Technically yes, but it's difficult to do. Also remember that most
Linux computers that are hacked are servers. Assuming you have a
desktop, you should be very secure. Because your computer isn't going
to be controlled remotely, it by default denies incoming connections
like SSH. This means that no one, even if they know your password, can
remotely control your computer. So you are relatively safe from online
attacks. Note that it is possible for a script on a website to break
out of your browser's sandbox, use a privilege escalation exploit, gain
root access, and plant a rootkit, (basically pwn you completely), but
this is VERY difficult and the average exploit for Linux is patched in
two hours (or that's what I heard at least), so it'd take a really,
really excellent hacker to do that, and a hacker at that level wouldn't
be interested in your computer.
The other way a hacker could get into your computer is through malicious code that they trick you into downloading (aka malware). Linux is very safe from malware and hackers for many reasons:
1) All programs are by default not run as root, which means they can't change system files. You'd have to be a fool to run all your programs as root. ONLY run a program as root if you trust that it won't stab you in the back...
The other way a hacker could get into your computer is through malicious code that they trick you into downloading (aka malware). Linux is very safe from malware and hackers for many reasons:
1) All programs are by default not run as root, which means they can't change system files. You'd have to be a fool to run all your programs as root. ONLY run a program as root if you trust that it won't stab you in the back...