methods are even more sophisticated and don’t require manipulating the user into clicking on a bad link. Bluehacking gains access to your phone when it shows up on an unprotected Bluetooth network. It’s even possible to mimic a trusted network or cell phone tower to re-route text messages or log-on sessions. And if you leave your unlocked phone unattended in a public space, instead of just stealing it, a hacker can clone it by copying the SIM card, which is like handing over the keys to your castle.

Hacking on Macs

Lest you think that hacking is only a Windows problem, Mac users, be assured—you are not immune. In 2021, Apple publicly confirmed that yes, Macs get malware. 

Previous to that admission, in 2017 there was a phishing campaign targeting Mac users, mostly in Europe. Conveyed by a Trojan that was signed with a valid Apple developer certificate, the hack phished for credentials by throwing up a full-screen alert claiming that there’s an essential OS X update waiting to be installed. If the hack succeeded, the attackers gained complete access to all of the victim’s communication, allowing them to eavesdrop on all web browsing, even if it’s an HTTPS connection with the lock icon.

In addition to social engineering hacks on Macs, the occasional hardware flaw can also create vulnerabilities, as was the case with the so-called Meltdown and Spectre flaws that The Guardian reported in early 2018. Apple responded by developing protections against the flaw, but advised customers to download software only from trusted sources such as its iOS and Mac App Stores to help prevent hackers from being able to use the processor vulnerabilities.

And then there was the insidious Calisto, a variant of the Proton Mac malware that operated in the wild for two years before being discovered in July 2018. It was buried in a fake Mac cybersecurity installer, and, among other functions, collected usernames and passwords.

More recent examples of hacking on Macs and Mac malware include Silver Sparrow, ThiefQuest, and malware masquerading as iTerm2. From viruses to malware to security flaws, hackers have created an extensive toolkit to wreak hacker havoc on your Mac. A good Mac antivirus and anti-malware program will help defend your Mac against such malware.

How does hacking affect my business?

For criminal-minded hackers, business is booming. Ransomware attacks on major businesses have been featured heavily in the news throughout 2021. Some of these have been high-profile, such as the attacks on the Colonial Pipeline, JBS (the world’s largest meatpacker), or the large ferry service Steamship Authority. There are a number of ransomware gangs, Ransomware-as-a-Service providers, and types of ransomware out in the wild. You may be familiar with names like Conti, Ryuk, or GandCrab, for example. 

Trojans remain a threat to businesses, with some of the most well-known being Emotet and TrickBot.  Emotet, Trickbot, and GandCrab all rely on malspam as their primary vector of infection. These malicious spam emails, disguised as familiar brands, trick your end users into clicking malicious download links or opening an attachment loaded with malware. In an interesting twist, Emotet has evolved from being a banking Trojan in its own right into a tool for delivering other malware, including other banking Trojans like Trickbot.

So what happens when cybercriminals are able to hack into your network?

Emotet, for instance, hobbled critical systems in the City of Allentown, PA, requiring help from Microsoft’s incident response team to clean up. All told, the city racked up remediation costs to the tune of $1 million.

GandCrab is just as awful. It’s been estimated the ransomware with the gross sounding name has already netted its authors somewhere around $300 million in paid ransoms, with individual ransoms set from $600 to $700,000.

How to protect your business from hacking

In light of the ransomware and Trojan attacks currently favored by criminal hackers, the question now is: how can I protect my business from hacking? Here’s some tips for staying safe.

Implement network segmentation. Spreading your data across smaller subnetworks reduces your exposure during an attack. This can help contain infections to only a few endpoints instead of your entire infrastructure.

Enforce the principle of least privilege (PoLP). By only giving users the access level they need to do their jobs and nothing more you can minimize the potential damage from ransomware attacks.

Backup all your data. This goes for all the endpoints on your network and network shares too. As long as your data is archived, you can always wipe an infected system and restore from a backup.

Educate end users on how to spot malspam. Users should be wary of unsolicited emails and attachments from unknown senders. When handling attachments, your users should avoid executing executable files and avoid enabling macros on Office files. When in doubt, reach out. Train end users to inquire further if suspicious emails appear to be from a trusted source. One quick phone call or email goes a long way towards avoiding malware.

Educate staff on creating strong passwords and implement some form of multi-factor authentication (MFA)—two-factor authentication at a bare minimum.

Patch and update your software. Emotet and Trickbot rely on the Windows EternalBlue/DoublePulsar vulnerabilities to infect machines and spread across networks so keep your systems up-to-date.

Get proactive about endpoint protection. Malwarebytes, for example, has multiple options for your business with Endpoint Protection and Endpoint Detection and Response.

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What is ethical hacking?

