Hacking and Hackers

Hackers are people who explore the details of computer systems to identify their problems and weaknesses with the goal of changing or improving their capabilities. Because the most well-known instances of hacking involve malicious intent, the term hacker has become synonymous with people who break into computer systems for criminal or illegitimate purposes. The term hacking refers to the use of programs and techniques that bypass normal authentication protections, the exploitation of flawed computer code or cybersecurity measures, and the use of malware designed to damage or disable a computer or computing network.

One common paradigm divides hackers into three main groups: white hat, black hat, and gray hat. White hat hackers perform hacking activities on behalf of organizations or...