What Does Hacking Really Mean?

Many computer experts throw around the term "hacking" in general conversation. But what are the means of hacking or computer hacks? Hacking can be used in many different ways for a wide variety of purposes, from hacking programs to even more mundane means, like physical methods. Many times a hack can simply be used as a short cut around something more difficult when working on a computer. For example, when a person claims to find a "trick" inside of a video game that perhaps most players may not be aware of, this can be an example of someone hacking a system by bypassing an obstacle using technology. Alternatively, however, a hacker might provide computer hacks for the same computer game by creating hack programs that actively alter and rewrite the parameters of that game to the hacker's desire. Many people who are curious about hacking can also obtain hack programs. Hack programs can either teach the art of computer hacks or they can commit the hack itself. Hack programs can be downloaded and/or purchased, or sometimes they can be viewed for free via video tutorial on the internet. Many times computer experts can let the curiosity of hack value overtake them. They will often wonder about computer systems and their hack value. A hack value becomes a challenge for computer wizards in achieving the accomplishment of completing a hack on a certain program or system that many other experts may not be able to, or it may block hack programs. In rare cases, the growing interest of hack values among computer experts has been known to grow into an obsession. Although most of these scenarios are not considered anything that should cause concern, there are other occasions where computer hacks can be used for a more devious intention. Many criminals use the art of hacking into a computer as a means to illegally gather information that is not rightfully theirs as a means to steal, commit fraud, or to harass. Criminals will also use hacking as a way to wage attacks on people or even the government. Many times, hackers are known to be spies or even terrorists that will hack in order to advance a cyber terrorist attack. A cyber terrorist attack is a serious threat that involves terrorist obtaining information using the computer and/or internet as a means to cause real world destruction. Many argue that "cyberterrorism" is not a real threat and that the term is merely being confused with actual computerized threats that can be carried out. These attacks can include denial of services attacks and information warfare. Both of these attacks may involve computer hacks and they are similar in nature in that they are both normally acted out when a criminal hacks into an account to obtain information to be used against an opposing party. However, denial of services attacks are more associated with harming a computer's function, whereas an information warfare attack is associated with exploiting someone's personal data as a means to create chaos via the internet/computer.