Hacker: Definition, Types, Culture, and Techniques

Extremely competent individuals began programming in FORTRAN and other older languages in the 1960s at MIT, the birthplace of the word "hacker". Some may ignorantly refer to them as "nerds" or "geeks," yet these folks are by far the most clever, unique, and intellectually evolved people. They were the pioneers and ancestors of the talented individuals who are today's actual hackers. True hackers in our culture have an insatiable need for information. Hackers never face the issue of monotony. They have an almost exceptional capacity for absorbing, retaining, and applying huge volumes of information regarding minute details. Ken Thompson, an employee at Bell Labs, invented UNIX in 1969, forever altering the destiny of the computer industry. Then, in the early 1970s, Dennis Ritchie created the computer programming language "C", which was designed expressly for use with UNIX. Programmers stopped using assemblers when they gained an appreciation for the portability of "C".

Nowadays, the term "hacker" evokes images of digital robbers focused on stealing identities and unleashing destructive viruses into cyberspace.

This was not always the case. Originally, society saw computer hackers as technology aficionados whose only goals were to optimize, tweak, and tinker. The public stigmatization of hacking did not begin until decades later, with the advent of viruses and cybercrime, when traditional hackers were thrown in with those with evil intent.

Hackers are portrayed in popular culture as mysterious villains who steal information, subvert top-secret security systems, and rob people blind. However, this is not always true. Hackers can also serve as a beneficial force for internet security and achieve a great deal of good.

This article will delve into the topic of "What is a Hacker?" and the various types of hackers. In addition, we will discuss what hackers do and how they operate. In the final half of the article, the results of hacking and the prevention of hacking issues will be explored.

What is a Hacker?

A hacker is an individual with expertise in information technology who employs their technical prowess to illicitly enter systems or networks with the intention of committing criminal activities. In order to harm individuals through identity theft, a hacker might pilfer information or bring down a system with the frequent intention of holding it captive for a ransom. Additionally, hacking can be motivated by ethical considerations, such as the discovery of software vulnerabilities in an effort to patch them.

Numerous individuals do not understand the term or its genuine consequences for hackers. Due to the evolution of the Internet and the passage of time, the meaning has evolved. In its most common meaning, a hacker is anybody who seeks to gain unauthorized access to computer systems. However, there is more to being a hacker than trying to steal a password or break into someone's Facebook account, as you will learn.

There are hackers employed by huge corporations whose objective is to defend their employers. Some hackers hack solely for the enjoyment of hacking. Hacktivists hack to oppose the corporate or governmental policy. Some hackers are compensated to compromise accounts, passwords, CAPTCHA, and other valuable targets. Some hackers seek just to exploit, humiliate, and expose. All of them are hackers.

Good hackers are never shown in films, television shows, books, or other forms of media, therefore the term still retains bad connotations. To counteract this unfavorable reputation, hackers attempted to coin the name "cracker". As a response to journalists who characterized all hackers as criminals, hackers developed the term "cracker". No longer is the term "cracker" commonly associated with computer system breaches. It never caught on as a substitute name for people with nefarious motives.

What are the Types of Hackers?

A hacker is a person who uses their deep understanding of computers and technology to solve an issue, which may or may not involve the illegal circumvention of network security protocols. Typically, hackers are proficient in various programming languages, networking protocols, and computer system and network design. 3 main types of hackers are as follows:

1. Black Hat Hacker

2. White Hat Hacker

3. Grey Hat Hacker

1. Black Hat Hacker

Black hat hackers frequently begin as inexperienced "script kids" utilizing paid hacking tools to attack security vulnerabilities. Some are trained to hack by eager-to-profit employers. Leading black hats are typically competent hackers who work for sophisticated criminal enterprises that provide collaboration tools for their employees and service contracts to their consumers, just like regular firms do. On occasion, black hat malware kits offered on the dark web contain warranties and customer service.

Common specializations of black hat hackers include phishing and administering remote access tools. Many obtain "jobs" through forums and other dark web links. Others want to operate via franchises or leasing agreements, similar to the genuine business sector.

2. White Hat Hacker

A white hat hacker is the exact opposite of a black hat hacker. This individual never intends harm to a system. These are your ethical hackers, who are skilled IT specialists who utilize their system expertise for "good". Typically, white hat hackers are penetration testers and other cybersecurity specialists whose mission is to assist businesses in identifying their weaknesses and constructing stronger cyber defenses.

