"might counter hack even, but since it's a defense to being hacked in the first place, it shouldn't illegal. " Perhaps it shouldn't be illegal, but as of now i

"might counter hack even, but since it's a defense to being hacked in the first place, it shouldn't illegal. " Perhaps it shouldn't be illegal, but as of now it very definitely is illegal. There are no 'self-defence' clauses in current computer security laws, and any "counter-hack" is exactly as illegal as an equivalent "direct-hack", it literally does not matter if you did it as a defense.