To hack is to cut something roughly, often with repeated heavy blows, or, in computing, to gain unauthorized access to a computer system. Informally, it can also mean to find a clever, quick solution to a problem.
From Middle English “hakken,” “to cut, chop,” probably of Germanic origin. The computer sense developed in the mid-20th century among programmers who saw themselves as playful tinkerers.
Hack jumped from axes to keyboards: from chopping wood to chopping code. Today, it carries two opposite flavors—criminal “hacking” into systems and creative “life hacks” that make things easier.
In computing and hacker culture, “hack” and “hacker” emerged in overwhelmingly male spaces, and women’s contributions to programming and security were often minimized or framed as exceptions. The stereotype of the male hacker has shaped who is seen as legitimate in security and open‑source communities.
When talking about hacking or “life hacks,” avoid assuming hackers or technical tinkerers are men; highlight examples and imagery that include women and gender‑diverse people.
["shortcut","workaround","improvisation","exploit (security context)"]
Women have played crucial roles in software engineering, cybersecurity, and open‑source communities, even when excluded from stereotypical “hacker” imagery; naming their work helps counter the male‑only hacker myth.
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