Question

(a) If you accidentally find someone’s password and use it to get into a system, is this hacking? Explain. (b) Someone sends you a "game." When you run it, it logs you into an IRS server. Is this hacking? Explain. (c) Could you be prosecuted for doing this? (d) You have access to your home page on a server. By accident, you discover that if you hit a certain key, you can get into someone else’s files. You spend just a few minutes looking around. Is this hacking? Explain.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Hacking is simply a deliberate and unauthorized access to a computer resource, system or network.

For case a. If you accidentally find someone’s password and use it to get into a system. it is considered hacking because you accessed the system deliberately and without any authorization.

For case b. this will also be considered as hacking because it is a deliberate and intentional process, though this is debatable whether or not the user is aware in advance.

c. Yes, all unauthorized access to a computer resource, system or network is illegal and considered as a crime.

For case d. this will also be considered as hacking so long you spent time looking around but if you immediately log out and report the case to the appropriate authority it will not be considered as hacking.