Before I started learning Computer Science, I had always thought that hacking is a bad and illegal thing. However, as I began to learn about Computer Security, I realized that many people are actually confused between hacking and cracking. These are two completely different forms of Internet privacy and copyright. Let me explain why they are different.
Hacking is done by hackers who try to understand computer architecture, system and network to gain knowledge in order to improve better system and encryption. Hackers sometimes break into systems and networks illegally, but they, most of the time, do not cause any harm.
Cracking is done by crackers who try to break copyright protection on software products, and to break into systems to change or steal important data. Usually, crackers are very good at coding and writing programs that crack software protections. Cracking can cause a huge loss for companies that produce software products.
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| Software Protection |
For example, Adobe Creative Cloud (ACC) is the cloud-based software that helps users store everything on cloud. It would probably make a lot of money for Adobe System Inc. However, according to TechSpot, it was revealed early in June, 2013 that ACC has been cracked already. Do you think how much it will cost Adobe to fix this problem of cracking? I think it will cost millions of dollars.
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| Software Cracked |
In my point of view, hacking is not really bad as long as we learn it to improve our understanding of systems and networks and to enhance our knowledge of Computer Security. In contrast, cracking is bad because it always harms software companies that probably spend a lot of time to make useful software products for users around the world. Therefore, we need good programmers to prevent software from being cracked.
Hey Duc. I think you did a really good job on discussing both the good and bad sides of hacking. I think it really matters about the situation and context when someone tries to hack. Of course if someone tries to hack a network or server for malicious reasons its a crime. But I think if people are given the task of intentionally attempting to hack a server or network in order to find loopholes and increase virtual security, then hacking can be used beneficially. Great blog.
ReplyDeleteI had the same impression of hacking as you in the beginning. This is because I'm always seeing hackers in the games I play, ruining the game's environment. It's weird you say that hackers do not cause any harm; in the recent year, five people hacked into the SQL Databases of multiple companies, stealing $300 million dollars in total. I believe this is "hacking" because they saw flaws in the companies SQL database and attacked it. I agree that hacking is not bad in some cases, but definitely can be harmful.
ReplyDeleteNice work, Duc. Yes, hack is not always bad. There are three groups of hackers, and all of them using their talent and computer skills to hack for different kind of purposes. The first group of hackers try to damage computer infrastructures. The second group of hackers try to find computer bug or system vulnerable before the bad hacker can find it. The third group of hackers can do both good and bad things just to show their disobedience. So, I think we need to know the difference so that we can identify between them.
ReplyDeleteGood post. I agree the connotation that mainstream media and the general public have for Hacking is that of Cracking. If more people could distinguish the too then there could be a better understanding of what Computer Programmers are doing, and less negative generalizations of computer hackers. All programmers hack together code, but only a few use their knowledge to crack others.
ReplyDeleteNice post, Duc. Yes, I agree with you hacking is always a bad things. In fact, hacking enables us to learn to improve our understanding computer system, networking and software security. I also agree with you that software security is still a bad issue nowadays, and the amount money companies pay to fix their cracking problem are millions of dollars. Cloud computing not only makes our life of storing files more convenient but also generates some serious security issues, and your Adobe Creative Cloud example best illustrate this tradeoff.
ReplyDeleteHey Duc, cracking is something that I haven't heard for a long time. To me I think that cracking is a form of hacking, they are not so different. In order to crack something, you have to understand it program, find its loopholes and create another program to exploit that loop hold. I would say that the cracking is just a form of hacking that is always going to be illegal because of copyright. However, like you said, hacking can be good depends on the purpose that it was trying to achieve.
ReplyDeleteHacking is definitely given a bad reputation with the number of white hats out there using and learning hacking skills to secure systems, but ultimately they are securing systems against other hackers trying to do harm. As Tapakorn stated, cracking is also a form of hacking so anyone doing it is also considered a hacker. Malware is another widespread and malicious activity that is perpetrated by hackers. Often websites will be hacked to distribute such malware. I'd say hacking is widely regarded as bad more from the fact that a few major attacks make much better news stories than the countless times hacking is thwarted by security professionals.
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