Computer Hacking question...

[Pamela H in Texas]

Did that get anyone's attention? LOL

It feels EXTREMELY odd to be asking such a question, but...

Okay, first, I want to know LEGAL information, not ILLEGAL. Going to jail is not in the future for anyone in this family!

Basically, a family member was talking to another family member (hoping that is vague enough). This 2nd family member said that they have a lot of trouble hiring people for what they do because people who tend to have the right skills tend to not be able to get governmental clearance. This person said that education is less of an issue, but that they REALLY need people with HACKING SKILLS.

Ummmm, isn't hacking illegal? I can just see the headline now...btw, the article will DEFINITELY mention that she was homeschooled and her religious affiliation. Another blemish for homeschoolers http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue_smilie.gif

Anyway, so surely there is a legal way to do this right?

So far, I've only come up with that it's probably not illegal to RESEARCH hacking. I also figure it's probably not illegal if you have the computer user's permission so she could practice a little. But how do you get the level of hacking skill my family member is talking about?

Anyone know?

[GVA]

Basically it refers to a whole range of activities ranging from probing systems for weakenss to actually "breaking" them and/or compromising the data.

Early in my professional life before children, I was indeed paid to "hack." It involved checking classified networks for areas of weakness. That's all I can say, although that was some 25 years ago and we can assume that those systems are now long gone. As long as I was not using what I found for person gain or compromising their security, it was perfectly legal and within the bounds of my employment.

It is indeed hard to hire people to do this. To get a clearance these days you may need decent credit, no brushes with the law, clean references, and drug testing. People who do this generally get their start as system managers who move into the security realm and gradually become experts in finding weaknesses. You have to prove yourself. It's not something you get started in just walking off the street.