How can I hack someone or something?

Because of how often this question is asked, we have decided to create a document for this question. If you are interested in hacking or want to hack someone or something for revenge, payback or to gain access to information, we suggest you reconsider.

Hacking a computer to view or steal protected information is not going to resolve anything and is only going to cause further issues, such as being fined or sent to prison. If you choose to learn about hacking, an option is to take a training course on ethical hacking, for which you may be able to get a job with a company.

If you are interested in hacking and computer security instead of trying to do anything illegal there are many good alternatives to consider. We suggest learning an alternative operating system such as Linux, setting up computer networks, reading security news, and learning aprogramming language. If you've done all of this and still want to hack setup a network and try hacking your network without the fear of getting in trouble. Hacking your network can help teach you to hack and can also help teach you how to defend from hackers, which is a valuable skill needed by businesses.

Doing any of the above recommendations gives you a much better understanding of computers and security than using someone else's script to break into a computer ever would.

Below are additional questions and answers that relate to this same subject.

If I hack a large company, wouldn't I become famous?

Although hackers like Kevin Mitnick and John Draper (aka Cap'n Crunch) have gained notoriety from hacking in the past, most hackers are never famous. If a hacker does become famous or mentioned in the press, it is likely because they are in court, going to prison, or because they're on the run from the law. If you are a malicious hacker, it is more likely you would want to remain anonymous then becoming famous.

I lost my password and need to hack my e-mail, router, or computer.

Apart from the solutions listed on Computer Hope for retrieving or bypassing BIOS passwords, operating system passwords, and some application passwords, we do not help anyone break passwords.

Note: Online e-mail services such as Microsoft Hotmail, Gmail, and Yahoo have password recovery systems already setup. Often, passwords can be reset or sent to you by answering a secret question or providing the e-mail address used to register the service. If you are unable to recover your password using the services provided by the company, contact the company with additional suggestions, or consider abandoning the e-mail address.

• Lost or forgotten Windows password.
• Forgot router username and password how to reset a router.
• Complete information and links to information about computer passwords.

I need to hack someone because they hacked or scammed me.

If someone is causing you grief or causing you or your computer intentional harm, you should report the abuse to the company handling the person's Internet connection or e-mail service. Attempting to hack the person or cause them grief is likely only going to escalate your problems.

I need to hack my spouse's computer to see if they are cheating.

Relationships are built on trust and communication. If you believe your spouse or partner is cheating on you, confront him or her regarding the issue. Attempting to hack or spy on your partner is only going to lose their trust and cause a broken relationship, especially if they were not cheating.

Finally, even though you may be spying or hacking a spouse, it is still considered illegal, and if caught by your spouse or someone else, you could be convicted of a crime.

I want to learn to hack so I can know more about the computer.

You do not need to learn to be a hacker to learn more about the computer. If you want to learn more about computers, networks, and security, there are plenty of resources online and in books that can teach you everything you would ever want to know.

• How can I learn more about computers?

I need to hack a computer to gain access to something I cannot access.

If you are blocked from particular sites or services on the Internet, it is probably for a good reason. Attempting to break or bypass those protective measures is only going to cause you additional trouble when caught. If you believe you are blocked or banned for the wrong reasons, contact the company or administrator in charge and plead your case. Computer Hope does not help bypass security measures or any blocked access.

Can't I make money from hacking?

Some hackers have been able to scam people and companies out of money. However, when caught (and you'll eventually get caught), you'll end up owing more than you'll ever make. You'd be a lot more successful and earn a lot more money in learning a computer skill such as computer programming, web development, or becoming a white hat than you would with hacking.