Hacking is a skill that is becoming increasingly sought after in the tech world. It is not only a great way to make money, but it also provides an avenue to create meaningful and innovative changes in the world. Wanting to learn how to become a hacker is no small feat, however, as it requires a lot of dedication, hard work, and practice.
In this blog post, we will discuss the steps you need to take to become a hacker, from the basics of programming to the more advanced techniques. With the right guidance and determination, you can become a successful hacker in no time!
How to become a hacker Before we get into that, let’s understand who are hackers and the types of hackers out there.
Who Is a Hacker?
A hacker is someone who finds vulnerabilities in a computer system or network by gaining authorized or unauthorized access to the computer or network. An individual who seeks and exploits weaknesses in a computer system or network.
Hackers may be motivated by a variety of reasons, such as profit, protest, or challenge. They may use a variety of techniques to gain access to a system or network, including social engineering, exploiting software vulnerabilities, and using malware.
Becoming a hacker is a challenging but rewarding path. It requires dedication and hard work, but the rewards of being a successful hacker can be great. If you have the dedication and the patience, you can become a successful hacker and use your skills to protect systems and networks from malicious attacks.
Types Of Hacker
There are three types of hackers:
- White Hat Hacker
- Grey Hat Hacker
- Black Hat Hacker
1. White Hat Hacker / Ethical Hacker
A White Hat Hacker or Ethical Hacker gains authorized access to a computer or network to discover vulnerabilities or weaknesses and help them fix them. A White Hat Hacker is an ethical hacker who uses their knowledge to help organizations protect their data from malicious attacks.
They are highly skilled individuals who specialize in finding security vulnerabilities and implementing solutions to prevent unauthorized access. To become a White Hat Hacker, you will need to have a good understanding of computer systems and cybersecurity, as well as the ability to think creatively and stay up-to-date on the latest security threats.
Additionally, certifications such as the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) can also help inspire White Hat Hackers. With the right skills and knowledge, you can become a successful and respected White Hat Hacker.
2. Black Hat Hacker
A Black Hat Hacker, on the other hand, gains access to computers and networks through malicious and unauthorized means to perform mischievous activities. Black Hat Hackers are mostly involved in criminal activities for their gains.
Black Hat Hackers are malicious computer hackers who break into computer networks and systems with malicious intent. They use a variety of techniques to gain access to systems, including exploiting known vulnerabilities, social engineering, and writing malicious code. Black Hat Hackers are motivated by financial gain, revenge, and the desire to cause disruption.
3. Grey Hat Hacker
A grey hat hacker is a hacker who employs malicious means to gain access to a computer and network in order to discover vulnerabilities reports that run our abilities and sometimes help fix the problem. They have no intention of using those vulnerabilities for their own personal gains, unlike Black Hat Hackers.
They are, however, ready to forego all ethics, rules, and regulations for a good cause. In essence, Grey Hat Hackers serve as the middle ground between Black Hat and White Hat hackers.
Grey hat hacking is a unique form of hacking that combines the methods of black hat hackers, who break into systems for malicious reasons, and white hat hackers, who use their skills for legal purposes.
How To Become A Hacker?
To become a successful hacker, it is important to have the right knowledge and skills. Learning about cyber security and ways to protect networks and systems from malicious attacks is key.
Additionally, problem-solving skills are essential for any hacker, so it is important to practice and develop these skills. Being able to identify weaknesses in a system and come up with creative solutions is also a must.
It is also important to understand the laws related to computer security and hacking. This will ensure that you are abiding by the law and not engaging in any illegal activities.
Joining an online hacking community can help you learn from more experienced hackers and help you stay up to date on the latest security trends.
Following news and blog posts related to hacking and security can also help you stay on top of the latest developments.
6 Easy Steps on How To Become a Hacker
Becoming a hacker can be a daunting task, but with the right knowledge and dedication, anyone can become a skilled hacker.
Here are 6 easy steps and tips on how to become a hacker.
1. Kali Linux
Step number one stop using your current operating system and start using Kali Linux. I’m sure you are asking why well, the reason is simple Kali Linux is an OS for hacking and it’s also equipped with over 600 hacking tools for penetrating, cracking passwords, testing, and other cybersecurity purposes. All these tools are more will help you make your hacking career.
Kali Linux is the perfect tool for anyone who is interested in learning how to become a hacker. It is packed with the right tools and features to help users get started on their journey to becoming successful hackers. With its user-friendly interface and wide range of features, it is the ideal choice for anyone who wants to explore the world of hacking.
One other thing to know about Kali Linux is that the original source code is open source, and what that means is that you can customize or tweak the system to your own references which are more reasons why it’s called hacker’s paradise. Kali Linux is not really complicated, hence very beginner-friendly. However, if you are very new to it you can start with Ubuntu, which is also another Linux system. This will help you get an idea of what you’ll be getting into.
2. Learn Computer Networking
The next step is to have a clear understanding of the basics of computer networking. This includes components such as routers, switches, and protocols. Having a good understanding of these components will help you understand how to interact with networks.
Important to know what goes on in the background, having a clear understanding of networking and its various protocols will make it easier for you to be able to manipulate them and get them to do your bidding. It’ll be difficult to gain access to networks whether legally or illegally when you don’t have an idea of how these systems and networks operate.
