To answer that question, we first have to find the definition of hacking. And then we have to define “ethical”. So here we go!
According to Oxford Languages, hacking defines as follows:
The gaining of unauthorized access to data in a system or computer.
Google’s English dictionary, provided by Oxford Languages
But it is not as simple as that. Hacking is much more than gaining access, and is not solely unauthorized.
A simple way to explain what a hack is “using an object or a service to something, that object or service wasn’t designed for”. So: using a chair to be able to switch a light bulb in the ceiling lamp is actually a hack. And if you lost your only key to your front door, and you want to enter your house as fast as possible, then you could smash a window. That’s hacking.
But if you should smash your neighbor’s window to enter his house (without his permission), that would be breaking and entering. That’s illegal. The same action but different circumstances.
The three types of hackers
When it comes to the IT term “hacking”, then there are three types:
- Black Hat Hacking
- Grey Hat Hacking
- White Hat Hacking
The first one are those, who hack other systems without permission on behalf of themselves, and with the purpose to get better of it, one way or the other.
Grey Hat Hackers are those, who hack other systems, still without permission, but not to get better of it. And probably because they feel they’re doing something good. It still might be illegal. Especially when you forcibly gain access to a system, that otherwise is closed. This answers to those people, who find it wrong that supermarkets throw out food, that still can be eaten, and therefore gain access to the garbage disposals after the supermarket is closed. It’s illegal, and you risk punishment.
White Hat Hackers are people who know all the tricks Black Hat Hackers know, but only and solely use it to help others – and when ASKED to use it, by the owner of that system. White Hat Hackers use legal contracts to keep them from being sued and prosecuted.
Both White Hat Hackers and Grey Hat Hackers can be ethical hackers. However, a Grey Hat Hacker also can act unethical, which a White Hat Hacker does not.
So what is ethical?
According to Oxford Learners Dictionaries, the word “ethic” can be defined in two ways:
Plural: moral principles that control or influence a person’s behavior
Singular: a system of moral principles or rules of behavior
So, ethical means, basically: behavior based on moral principles.
But what are principles?
Principles cannot be bend: they are, or they are not. They have no grey values. They are 1 or 0. They are true or false. Or as a computer programmer would say: they are booleans. If you by principle don’t steal, then you never ever would steal a dime. If you by principle keep your appointments, then you are never ever too late. Else it is not a principle. It could be your goal, your value, your intention or your plan – but is it not a principle, if there are circumstances where you would act different than you normally do.
Back to ethical hacking: if you never ever would break into a system, or compromise it’s security without permission of the owner, but would do it WITH explicit permission, then you can consider yourself as a ethical hacker. But you have to be very sure, that no action soever you take can be understood as something illegal, no matter how little that action was.
Conclusion
So, if you are needed to explain your actions, then you’re on the wrong side. Good things don’t need explanations, only wrong things do.
In our case: if you would help to get Putin off his throne, then make very sure that EVERYTHING you do, is ethical! If you don’t feel it’s ethical, then don’t do it!