Hacking began in the 1960s with skilled individuals experimenting on computer systems. In the 1970s, hacker culture grew with individuals like Captain Crunch exploiting phone systems and others creating devices like blue boxes. The 1980s saw the emergence of hacking groups like the 414s and viruses written by people such as Robert Morris. Hacking continued to evolve through the 1990s and 2000s with new technologies shaping how people accessed and manipulated computer systems both legally and illegally.