These individuals employ the same method as black-hat hackers. In order to assess the system's security, they can also hack the system, but they can only hack systems for which they have authority. They prioritize security and IT system protection. White hat hacking is authorized.

White hat hackers are frequently employed by businesses to identify security weaknesses in their systems in order to protect them against cyber criminals. They attempt to penetrate company systems and networks using techniques employed by black hat hackers even attempting to trick employees into clicking on malware-infected links.

White-hat hackers are one of the reasons why larger organizations have fewer problems. Cybercriminals are aware that it is much more difficult to get access to systems maintained by large organizations than those operated by small businesses, which typically lack the capacity to evaluate every potential security risk.

3. Grey Hat Hacker

Gray hackers only consider hacking as a pastime; they are commonly referred to as "just for fun" hackers. They take pleasure in uncovering holes in security networks and may even inform the network of their findings. Despite this, some still find this type of hacker annoying because they hack private networks without authorization.

According to reports from 2018, a Russian-speaking gray hat hacker compromised over one hundred thousand home routers. The hacker was repairing security flaws that would protect them from black hat hackers, cryptojackers, and other types of hackers and cyberthreats, despite widespread suspicions to the contrary.

The intent and motivation of Grey Hat Hackers are infiltrating private networks to identify security vulnerabilities and/or defend against other cyber threats.

Ordinary citizens and enterprises are potential victims of Grey Hat Hackers.

What is the Hacker Culture?

Hacker culture is a subculture comprised of individuals who enjoy the intellectual challenge of overcoming the limitations of software systems or electrical devices (mostly digital electronics) in order to create original and inventive results. Hacking is the act of participating in playful and experimental interaction with activities (such as programming or other media) for the purpose of gaining an advantage. The differentiating characteristic of a hacker, however, is not the activities themselves (such as programming), but the manner in which they are performed and whether or not they are entertaining and consequential. Therefore, the term "hacks" was coined, with early examples being MIT students' pranks that demonstrated their technological expertise and cleverness. The Hacker subculture was born in the 1960s at the MIT Tech Model Railroad Club (TMRC) and the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Originally, hacking involved gaining access to restricted areas without inflicting major damage. The positioning of a campus police cruiser on the roof of the Great Dome and the modification of the Great Dome into a swimming pool were among the most notorious hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

How Does a Hacker Hack?

How hackers hack can be simply explained in three steps.

1. Gain as much knowledge as possible. About the company, the computer system, any information is useful.

2. Identify a weakness. Examine how the computer and the business operate. What is broken? What does not work as intended? Where are the company's weaknesses?

3. Utilize the vulnerability to gain access.

Typically, discovering a password is the initial step in breaching a network's security. That's why so many publications encourage you to change your passwords frequently and make them difficult to decipher.

Here are a few common phrases associated with hackers and their activities:

• Back door: A method used by hackers to gain access to a computer system.

• Buffer overflow: A form of attack in which an attacker sends malicious commands to a system by overrunning an application buffer.

• Denial-of-service attack: The objective of an attack is to incapacitate the victim's system by preventing it from managing normal traffic, typically by flooding it with fake traffic.

• Email worm: An email containing a virus-infected script or mini-program is delivered to an unwary recipient.

• Root access: The highest level of access to a computer system (and the one that serious hackers covet the most) can grant them complete control over the system.

• Rootkit: An intruder utilized a collection of tools to increase and conceal his control over the system.

• Script kiddie: A youthful or naive hacker who attempts to act like a real hacker by using basic hacking tools.

• Session hijacking: When a hacker is able to introduce harmful data packets directly into an actual Internet data flow.

• Trojan horse: An application that deceives the user into opening it before delivering (unnoticed and behind the scenes) an unexpected assault on the user's machine.

What are the Hacker Techniques?

Using easy hacking techniques, a hacker can obtain access to your private, non-public information. Understanding some typical hacking techniques, such as phishing, DDoS, clickjacking, etc., could be advantageous for your safety.

For these reasons, it is also vital to be familiar with some of the typical hacking tactics that are used to obtain your personal information unlawfully. Some of the hacker techniques are covered below:

• Bait and Switch

• Virus, Trojan, or other Spyware

• CookieTheft

• Denial of Service attack

• Keylogger

Figure 1. Hacker Techniques

1. Bait and Switch

Using Bait and Switch, hackers purchase advertising space on any website and then design an enticing ad for that website's page. When a user visits that website, he is typically persuaded to click on the advertisement owing to its presentation, and when he does so, he is sent to a malicious website. This allows hackers to install malicious programs on the victim's PC and steal sensitive personal data.

