What is the act of accessing systems without permission or authorization called?

The act of accessing systems without permission or authorization is referred to as Unauthorized Access. This term is widely recognized in the fields of cybersecurity and counterintelligence to describe activities that violate access controls or security protocols set by an organization or system owner.

This concept encompasses a variety of scenarios where individuals bypass authentication mechanisms or exploit vulnerabilities to gain entry into computer systems or networks. Unauthorized Access can lead to data theft, information leakage, or other malicious activities that pose significant risks to the security and integrity of information systems.

While other terms related to unauthorized access exist, they often have specific contexts or implications. For instance, Intrusion might refer to the specific act of breaking in but doesn’t emphasize the lack of permission as directly. System Breach typically indicates a significant compromise of security, often involving multiple layers of access and potentially resulting in data loss or exposure. Access Violation usually pertains to an error or event that indicates a breach of established access controls, but it does not inherently clarify the act of accessing systems without authorization.

Thus, Unauthorized Access is the most direct and clear descriptor for the action of entering a system without permission, aligning with the definition used in counterintelligence and information security practices.