Hacking is the practice of modifying hardware and software systems to make them do something that they were not originally intended to do. This may include bypassing security measures, changing features, adding functionality, or even disabling a device. In the world of cyber-crime, corporations like Microsoft, Adobe, and Google spend billions of dollars every year keeping hackers from compromising their products and stealing users’ personal information.
Hackers use python. Python is preferred because of its utility in automation and artificial intelligence; it allows hackers to create scripts that perform a portion of their jobs automatically. Other languages hackers use include PowerShell, XML, SQL, PHP, and javascript.
Even so, there is an ever-growing list of successful hacks at large companies around the globe. One method hackers use to gain access to secure networks is known as buffer overflow attacks. In such attacks, hackers try to make a computer process more data than it can handle. This causes memory to be overwritten and allows the hacker’s code to execute using the underlying operating system.
Hacking is not just inserting code and running it, but it’s also a part of creativity because it deals with problem-solving on the fl. You need to manage your time while finding new vulnerabilities in target systems so that you could leave no trace behind after doing a blast on the target system.
One of the languages used by hackers is python language. Hackers use Python nowadays because they are familiar with the syntax and its dynamic nature gives a lot of power over strings and URLs. If we talk about cracking hashes, then Python is not recommended by any means in memory usage & time complexity sense rather than using, say, ruby or Perl or C/C++, which has many libraries built-in just for hashing. But still, if you’ve learned Python and are comfortable with it, then go for it.
What language do hackers use?
Below is an overview of the most popular programming languages used by cybercriminals, reverse engineers, and ethical hackers.
Python: As an open-source project, Python can be easily modified according to your needs. Hence, most programmers prefer using this flexible high-level programming language over others to create solutions for specific problems. Many hackers also use Python since it has become one of the most popular languages among ethical hackers. This is because it can be used to test the security of your applications before malicious hackers try to compromise them.
C: Since it is a procedural language that uses commands generated from simple statements, it can be difficult to master for new coders. However, once you learn the basics of C programming, you will write code as fast as a professional software developer. Since this language is so popular among cybercriminals, many security tools have been developed that use common C programming features such as pointers or strings. Most operating systems also include multiple modules, which are written in C.
C ++: This object-oriented language was developed as an extension to the C programming language. Ironically, it is also one of the favorite tools of hackers and cybercriminals because they can use its flexibility and speed to compromise operating systems or web-based applications easily.
Java: Although it has its syntax and cannot write code for Windows OS, it is especially suited for cross-platform applications. Although hackers generally prefer C or C++ over Java, this programming language is still widely used in large companies like eBay, Facebook, and Google.
Perl: Due to its flexibility, Perl has been increasingly adopted by software developers for developing web-based applications, among other things. Some of the most popular websites use Perl to generate dynamic web pages. Hackers started using this language in the late ’90s and continue to do so today due to its popularity among web-based applications.
PHP: This high-level programming language uses C, HTML, and JavaScript code to manage data between server-side scripts and client-side web pages. Since that time, it has been adopted by many people who want to create interactive websites because it is easy to use, even if you don’t have a background in programming. Hackers are now using PHP to compromise websites because developers often do not use it to protect their web-based applications.
SQL: Structured Query Language is a special-purpose computer programming language used for managing data in relational database management systems (RDBMS). Hackers will generally use MS Access or MS SQL servers to gain access to sensitive company data.
Ruby: It is an interpreted language which means that the program will execute directly on popular operating systems like Linux, UNIX, or Windows without needing to be compiled first. Today hackers use this language because of its flexibility and popularity among ethical hackers.
Tcl: This dynamic programming language is often used by hackers to develop malicious scripts which can be used against other people or companies. Due to its flexibility, low learning curve, and usage among ethical hackers, Tcl has become a popular choice among unknown attackers.
Groovy: It is an object-oriented programming language that simplifies Java while adding several useful features, which have made it a popular choice among skilled programmers.
Sed: Sed is a Unix stream editor that will read an input file and then applies a series of commands to this file for some purpose. Experienced hackers will still use sed because it is widely used in Linux-based servers where most scripts are written using this platform’s independent high-level programming language.
Can I become a hacker with Python?
Yes, it is possible to become a hacker with Python. It’s not easy, but it is possible. Here is an explanation of how one can become a better hacker using Python:
- Learn Python The obvious place to begin is with Python itself. One needs to learn everything about it from the ground up. The languages which most hackers use at some point or another are C/C++ and Java (my personal opinion)
- Read: The Hacker Crackdown Hackers [PDF] This book contains excellent insights on how hackers operate when they get caught, how they are caught, what motivates them to be hackers etc. This book is a must-read for anyone who plans to become a hacker or start their career in computer security using Python.
- Learn about coding patterns One thing which separates beginner hackers from expert hackers (for those who use programming languages) is knowing about programming patterns.
- Learn about Machine Learning Machine learning is becoming one of the hottest topics for computer scientists right now. In simple terms, machine learning is the ability to use algorithms that can “learn” for themselves through experience and data.
- Learn How Other Hackers Do It There are two main categories for people who hack computers: The White Hat Hacker and the Black Hat Hacker. White hat hackers generally work for companies, police, and the government to improve computer security, while Black hat hackers break into systems illegally and steal.
- Learn from people who have done it before. As we saw in the point above, all security specialists started as just another guy/gal trying to learn what they needed to know.
Why do hackers choose Python?
Here are a few reasons why Python is a perfect scripting language for hacking purposes:
1) Python has a huge number of standard libraries preinstalled. These libraries make things very easy for the developer because they do the donkeywork of installing and setting up their environment and require minimum effort from the developer.
2) All you need is a good framework that can take care of all the logistic parts (like database interactions, URL parsing, etc.).
3) Python has very easy syntax and indentation rules, so it’s easier to write rough codes in a short period compared to any other scripting language like a ruby.
4) With Python, everything is an object, and these objects can be called using their __call__ method. This means they are doing some actions when you call them instead of returning a specific value.
5) Python has a huge number of frameworks for different purposes. One framework might not suit your requirements, so there is always another one available out there that does what you want.
7) For Unix/Linux developers, Python has a huge number of modules that help you do various things.
8) For network security professionals who want to get into scripting or automation, Python is one of the best ways to learn this craft because it’s very easy to write scripts in Python compared to some mainstream scripting languages like Ruby or PHP.
9) Python comes with a wide array of modules and libraries written by different developers worldwide. You can install most of these modules directly from its official repository called pip.
Conclusion
It is clear that Python has a significant presence in the hacker community, and it will continue to grow as more hackers adopt this programming language. Python’s wide range of use cases makes it an attractive option for new programmers looking for a high-level language with many potential applications. While other languages have similar features or advantages, such as Ruby on Rails, Scala, or Clojure, these do not offer much compared with Python’s versatility. Python is one language that hackers are using more often than ever because it’s easy to learn and has many tools available for hacking purposes.
