The illegal access to a network or computer system is___________

Several words in computing sound similar but describe different actions around computer security. It is important to distinguish gaining entry without permission from the tools used to break in, and from copying software illegally.

The illegal access to a network or computer system, breaking through its protection to get in without authorisation, is known as cracking. A "cracker" is someone who deliberately defeats passwords or security measures to gain unauthorised entry, often with harmful intent.

"Security" refers to the protective measures themselves, not the act of breaking them. A "virus" is a harmful program that can spread and damage data, but it is not itself the act of gaining illegal access. "Piracy" specifically means the unauthorised copying or distribution of software or media, which is a different offence from breaking into a system.

Keep these apart in your mind: cracking is unauthorised entry, piracy is unauthorised copying, and a virus is a type of malicious program.