👉 Hacking, particularly in the context of computing, refers to the unauthorized access or manipulation of computer systems, networks, or data. This can involve exploiting vulnerabilities in software or hardware to gain control over systems, steal sensitive information, disrupt operations, or cause damage. Hackers use various techniques such as phishing, malware deployment, SQL injection, and brute-force attacks to achieve these goals. While ethical hackers, or penetration testers, use similar methods to identify and fix security weaknesses before malicious actors can exploit them, the unauthorized nature of hacking remains a significant threat to digital security and privacy.