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hacking

Hacking is a broad term used to describe many complex activities wherein the end goal is typically to obtain access to a computer system's servers, database(s), or stored files. This access may be any combination or desired or undesired, and legal or illegal.

Legal and condoned hacking is known as "white hat" hacking, and is used to test the security of a given computer network by hiring an individual or group of individuals to try to break in to it electronically, in order to determine the network's flaws or lack thereof.

Illegal or unwanted hacking is known as "black hat" hacking, however the term "cracking" is often used to describe malicious or malevolent hacking in which the end goal is to cause damage to the integrity of the targeted computers, whether to destroy, copy, or modify files, or possibly to install easy routes back into the system known as "backdoors".

Not all condoned hacking is legal, however. For example, if Jim's friend challenges him to hack or crack into his home computer, and Jim does so, it is still technically illegal despite the consent of his friend. Legal hacking (in the United States of America) needs to be approved with paperwork and status of employment; hobbyist hacking is generally always illegal.

Techniques for hacking vary intensely, and can incorporate activities including, but not limited to, creating pieces of software designed the circumvent (or falsely authenticate) the security in place in a given targeted computer network, creating pieces of hardware designed to do virtually the same thing known as "dongles", social engineering (a favored form of the famous hacker Kevin Mitnick), exploiting known or unknown (and subsequently discovered) bugs or flaws in the software that handles authentication to a given network, and other more obscure and clever methods.

Hacking can also refer simply to toying with computers and other electronic equipment in order to get them to do something they aren't supposed to do. This is the original and most true sense of the word, and is usually done for pleasure, amusement, proof of concept, or simply to exercise the brain. This type of hacking is generally harmless, and can even result in advances in current technology.

Unfortunately, the modern media has given hackers a poor portrayal, typically insinuating or outright stating that they are concerned with malicious destruction of electronic property, or even making accusations of cyber-terrorism. This sort of activity is more realistically descriptive of the cracking community (such as script kiddies), as true hackers do not typically ever hold the intent to cause harm, but engage in the activity for enjoyment, intellectual stimulation, or simply to surmount an obstacle. The goal is usually little more than obtaining access; once inside the system, a hacker's interests rapidly decline, as he or she has no intention to modify, copy, or destroy the files therein.

Hollywood has also given hackers an unrealistic image, portraying fancy graphics and unrealistic execution of the hacking in general. However, some movies have shown true tools or programs that real hackers have been known to use, such as the tool nmap.

Demographical data for true hackers is difficult to obtain, given their usually secretive nature, however the majority of hacking communities (such as 2600) indicate a much greater presence of males than females.
Most of us around the café here are into hacking, although some just like to watch.

He was caught hacking into a major government computer system and is currently pending trial after being arrested that same day.
by JoshM September 1, 2008
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Stephen Hawking

Cocktail, of such potent voracity it is known to render the consumer slack faced, unable to enunciate and generally in need of personal one on one care.

Must be served in a traditional dimpled English 'Pint Pot'

The Stephen Hawking is a base of mixed spirits :- Whisky, Gin, Malibu, Vodka. To serve you must up-end three bottles of alcopops (Smirnof Mule, White Lightening, WKD etc.) into the pot and let them syphon out as you consume the lot through a pink straw.

You'll be no closer to being a brillant astro and theoretical physicist but in every other aspect you'll be indistinguishable from the great man himself.
He was shitfaced after just one Stephen Hawking.

One Stephen Hawking is enough to put a lesser man in a coma.

On balance, it would be a bad idea for the Stephen Hawking to have a Stephen Hawking
by Linnetfan November 4, 2011
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Are you having your period?

A term you say to your friends, mainly male friends if you have any moral code. You only say it to them when they are angry or very mad. I wouldn't recomend saying it to them if they are angry at you and are on the verge of stabbing you with something.
Friend: Shut the fuck up
You: Are you having your period?
by Shaginji May 23, 2008
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self-hating Jew

a derogatory term used against people who speak-out against the actions or policies of the government of Israel, Zionists or other Jewish controlled organizations.
This Jewish person doesn't support the actions of Israel, they must be a self-hating Jew.
by juman December 29, 2008
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having kids over

When someone lets a number of people over to their house to drink and participate in activities which usually take place at a party, but now at a lesser scale. One might tell someone else that someone is "just having kids over" in order to deter random or unwelcome people from attempting to party at this persons home.
CJ: Yooo Nick what are you up to tonight?
Nick: Oh whatup, I'm at Steve's
CJ: Oh shit, he's havn a party?
Nick: Nahh, he's just having kids over.
by Sal9 August 21, 2009
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Hacking Your Twatter

Taking sexual advantage of a very drunk girl.
Don't drink too much around him, he'll end up hacking your Twatter.
by IBeenDrankinWatermelon September 1, 2014
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Hacking and whacking

A way to get through life by taking on obstacles and difficulties head-on and not giving up even in the face of repeated failures. A synonym for keep grinding. life, keep grinding, grinding, determination, challenge, grit, sticktoitiveness, persevere, never give up, banging
How are you doing working six days a week. Man, I'm hacking and whacking, just trying to make it.
by joecoolthefool July 31, 2016
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