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Security on the Internet

What is Hacking?

Hacking is Unauthorized attempts to bypass the security mechanisms of an information system or network. Computer hacking is the practice of modifying computer hardware and software to accomplish a goal outside of the creator's original purpose.

People who engage in computer hacking activities are often called hackers. A hacker is someone involved in computer security/insecurity, specializing in the discovery of exploits in systems (for exploitation or prevention), or in obtaining or preventing unauthorized access to systems through skills, tactics and detailed knowledge.

Most hackers misuse their deeper knowledge of Information Technology for damaging purposes. These hackers are out to steal personal information, change an organization's financial data, break security codes to gain unauthorized network access, or conduct other destructive activities.

However, there are ethical hackers too, who engage in fool-proofing critical IT systems from other hackers. Such ethical hackers are employed by companies as part of their technical support staff. These hackers use their skills to find flaws in the company's security system so that they can be repaired quickly. In many cases, this type of computer hacking helps prevent identity theft and other serious computer-related crimes.

Computer hacking can also lead to other constructive technological developments, since many of the skills developed from hacking apply to more mainstream pursuits. For example, former hackers Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson went on to create the UNIX operating system in the 1970s. This system had a huge impact on the development of Linux, a free UNIX-like operating system. Shawn Fanning, the creator of Napster, is another hacker well known for his accomplishments outside of computer hacking.

With hackers increasingly on the prowl, developing a secure website and keeping it protected from attacks is a big challenge today for website developers and server administrators. Every other day hackers are coming up with new ways of attacking web sites, web servers and even the entire internet network.

If you are interested in protecting your home computer against malicious hackers, investing in a good firewall is highly recommended. It's also a good idea to check your software programs for updates on a regular basis. For example, Microsoft offers a number of free security patches for its Operating System and also for the Internet Explorer browser. Firefox too, regularly updates its browser.