Hacking legal or illegal

The term "hacking" is often used as if it's synonymous with illegal computer access. Hacking isn't necessarily a criminal activity, however. A computer hacker can simply be someone who knows how to circumvent the limitations of a device or a piece of software. Ethical hackers often break into computer systems -- with permission -- to find vulnerabilities and improve security. Hacking is a crime when the perpetrators access systems without the owner's permission.