Hacking is an activity which has long been tied with ethical and legal complications. The term has evolved to have both ethical and unethical connotations, which can be confusing to the uninitiated. Hacker subculture has a myriad of terminology, sometimes with subtle variations, and this chapter identifies the main subcategories of hackers. The methods used by hackers to infiltrate systems will also be briefly examined, along with the motives for the activities. The question of whether or not hacking can be an ethical activity, and how it should be dealt with by the legal system is considered in this chapter.
Consideration is also given to the international legal perspective. The evolving hacker ethic is described and examined, and the justifications provided by hackers are investigated.
Understanding cyber-criminals’ motivation can help to improve security measures, and describes the motivations that could underlie attacks by insiders in organizations. These include economical profit, revenge, personal interest in a specific file, and external pressure from people or organizations outside of the company (such as organized crime or a family member). Some motives cited by hackers for their behaviours include feelings of addiction, the urge of curiosity, boredom with the educational system, enjoyment of feelings of power, peer recognition in the hacking culture and political acts.
Professional and Ethical issues of Hacking 