Introduction to Hacking| Hack the Hackers

What is a Hacker?

So, what is a hacker? Let's try the Oxford English Dictionary's definition to find out.

hacker /"hak@/ n. me. [f. hack v.1 + -er1.]
1 A person who or thing which hacks (something). me.
2 spec. An enthusiastic computer programmer or user; a person who tries to gain unauthorized access to a computer or to data held in one. colloq.
hackerdom n. the realm or world of computer hackers

The OED Definition of "hacker" is not really very helpful, is it? The relevant part of the OED definition is split between two different types of hacker.

An enthusiastic computer programmer or user.

This is the original meaning of the word hacker. A hacker is someone who enjoys learning and exploring computer and network systems, and consequently gains a deep understanding of the subject. Such people often go on to become systems programmers or administrators, web site administrators, or system security consultants. Hackers such as these, because they spend more time pointing out and securing against system security holes, are sometimes referred to as white-hat hackers.

A person who tries to gain unauthorized access to a computer or to data held on one.

This is the most conventionally understood meaning of the word hackers as propagated in Hollywood films and tabloid newspapers. A lot of people who are quite happy to call themselves hackers by the first definition regard the second group with derision, calling them "crackers", as they specialize in "cracking" system security. Such crackers, who spend all their time finding and exploiting system security holes, are often known as black-hat hackers.
The reality is full of grey areas. As a white-hat hacker I have legally broken into systems to further my understanding of system security, but I did not specialize in cracking systems security in general. Many of the black-hat hackers I have known are computer enthusiasts who just happen to be most enthusiastic about breaking into systems, and whose knowledge of computers and networking protocols is second to none. At the end of the day, which type of hacker you are depends on your ethics, and whether you are breaking the law or not .