by christopher beard

Created on: January 07, 2008

Computer hacking has been a widely misconstrued topic among the uneducated. Much like any technology in the hands of mankind, it can be used for great things, or to commit terrible travesties. The most damage that has been brought about by hacking is not the residual effects of adware, or the mailbox full of spam, but the ignorant belief spread by the misinformed public that computer hacking is a malevolent dark art.

Computer hackers aren't usually any more qualified for malicious activity than your local office IT guy, or the trusty geek squad computer repair person. Hacking another computer is usually no more intrusive than setting up a network. Hackers are generally curious in nature, and curiosity can always be troublesome if not steered by a moral compass. Most hackers are just out to explore the unknown.

The activities of hackers can pertain to finding an open wireless network just to get online and check email or google the latest movie. Sometimes these networks belong to private citizens, but also are at coffee shops or libraries. A lot of hacking, is just having an inquisitive nature. Most hackers just want to question the walls that confine most computer users. Part of this is knowing how to bypass firewalls and passwords, or how to see what computers are on a network.

The more you learn about how to properly secure your computer, and to see who is invading your network, and how they are doing it, only to protect yourself, you in return are becoming more like a hacker. Most hackers just want to know how to secure themselves, and how to get past that security if need be.

Hacking doesn't necessarily pertain to computers. Any time you were in an elevator, and pushed the basement subfloor button to see what would happen or where you would go qualifies as hacking. If you have ever taken apart your mother's appliance to see what makes it work, and put it back together without leaving any evidence, that is hacking. Peeking over the shoulder of a mechanic or electrician to see how they work, is the essence of hacking. These acts can be rather benign, unless you take illegal actions.

No one likes their privacy invaded, but what most hackers look for is someone who unknowingly made their privacy into a public spectacle, whether is be an unsecured wireless network, the blinds to your living room wide open, or dropping the flash card to your digital camera in the park. Much of this is contributed to ignorance, the hacker is only there to observe what you made public.

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