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Hackers usually fall into three types: black hat hackers, white hat hackers, and gray hat hackers.These are as you can guess are associated with ethical hacking, unethical hacking or something in between.

What hacking really means?

In a nutshell, hacking means breaking into a computer system, device or network to get access to information or data. Hacking is not always a malicious activity, but the term has strong association with cybercrime.

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Best Online Hacking Courses and Programs | edX

Best Online Hacking Courses and Programs | edX

Skip to main contentToggle mobile menuSign InRegister for freeAll Courses & ProgramsDegrees & ProgramsNewBoot CampsSchools & PartnersedX For BusinessSearch for courses and programsLearnSubmit your search querySubmit your search queryExplore the Career resources resourcesSchools & PartnersStill unsure?Try a course for free.Free online coursesHomeLearnHackingLearn hacking with online courses and classesModern organizations must prioritize cybersecurity to ensure sensitive data doesn’t end up in the wrong hands. Ethical hackers play an important role in reducing the likelihood of cyberattacks. Learn ethical hacking with online courses from edX.What is hacking?Featured Hacking CoursesBrowse online hacking coursesCybersecurity jobs that involve hackingHacking FAQWhat is hacking?Featured Hacking CoursesBrowse online hacking coursesCybersecurity jobs that involve hackingHacking FAQGo to sectionSearch edX coursesWhat is hacking?Hacking is the process by which a person or group of people gains unauthorized access to data in a network, system, or computer. It’s also a major area of concern in cybersecurity. There are different types of hackers, often referred to as various colored “hats” within the industry. These include black hat, white hat, red hat, gray hat, green hat, and blue hat hackers.Footnote 1Black hat hackers take advantage of vulnerabilities in computer systems to disable an individual’s or organization’s operations. They create malicious software (“malware”) programs that help them gain access to computer networks. Once they have access to a system, black hat hackers can spy on victims’ online activities and steal sensitive information to ransom for a price.Footnote 2White hat hackers also infiltrate computer systems, but they do so without malicious intent. Instead, their goal is to help organizations uncover and fix system vulnerabilities that could be exploited by black hat hackers if left unchecked. By thinking like cybercriminals and anticipating malicious actions, ethical hackers can strengthen a company’s security infrastructure.Footnote 3Hacking can cause serious financial and reputational damage. As a result, modern businesses must rely on strong defensive and offensive security measures to ensure sensitive information isn't accessed, manipulated, or stolen. Ethical hackers provide an added layer of security for companies that are prioritizing the safety of their assets and workforce from cybercriminals.Cybersecurity professionals work on the digital front lines to protect organizations from malicious actors every day. If computer systems and cybersecurity excite you, ethical hacking could be a great career fit for you.Featured Hacking Courses NewBrowse online hacking coursesExplore all coursesStand out in your fieldUse the knowledge and skills you have gained to drive impact at work and grow your career.Learn at your own paceOn your computer, tablet or phone, online courses make learning flexible to fit your busy life.Earn a valuable credentialShowcase your key skills and valuable knowledge.Explore all coursesRelated topicsView all topicsHackerOneWindows 10 SecurityComputer ScienceCryptographyPenetration TestingComputer NetworkingNetwork SecurityAccess ControlsAuthenticationsCloud ComputingHacking course curriculumTo learn hacking, it’s important to have a solid foundation of cybersecurity basics. An online introductory course in cybersecurity may provide an overview of common types of attacks and instruction on how to fight them. Other essential basics include how to: Keep safe while working on a smartphone or accessing bank accountsBuild strong passwordsUse antivirus toolsProtect against criminal activities like phishing Courses may also cover security terminology and spend time discussing industry trends and the latest news in security systems and cyberattacks.Beyond introductory courses, learners may opt for more in-depth boot camp programs or bachelor’s and master's degree programs. Advanced hacking courses may teach ethical hacking fundamentals like network security, risk management, and threat detection. They may also cover essential coding skills and review common hacking tools that cybercriminals use to exploit vulnerabilities.Footnote 4Cybersecurity jobs that involve hackingOrganizations of all sizes are at risk of cyberattacks. There will always be people trying to manipulate computer systems. Companies that turn to hacking experts for help strengthening their security defenses have a greater chance of outsmarting offenders and protecting customers, employees, and citizens.Footnote 5Many businesses are realizing the critical role ethical hackers play in cybersecurity. As a result, they are seeking qualified professionals to fill positions like information security analyst and penetration tester, which check computer and network systems for breaches or vulnerabilities, respectively.Footnote 6Additional examples of cybersecurity jobs that rely on hacking skills include:Footnote 7Certified ethical hackerChief information security