Hacking

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. Since the word “hack” has long been used to describe someone who is incompetent at his/her profession, some hackers claim this term is offensive and fails to give appropriate recognition to their skills.

Hacking originally referred to unauthorized use of a telephone network. In the 1970s, a hacker known as "Cap'n Crunch" discovered that a toy whistle given away inside a box of cereal generated the same high-pitched tone as AT&T's long distance switching system, and used that as the basis of his "Little Blue Box," a device which allowed him to make free calls. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were among early telephone hackers who made money making and selling little blue boxes.CNN: Timeline: A 40-year history of hacking (November 19, 2001)

The movie War Games introduced the public to the concept of hacking, and paved the way for subsequent cult classics such as Hackers, The Matrix and Untraceable.

In 1999, security software such as Symantec went mainstream, partially in response to widely publicized bugs in the newly released Microsoft Windows 98 which left users vulnerable to hacking.