What Really is a Hacker? There is a common misconception among the general public about what constitutes a hacker and what hacking is. Hacking is defined as "gaining illegal entry into a computer system, with the intent to alter, steal, or destroy data." The validity of this definition is still being debated, but most individuals would describe hacking as gaining access to information which should be free to all. Hackers generally follow some basic principles, and hold these principles as the "ethical code." There are also a few basic "Hacker rules" that are usually viewed by all in this unique group. The princ