Hacking and cybersecurity might seem intimidating at first, but with the right mindset and foundation, it’s become much easier to hack something. In this article, we’ll explore why understanding is essential to becoming a skilled hacker and how it separates professionals from the crowd.
Know It Before You Hack It
You can’t truly hack something without understanding how it works. Too often, people type commands into their terminals, believing they’re hacking, when in reality, they’re just blindly following scripts.
While you can exploit existing vulnerabilities or use tools to gain control, this approach has limits. You’ll always rely on others to discover vulnerabilities or create tools for you. Without understanding the system, you won’t know what you’re doing or why it works.
To advance, you need to learn how systems are built and function. Once you do, you’ll be able to identify vulnerabilities (even zero-day vulnerabilities) and weak points on your own. That’s the difference between being a script kiddie and becoming an independent, skilled hacker.
Don’t Copy, Understand
Blindly copying scripts or tools won’t make you a great hacker. If your goal is to excel in this field, you need to go deeper—understand how and why those tools work.
Let’s give an example:
I was exploring tools on GitHub and found one that seemed promising. It had great reviews, a polished description, and a high star rating. On the surface, everything looked trustworthy. Before running it, I decided to check the source code. That’s when I discovered a Trojan script hidden inside.
The repository was a fake, designed to trap inexperienced users. If I hadn’t examined the code, I would’ve fallen into that trap—a stark reminder to never trust tools blindly.
This taught me a valuable lesson: if you don’t understand how a tool works, you’re putting yourself at risk. Always analyse the code and know its functionality before using it.
Using Tools Doesn’t Make You Less of a Hacker
There’s no shame in using tools—automation saves time and makes your work more efficient. However, relying on tools without understanding how they function is a problem.
As a hacker, your role isn’t just to run tools but to monitor, upgrade, and optimize them. If you don’t understand their inner workings, you’ll be stuck when they fail or need modification.
The key is balance: combine your skills with tools to achieve greater results. Don’t just be a “script kiddie” who relies on others’ work—invest in learning programming, computer systems, and security concepts to take your skills to the next level.
Learn Everything, Don’t Limit Yourself
Knowledge is the foundation of hacking. The more you understand, the better you’ll be at identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities. Explore programming, networking, operating systems, and even fields like mathematics or physics. Every piece of knowledge can be a tool in your arsenal.
For example:
- Understanding system calls enables you to develop rootkits, as both rely on the same underlying mechanisms.
- Learning how servers operate helps you identify weak points and exploit them for penetration testing.
By mastering the fundamentals, you’ll be able to analyse systems, uncover vulnerabilities, develop your malware and adapt your techniques.
Conclusion
Hacking isn’t just about using tools or breaking into systems; it’s about understanding how systems work and thinking critically. Every system has vulnerabilities—it’s your job to learn, analyze, and adapt to exploit them effectively.
So, don’t just copy—understand. Expand your knowledge, master the fundamentals, and take control of your tools and techniques. By doing so, you’ll unlock your full potential as a hacker.
