You might be
surprised to learn
just how many
people want to
learn how to hack.
The stereotype is
that of the young
college guy – a
computer science
major for sure – who
spends his evenings
and weekends
writing up intricate
hacking scripts to
break into whatever
computer system he
can get his hands
on.
The truth is that
what was once a
male-dominated
community is fast
changing into one
that includes folks –
men and women –
from many walks of
life, from many
countries and with
many backgrounds.
A recent CNET
article about
DEFCON makes note
of the fact that
claims of sexual
harassment and
unwanted advances
are increasing. This
isn’t because
hackers are getting
more obnoxious or
offensive, but
because more
female hackers are
entering into the
community and
trying to find a
home there, only to
find insulting
behavior, and other
actions unbecoming
of a gentleman.
This is the natural
evolution of such
communities, and in
time the scales will
balance and men
and women will
hack side by side –
but when searching
for places to go
online to learn how
to hack, it’s
important to
remember that
because
demographics and
the world itself is
changing, what
you’ll find at most
of the hacker
websites are also
changing
significantly as well.
Platforms in use are
shifting from
computer-based to
more mobile and
tablet hacking
efforts, there’s much
greater emphasis on
social networks and
the many hacks that
are possible there,
and all of the other
new technologies
and hacker tools
available. The sites
that keep up with
these changing
times will survive,
while those that are
stuck in the
decades-old
mentality of
hackerdom-gone-by
are doomed to fail.
Where You Can
Go To Learn How To
Hack Like a Pro
There’s a caveat
that I have to share
before diving into
these sites. Hacking
isn’t a single
subject that anyone
can pick up
overnight. In the
title of this article, I
mention hacking
like a pro. This can
not be
accomplished after
reading one article
and visiting a few of
these sites – the
phrase is used to
imply that in time
and with lots of
practice, you can in
fact learn to hack
like a pro.
For our many
readers that are
already at that
expert-hacker level,
a few of these sites
may not be for you.
They may feel to
simple and basic –
for “script-kiddies”
as some might say.
The truth is, we all
had to start
somewhere, and
these websites are
offered as a starting
point for those
people just
embarking down the
wrote toward
hackerdom.
Your intention for
learning how to
hack is completely
your own. I do not
judge. However, it
should be noted
that there are two
forms of hacking –
“white hat” and
“black hat”. White
hat hackers call
themselves “ethical
hackers”, in that
they find
vulnerabilities
simply to make
systems and
applications more
secure for everyone.
However, there’s a
whole other
community of
hackers – the black
hats – who find
vulnerabilities only
to exploit them as
much as possible.
Now that you know
what sort of
community you may
be entering, let’s
get on with the list
of top sites where
you can learn to
hack.