Hacking, once a term associated with IT problem-solving, has evolved to have both positive and negative connotations. On the positive side, many multimillion-dollar companies employ hackers to test their systems for vulnerabilities and strengthen their security. These professionals, often called “ethical hackers,” are well-compensated for helping companies stay safe. Other ethical hackers work with security consulting firms to do the same thing for a variety of clients.
Before attempting to hack any system, whether for ethical or malicious purposes, it’s crucial to be prepared. This guide outlines the fundamental steps to consider.
Step One: Master Programming Languages
A solid understanding of programming languages is a necessity for hacking. It’s best to learn a variety of them to understand how programs interact with operating systems. The more you know, the easier it will be to gain network access.
- C: This language is used by Unix and teaches how memory works, which is vital for understanding any system.
- Python and Ruby: These are powerful languages for automating tasks.
- PHP and Perl: Good choices for working with web applications.
- Bash: A scripting language used to easily manipulate Unix and Linux systems.
- Assembly: This is the most basic language your processor understands. Without a good grasp of Assembly, you can never truly exploit a program.
Step Two: Know Your Target
Before you begin, it’s critically important to gather as much information as possible about your target. This process is known as enumeration. The more you know about your target’s system and network, the better you can identify its weak spots and plan your approach. Having this knowledge minimizes surprises during the hacking process.
The Hacking Process
Step One: Choose Your Terminal and OS
You’ll need a *nix terminal for most hacking commands. Cygwin is a program that can emulate a *nix environment on Windows. If you can’t use Cygwin, Nmap (a tool for network discovery and security auditing) will run on Windows using WinPCap, though it may perform poorly due to a lack of raw sockets.
For the actual hacking, it’s best to use a flexible system like BSD or Linux. Linux is often preferred because it comes with more pre-installed and useful tools for hacking.
Step Two: Secure Your Machine
Before you hack anyone else’s system, you must secure your own machine. If you are not protected, you could be traced, leading to serious legal trouble.
- Always get written permission from a system’s owner before hacking it, even if it’s a friend or family member.
- If you’re not comfortable attacking someone else’s system, you can set up a virtual laboratory to practice hacking your own machine.
- Remember: Hacking without the administrator’s permission is illegal and will result in legal repercussions.
Step Three: Test Reachability
You need to make sure you can reach the system you’re targeting. A ping utility tool can be used to check if the target is active, but the results are not always trustworthy. A system administrator can turn off their system, causing you to lose your target.
Step Four: Scan for Open Ports
Use tools like p0f or Nmap to run a port scan on the target system. This will show you which ports are open. The scan can also reveal the type of firewall and router being used. Knowing this information helps you plan your course of action. You can use the -O switch with Nmap to activate OS detection.
Step Five: Find Vulnerable Ports
Some ports, like those for HTTP or FTP, are often protected. They only become insecure when exploited. Other ports, such as those for LAN gaming (TCP and UDP) or Telnet, are often left open and forgotten. Open ports can be evidence of an SSH (secure shell) service running on the target. Sometimes these ports can be forced open with a brute-force attack.
Step Six: Crack Passwords and Gain Access
To gain access, you may need to crack a password. Brute-force attacks are a common method, where a program tries every possible password from a predefined dictionary. While users are discouraged from using weak passwords, there have been major improvements to brute-force techniques to reduce the time it takes.
- Cracking algorithms can also speed up the process. Weak hashing algorithms (like certain versions of MD5) can be exploited.
- Graphics cards can be used as a processor for cracking, as they can be thousands of times faster than traditional processors.
- It’s not advised to try every possible password remotely, as it can take years and will likely be detected due to system log pollution.
- A rooted tablet with a program called TCP scan can be used with a proxy IP address to gain access to a secure site.
The easiest way to get into a system is often to find a way that doesn’t require password cracking.
Step Seven: Obtain Privileges
Once inside, you’ll need to gain a higher level of access.
- On a *nix machine, you’ll need root privileges.
- On a Windows system, you’ll need administrator privileges.
- A super-user account gives you root access on Linux or BSD systems and allows you to see all files.
- An administrator account on a Windows system gives you the same level of access.
Gaining access to the operating system does not automatically grant you access to everything on it. To see everything, you need a root, super-user, or administrator account.
Step Eight: Create a Buffer Overflow
A buffer overflow is a method you can use to give yourself super-user status. It allows memory to dump, giving you the opportunity to inject code or perform a task at a higher level than you’re authorized. In a Unix system, this often involves exploiting software with a setuid bit, which allows a program to execute a task as a different user. Remember to get the administrator’s written permission before doing this.
Step Nine: Establish a Backdoor
Once you have access to a system, especially an SSH server, you can create a back door. This allows you to regain access whenever you want without going through the entire hacking process again. Experienced hackers often use a compiled software backdoor to maintain a way into the system.
Step Ten: Cover Your Tracks
It’s vital to ensure the system administrator doesn’t know you’ve compromised their system.
If you see someone trying to log in, you should immediately get out of the system to avoid being caught and facing serious charges.
Do not make any changes to the website or create unnecessary files.
Do not create additional user accounts, as this is an instant red flag.
If you’re using a patched SSHD server, you need to code your password so no one else can log in with it, which could give them access to crucial information.