How to Become a Hacker.
Hackers are all about security systems in computers and networks, and they dedicate their careers to finding ways in and out of these systems. They can use their skills for bad such as the hackers who access banking systems to steal vital information, or they could use their expertise to help people safeguard sensitive information.
Hacking is not a new concept as it came to be back when the minicomputers came into existence when people realized that they could share vital information through the same. Over time, the field expanded, and people found numerous ways through which they could access systems. People often think of hackers as people who access phone and computer systems without authorization, and there is thus a notion that this practice is unethical. However, the truth about hacking is that it is more complicated than this and it operates on a moral basis such that most of those practicing it do it to protect companies' and individual data from getting into the wrong hands.
Where you wish to be a hacker, you should know that it will take a while before you can become a white or black hat. You need to understand the basic techniques and change your mindset such that you think like other people in the field. It is only through these methods that you can gain respect in the community. Let’s take a look at some of the essentials when it comes to hacking:
The Basics
As is the case with all fields, becoming an expert starts with understanding the basics, as this gives you a solid foundation onto which you can add more skills. Some people want to start at the top, but how can you succeed if you don’t even understand how to run an operating system on the internet?
Thus, you need to run a UNIX-like operating system, with a good example being Linux. Though you can quickly master how to use the internet without these systems, you cannot successfully understand hacking without understanding UNIX or other operating systems with its features. You will thus notice that most teaching practices will center around its use. You can run these systems alongside Microsoft Windows on your machine. The good thing about these operating systems is that you can download them online and get help from online groups on how to go about the installation.
Now that you are new in the field, it is a good idea to proceed with caution, and you should thus start with activities that are not too complicated for the beginner. Try to boot up a live CD or a USB as this will run off your USB or CD and will thus not call for changes to your hard disk.
Though you can use other operating systems, it is best to go with Linux and its counterparts as it is popular and will thus have tons of available programs. However, this decision will depend on how complicated you wish your learning curve to be.
Write HTML
For programmers, this step is not important. However, for one who is yet to learn how to program, you should get some basic knowledge on the same by learning HTML. A good way to understand this concept is as follows: everything you see on a website, including the design and the pictures is as a result of using HTML. Thus, you need to understand how you too can do the same by creating a basic homepage and working on it until you get something that would appeal to users.
It gets easier as you view the codes available such as the one on your browser by examining the HTML. The good thing about this kind of coding is that you can do it on your notepad then upload them on your browser to see what you create. It takes time to master the techniques, so be sure to be patient with this.
Learn Programming Languages
You need to understand some of the programming languages in use, and Python serves as an excellent starting point owing to its clean design and detailed documentation.
With these basics, you can now work on getting an excellent hacker attitude by developing your creative thinking and problem-solving abilities, as well as understanding how to go about authorities. Start small and soon enough, you could be on the list of top black hats or white hats, depending on the direction you take.