2. Virus, Trojan, and Other Spyware

Installing a virus, Trojan horse, or other malicious code on the victim's computer to gain unprivileged access. Viruses and Trojan horses continuously communicate data to the hacker and can also conduct a variety of functions on the victim's system, such as sniffing data and redirecting traffic.

3. Cookie Theft

Our browser's cookies save personal information such as our browsing history, usernames, and passwords for the various websites we visit. After gaining access to your cookie, a hacker can even impersonate you on a browser. Manipulating a user's IP packets to flow via the attacker's system is a common approach for executing this attack.

This attack, also known as SideJacking or Session Hijacking, is simple to execute if the user is not using SSL (HTTPS) for the duration of the session. Websites, where you enter your password and banking information, must have secure connections.

4. Denial of Service (DoS\DDoS) Attacks

A Denial of Service attack(DoS/DDoS) is a hacking technique aimed at overwhelming your web server with a large number of requests, causing your website to fail. To accomplish this, hackers will utilize botnets or zombie machines whose sole purpose is to bombard your website with data requests.

5. Keylogger

A keylogger is a basic piece of software that logs keystrokes and key sequences into a log file on your computer. These log files may contain your email addresses and passwords. Keyboard capturing, sometimes known as software or hardware, is a synonym. While software-based keyloggers target computer programs, hardware devices target keyboards, electromagnetic emissions, smartphone sensors, etc.

One of the primary reasons why online banking services offer virtual keyboards is to prevent keyloggers. Therefore, when using a computer in a public situation, you should take extra precautions.

What Damage Do Hackers Do?

While your computer is linked to the Internet, the malware installed by a hacker distributes your personal and financial information invisibly and without your agreement. Or, a cyber predator could exploit the confidential information you accidentally disclosed. In any event, hackers have the ability to:

• Capture your logins and passwords

• Open fraudulent credit card and bank accounts in your name after stealing your money.

• Damage your credit

• Request additional credit cards or new Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) for your account.

• Make acquisitions

• Add himself or an alias he controls as an authorized user to make using your credit card easier.

• Get cash advance loans

• Make improper use of your Social Security number

• Sell your personal data to parties who will use it for unlawful or illegal reasons.

Predators who engage in online stalking represent a grave bodily threat. The safest course of action when agreeing to meet an online "friend" or acquaintance in person is to exercise the utmost caution.

Who is the Most Famous Hacker?

The most famous hacker in the world is Kevin Mitnick. The United States Department of Justice referred to him as "the most wanted computer criminal in U.S. history". Kevin Mitnick's story is so extraordinary that it inspired the feature film Track Down. It is commonly considered that he was the greatest hacker in history.

After serving one year in prison for hacking into the network of Digital Equipment Corporation, he was granted three years of supervised release. At the conclusion of that time, however, he departed and embarked on a two-and-a-half-year hacking binge, during which he breached the national defense warning system and stole company secrets.

What is the Punishment for Hackers?

There are numerous varieties of computer crimes, but hacking is among the most notorious. With data breaches rapidly becoming daily occurrences, hackers have infiltrated every part of our lives, from the economic (including several retail firms) to the political.

However, hacking does not always constitute a crime. Due to the varying degrees of hacking and its growing ubiquity in our society, it is essential to understand where the boundaries lie. More information about hacking laws, penalties, and potential remedies for victims of cyber intrusions is given below.

A number of federal statutes address hacking, including

• The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)

• The Stored Communications Act (SCA)

• The Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA).

• The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA)

The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act

The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) is the primary federal law prohibiting illegal access to another's computer system. Originally intended to secure the computer systems of U.S. government agencies and financial organizations, the Act's reach has been expanded to include virtually every computer in the country (including devices such as servers, desktops, laptops, cellphones, and tablets).

Criminal Penalties Under the CFAA

The table below shows examples of CFAA violations and the associated fines.

Offense	Penalties (prison sentences)
Obtaining National Security Information	10 years; 20 years maximum for a second conviction.
Accessing a Computer to Defraud and Obtain Value	5 years; 10 years maximum for a second conviction.
Accessing a Computer and Obtaining Information	1-5 years; 10 years is the maximum for a second conviction. 1-10 years; 20 years maximum for a second conviction.
Intentionally Damaging by Knowing Transmission	1-10 years; 20 years maximum for a second conviction.
Extortion Involving Computers	5 years; 10 years maximum for a second conviction.
Trafficking in Passwords	1 year; 10 years is the maximum for a second conviction.

