How to Make It Look Like You Are Hacking

Last Updated: March 29, 2023 References

Maybe you have a reputation as a computer genius, or maybe you just want people to think you are. Hacking requires extensive computer knowledge, so when people see what they think is hacking, they are quickly impressed. You don't have to do anything illegal to make people think that you're hacking—you can even fake hacking using nothing but the Windows Command Prompt (CMD) or a web browser like Chrome! Read on for tips on looking like a hacker using basic terminal commands and simulators.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using the Command Prompt

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Open the "Run" function on your computer. You can do this by clicking the start menu and finding the "Run" function, or you can do a general search of your computer for "Run" and find it that way.
- Windows users can use hotkeys to open Run feature in two keystrokes: ⊞ Win+R^{[1]
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Open the Command Prompt window. You can do so by typing in "Cmd" into the search box in your Run window. This will open the Command Prompt, also known as a Command Line, which is a text based way for you to communicate with your computer.^{[2]
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- Apple users can open the command line of the Terminal, the Mac version of Command Prompt, by using Spotlight search or a general computer search for "terminal".^{[3]
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3
Use the Command Prompt or Terminal to imitate hacking. There are many commands that can be used in Windows Command Prompt and Apple Terminal to execute commands or query for information. The following commands, while looking impressive, will not damage your software and are not illegal.
- Windows users might try typing the following commands, hitting ↵ Enter after each command, in relatively quick succession to make the process seem more complex:
  - color a^{[4]
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    - This will change your Command window text from white to green with a black background. Replace the letter following "color" with the numbers 0 - 9 or the letters A - F to change your Command Prompt font color.
  - dir
  - ipconfig
  - tree
  - ping google.com
    - The Ping command checks if a device can communicate with another over a network (but the common person doesn't know that). Google is used as an example here, but you can use any site.
- If you own an Apple computer, you can use the following safe commands to fill your screen with what looks like professional hacking. Input the following into your Terminal window to achieve that effect:
  - top
  - ps -fea
  - ls -ltra
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Alternate between commands and windows. You can open a few Command Prompt or Terminal windows, using various commands to make it seem as though you are performing several highly complex, unrelated processes at once.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Making a .bat File in Windows

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Open notepad. To make a .bat file, you will have to write plain text in a text editor and save it so that your computer reads this text as executable commands.^{[5]
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Research source} Notepad or any other basic text editor will work to write a .bat file.
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Write the processes for your .bat file in notepad. The following text will open a window with green font, entitled "Hack Window." To change the title, you can change the entry following "title" in your notepad file to your preference. The text "@echo off" hides the command prompt, while "tree" will display a directory tree, making the hacking seem more realistic. The last line of text will ping google's server, which is not illegal yet looks like hacking to the untrained eye. Input the following text into your blank notepad document:^{[6]
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- color a
  title HACK WINDOW
  @echo off
  tree
  ping www.google.com -t
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Save your document as a .bat file. When saving your file, you will need to select "Save as." In the prompted dialogue box, name your file and end your name with ".bat". This will change your file from a text document to a batch file. Batch files contain text that gives your computer operating system a series of commands.^{[7]
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- This might not work on Windows Vista.
- You may receive a message warning you that saving a file with a .bat extension will remove all formatting. Click "Yes" to finish creating your .bat file.
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Run your .bat file. Double click your .bat file in its containing folder to open a window that will look, for all intents and purposes, like you are performing some complex computer process, like a hacker.^{[8]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Online Sites

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Open your web browser. Some websites are intended solely for the the purpose of imitating complex computer functions. Some of these are used for effect in movies or videos, or by users like yourself!^{[9]
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Check out hackertyper.net. This website creates hacker-like text at an rate that is sure to shock those watching.^{[10]
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Research source} One issue you may have with using this site to trick your friends is that it produces hacker-esque code too quickly, which may ruin the effect.
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Interface with geektyper.com's variously themed hack simulator. This site utilizes perhaps the most realistic hack-mimicking simulator. After arriving at the site homepage, choose a theme than proceed to type to prompt hacker-like text.^{[11]
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Research source} You can even click on folders to run elaborate, albeit fake, processes.
- Move between keystroke generated fake-hacker text and the fake processes that you can activate by clicking folders that will appear in your browser window after you choose a theme.
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Run these various sites in separate windows. Each of these sites has a slightly different feel and generates different styles of fake code/hacker text. You can alternate between open windows quickly by holding the Alt key and using Tab ↹ to cycle through your options. Type a few keystrokes into each window before Alt+Tab ↹-ing to a new fake-hacking browser window for improved effect. If the tabs are open on the same window, press Ctrl+Tab ↹.
- Try different arrangements of open windows, or you can leave a few open in the background to make it look like you're a king hacker.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

On Linux (Debian)

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Open a new window in terminal.^{[12]
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Type in: "sudo apt install hollywood" and then press ↵ Enter^{[13]
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- GUI package managers like Synaptic can be used as well
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Now type in "hollywood" and press ↵ Enter^{[14]
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Community Q&A

Question

Why would I want to do this?

Community Answer

You could do this to pull a prank on your friends or make them think you're a cool hacker!
Question

Can I use fake hacking websites for movies or videos to make it look like I'm hacking?

Community Answer

I don't see why not. Film audiences are generally pretty uneducated about hacking, so they'll believe anything you show them.
Question

What is mean by @echo off?

Akhosh T.A

Community Answer

This prevents the prompt and contents of the batch file from being displayed. It is mainly used in Windows command Prompt.

Warnings

People familiar with computer systems and code will quickly be able to figure out whether you're actually doing something or simply putting on a show. Choose the audience for your "hacking" wisely.

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Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1
Some adults might really think you are hacking, so be careful and don't get in trouble.

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Be careful when utilizing the Command Prompt. It is possible to accidentally type an executable command that damages a necessary file on your computer, which may corrupt your data or worse.^{[15]
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