Busting Common Hacking Myths

There are a lot of conflicting perspectives when it comes to hacking. Hollywood would have you believe that all hackers are eccentric men with a penchant for basements and bad hairstyles. And yet, there is some glamour and excitement to it, too. Hackers in popular media solve crimes, save lives, and bring down evil corporations. We would even venture to say that the movies are what get many people interested in cybersecurity careers in the first place.

So, what's real, and what's not? It's true that this is an exciting and dynamic field, but the image of an unfashionable dude in a basement has got to go, along with a few other misconceptions. Here are the top 5 hacking myths — debunked.

Myth #1: Hacking Is Illegal

Some types of hacking are definitely illegal — those who carry out these malicious attacks are called black hat hackers. However, there are many people who learn professional hacking as a completely legitimate career. These are called white hat hackers or ethical hackers, and penetration testing is a very similar career path. These professionals use their knowledge for good, uncovering and pinpointing weaknesses and vulnerabilities so that problems can be fixed before the "bad guys" find them. Companies pay good money for their services, making this a very desirable career. Consulting firms that focus entirely on penetration testing and white hat hacking are growing, and can be great places for beginners to learn how to hack.

Myth #2: Hacking Is Easy

If you just know the right codes, you can "hack the mainframe" in no time, right? Or if you spend a few hours hacking passwords, you're bound to gain entry, no problem. That's not how it works in reality. One of the first things you'll find as part of a white hat or penetration testing team is that you won't be immediately successful every time — or even the majority of the time. Actual hacking takes focus, dedication, and commitment. It can often take hundreds or thousands of attempts to pinpoint a vulnerability.

Myth #3: Becoming a Hacker Takes Tons of Experience

While hacking itself may require a great deal of patience and focus, it is actually an excellent field for beginners. Basic types of hacking are relatively simple to learn, and companies frequently hire those with little experience, as long as they see the right training and personality traits (that's where dedication and focus come in). To become an ethical hacker, you'll want to start with experience in networking to prepare yourself to pursue the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) credential, as well as general cybersecurity certifications like Cisco Certified Network Associate or CompTIA Security+. Online courses are a no-brainer in a field that revolves around the internet; you can learn hacking online and prepare for your certification exams, too.

Myth #4: Hacking Requires Fancy Programs

If you've seen the movies, you might expect to work with long lines of colorful code, using all your hacking tricks and high-tech gadgets to battle it out in a one-on-one contest with a tech-savvy villain. In fact, many types of hacking, both black hat and white hat, don't require such fancy hardware or software. While you'll surely be working with code, the program you'll use is more likely to look like a regular browser window. And where Hollywood depicts hackers with numerous computers and endless monitors, in the real hacking world, just one computer will do.

Myth #5: Hacking Is a Boys' Club

It's true that the fields of IT and cybersecurity are made up of mostly men, but there are plenty of women making their marks on the industry, especially in the field of white hat hacking. For example, Black Hat conferences are known for featuring women keynote speakers and presenters, such as Joanna Rutkowska, who is famous for designing the Blue Pill rootkit and her work with "evil maid" attacks. And all-women groups like the Women's Society of Cyberjutsu (WSC) and Deep Lab are becoming more and more common.

If you're interested in learning how to hack computers, it's time you threw out your preconceptions. You don't need to be a coding genius, work with exotic tools, or identify with a certain gender to become an ethical hacker. If you have a curious mind, dedication to your craft, and a couple certifications under your belt, success in the world of hacking is right around the corner.