Hacking requires a significant amount of prerequisite knowledge that goes beyond just knowing how to use the Internet normally. The author reflects on their own learning journey, realizing that understanding the basics of web applications, web servers, HTTP, SSL, TCP/IP, and DNS is crucial for hacking. However, it's not necessary to have in-depth knowledge of every concept; rather, having a broad shallow knowledge of everything can be beneficial. This approach allows for Just-In-Time Learning, where new skills or concepts are learned as needed. The author emphasizes the importance of foundational knowledge, which serves as the foundation for more advanced knowledge and creativity. With strong foundational knowledge, hackers can recognize dangerous edge cases, chain vulnerabilities together, and uncover more bugs with higher severities. Ultimately, gaining foundational knowledge is essential for hacking success.