Some of my colleagues in the information security profession think that hacking is evil. They strongly rebuke any information security professionals for condoning hacking.
I think that is a ridiculous position to take. How can we be any good at our job (particulary the more technical information security professionals) if we ignore the skills that malicious hackers use to exploit the very systems we protect? Why would we bind our own hands from finding vulnerabilities before our enemys?
Not knowing the darker side of security is like a Drug Enforcement Agent who can't recognize drugs because he or she has never had any exposure to controlled substances. It is not my position that cops should rob a bank or abuse crack to REALLY know the criminal mind. I'm just saying that security is not just about implementing secuirty practice, it is about knowing the exploits, vulnerabilities and threats and knowing them well.
Hacking is cool. It is not all evil or criminal. Sometimes I have to hack my system after locking myself out. I've attempted to hack my own network to find vulnerabilities.
I think hacking is about mastering systems, finding easier ways to do things in life, being clever. The dangerous thing about hacking is that sometimes individuals are smarter than the systems that they interface with (or control them). It is the mutant strain that changes everything, the revolution that forces change, the rebel refuses to submit and any of those can be very good or very bad.
Unfortunately, it is easier to destroy than to create, so some weak, ignorant, sociopaths give in to the darkside. This is true of any method, skill, talent, profession ect. It is a part of human nature to have users and abusers in our ranks. You may even have some in your family! It is my personal belief that what you reap is what you sow (karma); those who do bad will get theirs. I choose to hack ethically lest I incur the wrath of the universe.
The first ethical-hacking course was started six years ago. Today, there are some half-dozen organizations offering similar instruction around the world