Hackers Vs. Crackers: Understand the Difference Between Hackers and Crackers
Both of these terms have a common connection- hacking. There is a fundamental difference between hackers and crackers, as both of them work for different purposes. In this article, we will discuss the ways in which both of these differ. But before we do that, let us first understand a bit more about hacking.
What is Hacking?
It is a form of planning or a technique that people use to get access to various unauthorized systems, software, and devices. In simpler words, hacking is the process of gaining access to a computer or a network that might not be legal or permitted for any random user. The people who master hacking are very skilled with computer systems and have a great deal of knowledge about various software and hardware devices.
The people who have hacking skills are basically of two types:
- Hackers
- Crackers
What are Hackers?
These are people who hack devices and systems with good intentions. They might hack a system for a specified purpose or for obtaining more knowledge out of it. Hackers work by finding loopholes in a given system and by covering these loopholes. They are basically programmers who gather extensive knowledge regarding programming languages and operating systems (OS). They never intend to harm, compromise, or damage any system data.
What are Crackers?
These are people who hack a system by breaking into it and violating it with some bad intentions. They may hack a system remotely for stealing the contained data or for harming it permanently. In simpler words, crackers destroy the data and information contained in a system by getting unauthorized access to its concerned network. They always keep their works hidden because what they do is illegal and mostly prohibited or forbidden. A cracker can easily bypass your device’s passwords, company websites, social media, personal bank details and can use those details for directly transferring money from your bank.
Difference Between Hackers and Crackers
Here is a list of the differences between Hackers and Crackers.
| Parameters | Hackers | Crackers |
| Definition | Hackers are good people who hack devices and systems with good intentions. They might hack a system for a specified purpose or for obtaining more knowledge out of it. | Crackers are people who hack a system by breaking into it and violating it with some bad intentions. They may hack a system remotely for stealing the contained data or for harming it permanently. |
| Skills and Knowledge | They have advanced knowledge of programming languages and computer OS. Hackers are very skilled and intelligent people. | These people may be skilled. But most of the time, they don’t even need extensive skills. Some crackers only have a knowledge of a few illegal tricks that help them in stealing data. |
| Role in an Organization | Hackers work with specific organizations to help them in protecting their information and important data. They mainly provide organizations with expertise in security and internet safety. | Crackers harm an organization. These are the people from whom hackers defend sensitive data and protect the organizations as a whole. |
| Ethics | These are ethical types of professionals. | These are illegal and unethical types of people who only focus on benefiting themselves with their hacking. |
| Data Security | They protect the data and never steal or damage it. Their only intention is to gain knowledge from the concerned data and information. | They usually steal, delete, corrupt, or compromise the data they find from a system’s loopholes. Your data stays vulnerable in the hands of a cracker. |
| Use of Tools | Hackers use their own legal tools for checking network strength, establishing security, and protecting an organization from internet threats. | Crackers don’t have any tools of their own. They make use of someone else’s tools for performing illegal activities and harming/ compromising a system. |
| Network Strength | They help improve a network’s strength. | They harm and deplete a network’s strength. |
| Certification | They always have legal certificates for hacking, for example, XCEH certificates. Hackers have nothing to hide and perform legal activities. Thus, they need certification for the work they do. | They usually don’t have any certificates as they are unskilled. But some of them may even have certificates. Crackers usually refrain away from certification because they prefer staying anonymous about their work. |
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