I never said it wasn't illegal. Like I said multiple times I just don't think the term "hacking" is accurate. Put simply, if you stumble upon someone who leaves their username and password on a post it note near their machine is that hacking? To me, hacking is attacking security via various methods. I suppose you could argue this on a very very low level is that but this is far from a skillful act from what's being reported.
OK, if you try several different times to guess my password - through software that keeps trying various combinations, or just by dumb luck - and you access my data, you have HACKED into my system.
If you think you know my password because of something I used previously - You know I used my daughter's name in the past, so you try that unsuccessfully, and then try my son's and it works*, is that not hacking?
You keep derailing the thread discussing whether or not it is hacking. It is the definition of hacking. See (b) below.
7.
Computers.
a) to modify (a computer program or electronic device) or write (a program) in a skillful or clever way: Developers have hacked the app.
I hacked my tablet to do some very cool things.
b) to circumvent security and break into (a network, computer, file, etc.), usually with malicious intent: Criminals hacked the bank's servers yesterday.
