This document discusses the differences between hacking and cracking. Hacking refers to gaining unauthorized access to a computer system out of curiosity or challenge, and without intent to cause harm. Cracking, on the other hand, is the illegal act of gaining unauthorized access with the intent to damage systems or data. The objectives of hackers are exploration and learning, while crackers aim to steal data and break security measures for personal gain or malicious purposes. Key differences are that hacking itself is legal while cracking is illegal, and hackers create code while crackers break code.

1. Hacking vs Cracking
BY
NARENDRA KUMAR

2. Contents
 What is Hacking
 What is Cracking
 Objectives of Hacker
 Objectives of Cracker
 Difference between Hacking and Cracking
 Steps to be taken to prevent attacks from Hacking and
Cracking
 Conclusion

3. What is Hacking
 Hacking is the gaining of access (wanted or unwanted)
to a computer and viewing, copying or creating data
without the intention of destroying the data or
maliciously harming the computer.
 Hacking is the art of exploitation.
 Hackers have curiosity on the working of system and
skilled persons.
 Hackers are good guys who often doesn’t harm the
system or cause damage.
 Generally Hackers are referred as ‘White Hat’ Hackers.

4. What is Cracking
 Cracking is the process of gaining unauthorized access
with the intention of causing damage.
 The purpose of cracking is to breach or bypass security
or gain access to software without paying royalties.
 Cracker is the name given to hackers who gain into
computers for criminal gain.
 Crackers are intended to damage the personal data or
break the security
 Generally Crackers are referred as ‘Black Hat’ hackers.

5. Objectives of Hacker
 Gaining access to the system by authorized or
unauthorized means.
 Hackers won’t cause damage to the system or break
the system, they will view, copy and access the data.
 Hackers are often hired so as to secure the data by
detecting vulnerabilities.
 Hackers modify and add code to the initial software, so
that it does what it is not intended for.

6. Objectives of Cracker
 Gaining access to the system by unauthorized means
thus breaking the security.
 Crackers will steal the data, causing damage to the
system.
 Crackers steal the data by reverse engineering (using
the software created by hackers).
 Crackers break the system by malicious way introducing
a virus into the system.

7. Difference between
Hacking and Cracking
 Hacking is the legal activity.
 Cracking is an illegal activity.
 Hackers make the code.
 Crackers break the code.
 Hackers do hacking with the intention of their curiosity
and to gain knowledge.
 Crackers hack intentionally for the purpose of earning,
causing damage to system or break the code.

9. Steps to be taken to
prevent attacks from
Hacking and Cracking
 Be cautious in sharing data with the unknown websites.
 Never use unknown public Wi-Fi networks that are free
and share your personal data by public network.
 Always use updated Anti-Virus in your system.
 Never click on spam links that are publishing day to day
widely in social networks (click jacking).
 Don’t exchange transactions on non https web pages.

10. Conclusion
 Thus, all the Hackers aren’t the Crackers. Hackers won’t
damage the system and break the code for their
personal use. Crackers cracks the software's and breaks
the code.
 The hackers are mistaken as crackers and bad guys by
the people in the networking world, actually crackers
are bad ones.
 Hacking is the curiosity that made them discover new
things about the vulnerabilities.
 Cracking is the purpose of earning and breaking law
that make them popular among the cyber world but
remains criminals in cyber crime.