System hacking is, however the act of gaining access, unauthorized to a computer system or network and exploiting vulnerabilities found in it for malicious purposes. Hackers who commit such an act can gain access, steal sensitive data alter it or destroy it, or they might use the system to penetrate other systems. Most usually, system hacking will proceed in several stages, involving such steps as reconnaissance and information gathering, exploitation and even maintaining access. Below is a step-by-step breakdown of system hacking, including common methods, phases, and tools used. --- ### **Phases of System Hacking** 1. **Reconnaissance (Information Gathering)**    - **Goal**: The first phase of hacking is to gather as much information as possible regarding the target system. It can include details about system architecture, services running, and network structure.    - **Methods**: - **Passive Reconnaissance**: The collection of publicly available information ...