Asked in Computer TerminologyWhite Hat Computer HackingThe Difference Between
Computer Terminology
White Hat Computer Hacking
The Difference Between
What is the difference between hacking and cracking?
Answer
Wiki User
November 05, 2009 7:26AM
They are both the same thing...Sort of. A hacker is a person who
is proficient with computers and/or programming to an elite level
where they know all of the in's and out's of a system. There is NO
illegality involved with being a hacker. A cracker is a hacker who
uses their proficiency for personal gains outside of the law. EX:
stealing data, changing bank accounts, distributing viruses etc.
What the hacker does with their knowledge of systems within the
definition of the law is what defines them as a hacker vs a
cracker. It's then safe to say that all crackers are hackers, but
not all hackers are crackers. This is an important distinction. The
term cracker and hacker are used interchangeably (albeit
incorrectly) largely due to the ignorance of the general populace,
especially the media.
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