What is Hacking and Cracking in Cybersecurity?

Sometimes the definition of a word changes over the years. For example, the word “fun” today means to have a good time or engage in an enjoyable activity. But in the 17th century the word actually meant, “to cheat or hoax.” When it comes to cybersecurity, imagine this same principle--only sped up with the whir of technology behind it!

On the internet, words and symbols change meaning almost daily. When it comes to the cybersecurity terms “hacker” and “cracker,” their meanings have evolved and changed a great deal over the years. Let’s take a look at where they got started and what the current state of these labels are.

Where Did the Terms Hacker and Cracker Originate?

It seems that most internet users are more familiar with the term “hacker” and indeed, it has quite a long history. The term started out at MIT in the 1950s. It originally meant to deal with a technical problem in a creative way without any negative connotations. By 1975, a jargon dictionary for computer programmers contained multiple definitions of the word with only one of them meaning a person who was up to no good. The final definition reads:

[deprecated] A malicious meddler who tries to discover sensitive information by poking around. Hence password hacker, network hacker. The correct term for this sense is cracker.

And now we run into the term “cracker.” Somewhat akin to safecracker. That term describes someone who gains entry to a safe without the use of the combination or a key. 

Where do the “Hat” Hackers Come in?

You’ve probably heard the terms; white hat, black hat, etc. But what do these hat colors ultimately mean and what do they do? Let’s take a look.

• White Hat: These are the good hackers. They engage in ethical hacking. For example, a penetration tester, one type of white hat, might be hired by a company to try to break into their system. This is to test their digital realm for weaknesses that individuals might exploit.
• Black Hat: These are the stereotypical bad people. Their goals and methods may very, but a black hat hacker is someone who accesses digital information or accounts which are not theirs. Some hackers commit these crimes for pranks or to embarrass users. Others want to steal money and personal information, which can be sold for a great deal on the darknet.
• Gray Hat: These hackers are neither white hats nor black hats, but somewhere in the middle. For example, a gray hat hacker might break into a government agency’s computer system and then message them the details about weaknesses in their network. They have committed a crime by breaking into the system in the first place, but they used the information to help out the government agency. Unfortunately, intentions don't matter in cases like this--that gray hat hacker will be prosecuted if tracked. 

What Does “Hacker” and “Cracker” Mean Today?

Although these terms continue to evolve, most cybersecurity experts choose to use the Hat definitions to describe hackers. The terms have changed over the years. This article from 2005 identifies crackers as the baddies who broke into systems, and hackers as the good people who tried to keep them out and stop their attacks.

But in an ever-evolving digital world, there is little doubt that these terms might change again over the years. As the world becomes more reliant on computers and more and more information becomes digitized, there will be an increased need for cybersecurity. While there are black hats out there, there have to be white hats to keep the internet safe for users everywhere.

Are you interested in becoming one of white hat hackers who help keep businesses and organizations safe? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Cyber and Network Security - Cybersecurity Track, consider ECPI University for the education you’ll need for to make a difference in your field. For more information about this program or any of the other cybersecurity programs, connect with a friendly ECPI University admissions advisor today.

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