The following are the phases of malicious hacking:

1. Reconnaissance: In this phase, the attacker gathers information about the victim.
2. Scanning: In this phase, the attacker begins to probe the target for vulnerabilities that can be exploited.
3. Gaining Access: In this phase, the attacker exploits a vulnerability to gain access into the system.
4. Maintaining Access: In this phase, the attacker maintains access to fulfill his purpose of entering into the network.
5. Covering Tracks: In this phase, the attacker attempts to cover his tracks so that he cannot be detected or penalized under criminal law.