officerInformation security managerSecurity analystSecurity architectSecurity consultantSecurity engineerEthical hackers often simulate cyberattacks to help businesses fortify their security systems. They can also work for governments, testing critical technology systems like drones and satellites for vulnerabilities and building new security solutions.How to learn hacking onlineEthical hackers must bring a creative mind and strong code of ethics to their learning. After all, it’s what separates them from the hackers with nefarious intentions. Before signing up for an online ethical hacking course, it can be helpful to brush up on cybersecurity basics, computer engineering, and computer science. That being said, prior experience with the subject matter is less important than your engagement with the course content from programs such as cybersecurity boot camps.In addition to technical skills, some knowledge of human psychology can be beneficial to aspiring ethical hackers. Learning how to think like the “bad guys” and understand what motivates cybercriminals to target specific victims can aid in the discovery of crucial insights.Footnote 8More opportunities for you to learnWe've added 500+ learning opportunities to create one of the world's most comprehensive free-to-degree online learning platforms.NewExecutive EducationExpert-led, fully supported courses that build career-critical skills NewMaster's DegreesOnline degree programs from top universities NewBachelor's DegreesBegin or complete a degree; fully online Hacking FAQWhat is ethical hacking?Ethical hacking is a form of cybersecurity. It relies on skilled information security developers and engineers to locate vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks and fix them before cybercriminals can exploit them for harmful purposes.Which programming languages are needed to learn hacking?Python is one of the most popular programming languages for hackers as it’s considered user-friendly, versatile, and relatively simple to learn. C/C++, Bash, and SQL are other programming languages many hackers use and find easy to navigate.Footnote 9What’s the difference between ethical hacking and cybersecurity?While ethical hacking is often considered an essential cybersecurity initiative, ethical hacking and cybersecurity are not the same. Ethical hacking is an offensive measure that requires a security professional to hack into a system or network to find its weak spots. Cybersecurity works more broadly as an overall defensive plan that takes into account all the ways to protect an organization’s computer systems and data.Does cybersecurity teach hacking?Essential skills involved in cybersecurity include IT fundamentals, risk management, and network and security foundations and applications. These also form the basis of ethical hacking. Some cybersecurity programs offer specific hacking classes, covering fundamentals like penetration testing and hacking techniques and countermeasures.What math is used in hacking?Many ethical hacking and cybersecurity positions aren’t math intensive, but a working knowledge of binary number theory, Boolean algebra, complex numbers, and cryptography is helpful with coding and programming processes. If you’re interested in becoming a more advanced hacker or higher-level cybersecurity engineer, you’ll likely need more sophisticated math skills.Footnote 10How do you prevent being hacked?Unfortunately, no computer system or network is completely foolproof. However, organizations that are proactive about cybersecurity can significantly decrease their chances of being hacked. Common-sense measures like not opening suspicious attachments and implementing strong and unique passwords can go a long way toward keeping a business safe. And organizations that employ ethical hackers to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals have the best chance at remaining protected against attacks.[1] 15 Types of Hackers + Hacking Protection Tips for 2022 Open link in a new tab. (2022). Norton. Retrieved January 24, 2023. Return to footnote 1 reference in main content[2] What Is the Difference Between Black, White and Gray Hat Hackers Open link in a new tab? (2022). NortonLifeLock. Retrieved December 19, 2022. Return to footnote 2 reference in main content[3] Introduction to Ethical Hacking Open link in a new tab. (2022). GeeksforGeeks. Retrieved January 24, 2023. Return to footnote 3 reference in main content[4] What Is the Difference Between Black, White and Gray Hat Hackers Open link in a new tab? (2022). NortonLifeLock. Retrieved December 19, 2022. Return to footnote 4 reference in main content[5] Cybersecurity for Small Businesses Open link in a new tab. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved January 24, 2022. Return to footnote 5 reference in main content[6] Demystifying Ethical Hackers and Why Organizations Need Them Open link in a new tab. (2022). Forbes. Retrieved December 16, 2022. Return to footnote 6 reference in main content[7] What Is Cybersecurity, and Why Does it Matter Open link in a new tab? (2022). Forbes Advisor. Retrieved December 19, 2022. Return to footnote 7 reference in main content[8] A Complete Guide to Becoming an Ethical Hacker Open link in a new tab. (2022). Cybersecurity Guide. Retrieved December 19, 2022. Return to footnote 8 reference in main content[9] The Most Effective Programming Languages for Ethical Hacking Open link in a new tab. (2022). SitePoint. Retrieved December 20, 2022. Return to footnote 9 reference in main content[10] How Is Math Used in Cybersecurity Open link in a new tab? (2021). edX Blog. Retrieved December 20, 2022. 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