View Full Version : Is this legal?
iNTaYkE
Jul 19, 2006, 04:58 AM
Is it legal for me to hack another one of my own computers?
RickJ
Jul 19, 2006, 05:02 AM
I'd say 99.9% yes, but can imagine that someone could think of a reason that it might not be... like if you agreed to let someone store confidential info there, or something else odd like that.
What is the situation?
iNTaYkE
Jul 19, 2006, 05:04 AM
I just want to see if my other computer would detect it. How legal is hacking anyway? Isn't hacking only illegal if you do unauthorized harm to a computer or obtain financial or other personal information?
NeedKarma
Jul 19, 2006, 05:06 AM
In legal terms the word hacking is not used, unauthorized access or wire fraud are some of the terms used. It depends on what the action was.
Curlyben
Jul 19, 2006, 05:07 AM
Hacking:
1. Informal. To alter (a computer program): hacked her text editor to read
HTML.
2. To gain access to (a computer file or network) illegally or without
Authorization: hacked the firm's personnel database.
iNTaYkE
Jul 19, 2006, 05:07 AM
I just want to see if my other computer would detect it. Does the program I would use affect weather or not its legal?
NeedKarma
Jul 19, 2006, 05:09 AM
I just want to see if my other computer would detect it. Does the program I would use affect weather or not its legal?What program are you planning to use and where are the two computers?
iNTaYkE
Jul 19, 2006, 05:10 AM
I'm not sure what program to use yet since I'm not sure if they are legal or not. The two computers are in the same house.
Curlyben
Jul 19, 2006, 05:11 AM
If both machines are owned by yourself, then as NK pointed out this ISN'T hacking and is perfectly legal.
What app you use is completely irrelevant
NeedKarma
Jul 19, 2006, 05:13 AM
If you are using Windows then you do not need any external programs to see if the computers can "see" each other over your home network.
iNTaYkE
Jul 19, 2006, 05:14 AM
But would using external programs be illegal?
NeedKarma
Jul 19, 2006, 05:18 AM
Not if you are staying within your private network - you can do whatever you want there.
iNTaYkE
Jul 19, 2006, 05:22 AM
All right, thanks for the help everyone.
ScottGem
Jul 19, 2006, 06:01 AM
Hacking has many meanings and levels. Generally it refers to gaining access to some hardware and/or software through a means not provided by the makers of the hardware/software.
Hacking, by itself, is not illegal. Gaining unauthorized access to a private computer system is illegal in the US. Don't know about laws outside the US.
Possessing hacking tools is generally not illegal, though some tools are like the ones that permit copying of encrypted DVDs.