Would hacking be morally wrong?

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Zynxensar

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I’m not talking about the bit whereby people illegally hack into others’ computers to get their credit card data, transfer money illegally and whatnot, but what I’m referring to is hacking in general. From how I see it, hacking can be used for good. For example, you can hack into a criminal’s computer and find out specific details such as what he stole and such.

What do you guys think?
 
Perhaps due to Pope Francis’s closest advicer Fr Spadara’s articles last week on the subject?
 
What about the kind of hacking a person does when they have a sinus infection?
 
Zynxensar said:
I’m not talking about the bit whereby people illegally hack into others’ computers to get their credit card data, transfer money illegally and whatnot, but what I’m referring to is hacking in general. From how I see it, hacking can be used for good. For example, you can hack into a criminal’s computer and find out specific details such as what he stole and such.

What do you guys think?
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Its very simple. Hacking is a crime. The intent is irrelevant. The law enforcement authorities can legally do that provided they get the warrants but a citizen may not hack someone else’s computer!
 
Technically, it’s “a citizen may not hack someone else’s computer without permission”. Penetration testing is a thing.
 
I think its pretty clear cut. Do you have a right to someone’s information? If you are the parent of a minor or law enforcement with legal authority to do so, then yes you have a right to that info. If you are not than no you do not. If you suspect something wrong (Example: You think your housemate has child pornography or something like that) then alert the police and let them do their job.
 
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Zynxensar said:
I’m not talking about the bit whereby people illegally hack into others’ computers to get their credit card data, transfer money illegally and whatnot, but what I’m referring to is hacking in general. From how I see it, hacking can be used for good. For example, you can hack into a criminal’s computer and find out specific details such as what he stole and such.

What do you guys think?
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No matter what your justification for it is, hacking into another person’s computer is morally and ethically wrong.
 
I think you are swimming in dark waters here. Even to search someone’s hard drive requires a legal ‘warrant.’ It is invasive-intrusive. If anyone were to ‘hack’ me they just would be pretty bored with what they find, but I would find it pretty offensive just the same. My name isn’t Hillary. I think the Gove. DOES do a lot of hacking, but gen. I think it is immoral. I equate it to sneaking into my house and violating my privacy without just or legal reason. That is my opinion. Peace.
 
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Hacking is a very broad term these days.

My college has a class on hacking as a part of a cybersecurity degree because good hackers must figure out the vulnerabilities of software to protect from hackers who want to commit crime. There are also hackers who operate in conjunction with the law.

It’s not a one-sided issue anymore. Learning to be an efficient hacker can be a 100% legitimate career these days. Most major organizations hire legitimate hackers to try and “break” their systems…especally those in the financial world.
 
Right. There’s a difference between white hat and black hat hackers.
 
What about parents getting access to their child’s password-protected computer? That’s hacking.
 
You need to define the nebulous word “hacking” better before an answer can be provided.

You appear to mean the equivalent of “entering another person’s home, invading their privacy and taking confidential information”.

You have additionally added that the owner is in fact a convicted criminal (presumably with a computer in jail?). You have not identified what his crime is. Though you clearly suggest he has lost his normal human rights to confidentiality and privacy.

Is this what you mean?
If so I think the answers are fairly clear aren’t they?

I do find your example so armchair abstract and unreal to be worthy of analysis myself.
 
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Maximilian75 said:
What about parents getting access to their child’s password-protected computer? That’s hacking.
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Not legally in the US. Except in rare classes where children make an income that’s protected by law those under 18 cannot legally own a computer because they cannot sign a contract. Windows and IOS both require legal consent that children cannot give. Their parents or guardians are responsible. Even if a minor earns their own money and buy a computer or phone its really owned by their parents. “Hacking” their child’s computer is not illegal because it’s legally their computer. Children in the US can “own” things but have no control over those things.
 
Who is paying for their child’s computer? The parents, that’s who. Parents should always have access to their children’s passwords and accounts. If they don’t, they aren’t doing their job as parents.
 
It’s not a crime if you did not secure your network, right? That’s like saying you forgot to shut the blinds and someone could see in your window…

Without naming names here, I know someone from college who hacked the Biochemistry department just for proof of point so that she could show them that the network was not secure…they took measures to secure their network after that but she could have been kicked out of the program…thank God she did not get kicked out…she got a half smile and if you ever do that again lecture…so even if it is for good intentions to help someone you understand that there could be consequences.
 
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If you must do it, play the Mission Impossible theme in the background to make it more dramatic.
 
tifischer said:
It’s not a crime if you did not secure your network, right? That’s like saying you forgot to shut the blinds and someone could see in your window…
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It’s a crime whether you secured your network or not.
 
While hacking is illegal, regardless of intent, according to recent news reports, Best Buy technicians have been searching people’s hard drives when they bring in computers for service. Best Buy has been working with the FBI on this. I doubt the FBI has a warrant that would allow them to search thousands of computers without any evidence of wrongdoing.
 
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