Civil Violations Under the CFAA

Although the CFAA's penalties are primarily for criminal offenses, the Act was amended in 1994 to include civil causes of action in addition to criminal prosecution.

• Obtaining data from a computer without authorization

• Password trading that can be exploited to get access to a computer

• Transmitting spam

• Damaging computer data

The following civil remedies are available to victims of hacking under federal anti-hacking legislation:

• Injunctive remedy

• Injunctive relief

• Seizure of property

• Impoundment of the stolen data and the electronic equipment used to commit the invasion.

Other Federal Hacking Laws

The Stored Communications Act replicates the CFAA's prohibitions and protects stored electronic communications and data (including email, text messaging, instant messages, social media accounts, cloud computing and storage, and blogs/microblogs). There is substantial overlap with the CFAA, and hackers frequently violate both statutes.

In contrast to "data at rest", the EPCA prohibits the intentional interception of electronic communications in transit or "data in motion".

Hacking Laws: State Laws

Although federal laws receive the majority of the attention, states have also adopted hacking legislation. While every state has computer crime laws, certain jurisdictions address hacking more directly by prohibiting unauthorized computer access, computer trespass, and the use of viruses and malware.

For instance, about half of the states have enacted legislation against denial of service (DoS) assaults. This crime is classified as a felony of the first degree in the state of Florida.

Malware that restricts access to a computer unless a ransom is paid is considered ransomware. Several states, including California, have passed ransomware-specific legislation.

What should I do if I am Hacked by Hackers?

Here is the list of things to do in the event that you get hacked.

1. Change your passwords: This is important because hackers are looking for any point of entry into a larger network, and may gain access through a weak password.

On accounts or devices that contain sensitive information, make sure your password is strong, unique, and not easily guessable. Adding your birthday to your mother's maiden name won't cut it. A good password manager like LastPass can quickly generate hard-to-crack passwords for you.

2. Secure your log-in process: Once your passwords are protected, make sure your log-ins are equally secure.

You may have heard about two-factor authentication, which is available on most accounts. This added measure helps to ensure you are the real person associated with the account you're trying to access. Two-factor authentication(2FA) works by asking for your log-in credentials or texting/emailing a unique, time-sensitive code to your mobile device, which you must enter to complete the log-in process

While you're at it, you might want to stop certain third parties from accessing your information on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google. Follow the steps on each website's settings section to disable these authorizations so the information you share is protected.

3. Contact people who can help: If you suspect your financial information has been fraudulently obtained, there are key steps to take immediately. They include contacting:
   • Your bank. They'll help with processing claims and also be on alert for unusual spending activity.
   • The FTC. If you confirm you've been a victim of identity theft, the Federal Trade Commission can help with a recovery plan and important documentation.
   • Trusted friends and family. Let them know you suspect suspicious activity so they can keep an eye out for phishing messages or unusual communications.

Dealing with potential hacking is serious business. Make yourself aware, follow your instincts, and take the necessary steps to protect yourself so you can avoid the worst of it.

Can a Firewall Keep Hackers Out?

Yes, firewalls can keep hackers at bay.

Firewalls serve as the security guard who determines whether Internet traffic is permitted to enter or exit the private network of an organization. There is a constant back-and-forth flow of data packets between the "wild west" of the public Internet and your private data silo (your network).

Hackers are continuously seeking a way to penetrate networks with inadequate security so that they can:

• Observe the types of information stored on your network (reconnaissance)

• Implement administrative control over your network (privilege escalation)

• Extract information they deem valuable (data exfiltration)

• Encrypt sensitive files to withhold them until payment is made (ransomware)

• Plant spam, advertising, or bloat (junkware)

Placing a firewall between your data and the outside world is not a foolproof strategy for preventing hackers, but it does eliminate vast expanses of potential attack avenues.

A firewall is the most efficient way to block a variety of typical cyber attack types. Stateful inspection and UTM firewalls block a large number of attack types using only signature databases. Next-Generation Firewalls(NGFWs) go a step further by combining advanced technologies to thwart more elusive threats. Amongst these technologies are:

• Using AI and machine learning to make automated security decisions

• Using a sandbox to identify, explode, and neutralize potential payloads.

• Monitoring based on behavior that detects zero-day attacks based on their features.

• Response automation to isolate malicious endpoints