You also need to become familiar with network security. Knowing how to protect a network from threats is essential for any hacker. Learn about different types of security measures, including firewalls, authentication, and encryption.
3. Learn Computer Programming
If you want to learn how to become a hacker, then the next step for you is to learn the basics of computer programming, such as HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. This will give you a good foundation to build on, and the ability to code your own tools and scripts.
If you have no idea which programming language to learn, you can begin with front-end languages such as HTML, CSS, and Javascript. Three languages are not difficult to land and also offer lots of creativity and flexibility. After that, you can add a backend language, such as PHP.
One language you should learn no matter what is Python. Python is very essential for hacking and it’s also easy to learn and use as a beginner.
Lastly, you should familiarize yourself with Unix/Linux operating systems and learn the command line. This is essential to becoming a successful hacker, as it will enable you to manipulate and access systems with greater ease.
4. Learn To Gather Information
The fourth step in your journey to becoming a hacker is to learn how to scan and gather valuable information. “How to become a hacker” hinges on the ability to gather critical data. Without information, a hacker is akin to an empty gun – essentially useless.
As a budding hacker, you must develop the skill of scanning and gathering information from network websites, systems, and more. This knowledge is your key to understanding how to get in or out of systems and networks effectively.
Here are some essential tools for gathering information:
Familiarize With TCP/IP & HTML
Familiarize yourself with essential concepts such as TCP/IP and HTML, as well as programming languages such as C, Python, and Ruby. This is the foundation of hacking, so it is important to understand these basics first.
Read Relevant Books
Subscribe to a variety of websites devoted to hacking and read books such as The Hacker Playbook and The Web Application Hacker’s Handbook. This will give you the knowledge and skills you need to progress further.
Connect With Other Hackers
Connect with other hackers in online forums and attend local events and conferences to keep up to date with the latest developments. This will allow you to learn from experienced hackers and ask questions.
Practice Skills
Create a virtual lab environment and practice your skills on vulnerable systems and applications. This will give you the real-world experience you need to become a successful hacker. With dedication, patience, and hard work, you learn how to become a hacker.
5. Learn About Various Attacks
The fifth step in the process of becoming a hacker is to understand server and client-side attacks. Several side attacks or service side attacks are attacks that are launched to compromise, breach, and exploit the data and applications on a particular server.
It’s important to understand the common attacks used by hackers. These include SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and denial-of-service attacks. Make sure you understand how each attack works and how it can be used to break into a system.
Examples of Serverside attacks include SQL Injection, dos, and DDoS attacks amongst others whereas Clientside attacks are targeted at the software or applications on the desktop of a client or user.
Client-side attacks occur when a user downloads malicious content, understanding these types of attacks will help you understand how to initiate and stop them when necessary.
6. Get Used To Popular Hacking Tools
The last step you need on how to become a Hacker is to acquaint yourself with the latest and most popular hacking tools.
- Metasploit is primarily a white hat hacking tool that’s used for vulnerability assessment and penetration testing. It’s very popular because it makes hacking really easy.
- John the Ripper is a very powerful and one of the oldest password-cracking and testing tools. It is designed to test password strength and crack passwords via dictionary attacks.
- Next on the list is BeEF. Beef is the abbreviation for the browser exploitation framework. It is a penetration testing tool that focuses on web browsers. It is used to hook one or more web browsers and use them as speech heads to initiate command modules and feather attacks.
- Burp Suite or Burp, as it’s commonly called, is the most widely used Web vulnerability scanner as a proxy base tool used to evaluate and test the security of Web-based applications.
- Nmap is one of the most popular and free network discovery tools. It’s used to find live hosts on network ping sweeps, OS detection, and perform Port scanning.
- Wireshark is the most popular packet sniffer in the world. What it does is capture packets of data within a network, such as from your computer to your home office, all the Internet, and display them in a readable form to the end user.
- SQL Map is a well-known SQL injection automation tool that’s used for exploiting databases and hacking. It can also read and write files on remote file systems in certain instances.
These tools are used by hackers all over the world and understanding how to use them is an important step in the process.
Conclusion: How to Become a Hacker
By now, you should have a good idea of how to become a hacker. Remember, hacking requires dedication, hard work, and a commitment to learning.
The fundamentals of coding and computer science are essential for any hacker. Additionally, learning about system security, networking, web development, and more will help you become a successful hacker.
With enough practice and dedication, you can become a master of the craft. Good luck!
FAQs
What Resources Can Help Me Become a Hacker?
Gain computer science fundamentals, join hacker communities, practice hacking, and use security tools like firewalls and antivirus programs.
What Challenges Can I Expect When Becoming a Hacker?
Challenges include needing technical knowledge, legal risks, ethical concerns, and the need for constant learning due to the constantly evolving nature of hacking.
Can Anyone Become a Hacker?
Anyone can become a hacker with the right knowledge and dedication. However, it is important to note that becoming a successful hacker requires a lot of hard work and practice. It is not a skill that can be learned overnight.
What Are the Steps to Becoming a Hacker?
Here are 6 easy steps and tips on how to become a hacker:
- Start using Kali Linux
- Learn a programming language
- Develop problem-solving skills
- Join an online hacking community
- Stay updated with the latest security trends
- Understand the laws related to computer security and hacking.
See Also: 4 Legal Ways To Make Money As A Hacker