import java.lang.reflect.*; class Example { private String _name; public Example(String name) { _name = name; } public String toString() { return "Hello, I am " + _name; } } public class BreakPrivacy { public static final void main(String[] args) throws Exception { Example foo = new Example("Eric"); for (Field f : Example.class.getDeclaredFields()) { if (f.getName().equals("_name")) { // make it accessible f.setAccessible(true); // get private field System.out.println(f.get(foo)); // set private field f.set(foo, "Edith"); System.out.println(foo); break; } } } }