5 Common Hacking Techniques Used by Hackers

Hacking is the process of exploiting vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to any computer, smartphone, tablet, or network system. Hackers use advanced computer and programming skills to exploit and get into the victim's system without their knowledge and gain lots of personal information, including personal and financial data, including passwords. Not all hackers use their skills to exploit systems or to gain access to the victim's system; rather, they use their skills to protect confidential information from being stolen and are called Ethical Hackers or white hat hackers in the hacker community. Some hackers use their knowledge for their greed, revenge, and also just for fun.

Here are some common techniques used by hackers that you should know to protect yourself from being hacked or at least use some preventive measures.

Types of Hackers

Not all hackers are bad. Hackers are usually grouped by their intentions and the way they use their skills. Here are the most common types:

• White Hat Hackers (Ethical Hackers) - These are the good guys. They use their skills to help organizations find and fix security weaknesses before bad hackers can exploit them.
• Black Hat Hackers - These are the criminals of the hacker world. They break into systems to steal data, cause damage, or make money—often illegally.
• Grey Hat Hackers - These hackers are somewhere in between. They might break into systems without permission, but usually without harmful intent. Sometimes they report the issues they find, but they still operate in a legal gray area.
• Blue Hat Hackers: Often seek revenge or vendettas. Sometimes hired to test systems before they go public.
• Red Hat Hackers: Vigilantes who go after black hat hackers using aggressive methods. Similar to white hats, but more offensive in strategy.
• Script Kiddies - These are inexperienced hackers who use ready-made tools or scripts developed by others. They often hack for fun, attention, or to cause trouble, but without deep technical knowledge.
• Hacktivists - These hackers break into systems to support political or social causes. Their goal is usually to make a statement rather than to steal or destroy.

Common Motivations Behind Hacking

• Financial Gain: Stealing data for fraud, selling exploits, or ransomware demands.

• Ideology / Hacktivism: Supporting political, social, or environmental causes.

• Challenge / Fun: Some do it for thrill or to showcase skills.

• Revenge: Targeting specific individuals or companies.

• Corporate Espionage: Gaining access to a competitor’s confidential info.

Popular Hacking Techniques Used by Hackers

1. Bait and Switch

Using Bait and Switch, the hackers buy advertisement space on any website and then create an eye-catching advertisement on the website's page. Whenever a user comes to visit that website, most of the time, the user gets convinced to click on that advertisement due to its presentation to the user, and when the user clicks on that advertisement, they get redirected to a malicious web page. This way, hackers can install malicious code on the victim's system and steal user information.

2. Virus, Trojan, and Other Spyware

The attacker uses a virus, a Trojan, and other malicious code and installs them on the victim's computer to gain unprivileged access. Virus and other Trojans keep sending data to the hacker regularly and can also perform various tasks on the victim's system, like sniffing your data and diverting traffic etc.

3. Cookie Theft

We use a Browser to search for different websites, and those websites store cookies in your browser. This includes our search history, some account passwords, and other useful information. When an attacker gets on your browser's cookie session, then he can authenticate himself as you on a browser and then conduct attacks. It's always best practice to periodically clear the search history and cache of your browser to ensure protection from such kinds of attacks.

4. Denial of Service

This hacking technique involves flooding the network with a huge amount of data packets to bring the system down. In this manner, users are unable to use the service due to the real-time crash of the system. A hacker uses too many requests to overload the system so that the system cannot respond to the actual or original request from genuine users. Another attack called DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) is also used to fulfill the same purpose by using zombies or computers to flood the intended system. The number of data packets or requests used to fulfill the requirements of the attack increases if it fails every time. You should always use good anti-malware software and other security measures to make sure you are safe from these attacks.

5. Keylogger

A keylogger is simply software that is used to record key sequences and store the strokes of keys pressed on your keyboard to a file on your computer. These log files can contain some useful and sensitive data of the user that may be account information and different passwords. Check your computer regularly for this type of theft by using security tools and make sure to use a virtual keyboard while doing transactions if you have any suspects during login. It's always a good practice to install good antivirus software that checks your system periodically for any virus and other suspects on your computer. Also, make sure your windows firewall is turned on for additional security of your system and do not respond to fraud e-mails and offers. Try installing software from a trusted and secured software provider and avoid doing transactions and exchange of other sensitive data using public Wi-Fi networks.

Real-Life Examples of Cyberattacks

Cyberattacks happen every day, and even big companies and governments aren't safe. Here are a few well-known cases that show how serious hacking can be:

• WannaCry Ransomware Attack (2017) - A global ransomware attack that affected over 200,000 computers in 150+ countries. It locked users out of their files and demanded payment to unlock them. Many hospitals in the UK were hit, delaying medical care.
• Equifax Data Breach (2017) - Hackers stole personal data (like names, Social Security numbers, and birthdates) of 147 million people from Equifax, a major credit reporting agency. This was one of the biggest identity theft risks in history.
• Yahoo Data Breach (2013–2014) - All 3 billion Yahoo accounts were compromised in a massive breach. Hackers gained access to names, email addresses, and passwords, affecting millions worldwide.
• Colonial Pipeline Attack (2021) - A ransomware attack forced one of the largest fuel pipelines in the U.S. to shut down, causing gas shortages and panic buying. The company paid a ransom of around $4.4 million to regain control.
• Twitter Hack (2020) - Hackers took over high-profile Twitter accounts (like Elon Musk, Barack Obama, and Apple) to promote a fake Bitcoin giveaway. It was a major wake-up call about social media security.

Must Read

• What is Cyber Security? Types, Importance & How to Stay Safe
• Cyber Security Interview Questions with Answers
• 10 Best Cybersecurity Certifications

Conclusion

Hacking is a growing threat in today’s digital world, affecting everything from personal devices to large organizations. While some hackers use their skills for good, others exploit systems for money, revenge, or attention. Understanding the different types of hackers and the common techniques they use—like viruses, phishing, and ransomware—can help you stay alert and take simple steps to protect your data. By being cautious online, using security tools, and keeping your systems updated, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to cyberattacks. Awareness is your first line of defense.