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| Different Types of Hackers |
Hacking is the process of breaking into a computer network or other electronic device without authorization. People break into a system either to do harm or to expose flaws in the security measures already in place.
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There are some others whose motivations are still murky or even contradictory.
There are six main types of hackers:
- White Hat Hacker
- Black Hat Hacker
- Red Hat Hacker
- Grey Hat Hacker
- Hacktivist
- Script Kiddie
- White Hat Hacker
White hat hackers are morally upright hackers who use their expertise to find security gaps in existing systems and work to close them. Companies that frequently handle sensitive data as well as government organisations in charge of national security are in great need of these professionals. White hat hackers are highly sought after in the modern internet age because of the sharp rise in cybercrimes.
White hat hackers are frequently hired by private companies to work on their internal IT security teams. Additionally, white hat hackers take part in bug bounty programs and work as independent cybersecurity consultants. Companies that run bug-bounty schemes lavishly reward ethical hackers who can find and point out exploitable flaws.
White hat hackers will attempt to break into computer systems using any means possible and think almost exactly like black hat hackers. They don't steal any information or cause any trouble, though. Finding vulnerabilities that could endanger confidential information is made much easier by using white hat hacking techniques.
- Black Hat Hacker
Black hat hackers are nefarious online users who attempt to hack into networks and systems in order to steal sensitive data. A black hat hacker may also delete or alter some important files in addition to stealing them to cause trouble and suffer losses. The demand for cybersecurity has been sparked by these people.
Yahoo experienced one of the worst data breaches in history between 2013 and 2014. The 3 billion user accounts had almost all been compromised, according to the internet giant. Names, birthdates, email addresses, and passwords were among the information that was stolen. Also disclosed was the theft of hundreds of millions of phone numbers associated with Yahoo accounts.
This was arguably the worst cyberattack in history, seriously harming Yahoo's reputation and significantly lowering its value before being acquired by Verizon.
Marriott International, a high-end hotel chain, revealed in 2018 that hackers had stolen the data of nearly 500 million customers. Passport data, contact information, and travel schedules were all stolen. A hundred million customers' credit card information were also lost by Marriott as a result of the attack.
In order to gain unauthorized access to systems and cause havoc, black hat hackers will employ any necessary means. In response to rising cybersecurity awareness, they keep improving their techniques.
- Grey Hat Hacker
White hat and black hat hackers both use techniques that are similar to grey hat hackers. However, they are not acting maliciously. These are a few of the most prevalent categories of online hackers. A grey hat hacker might gain access to a company's private servers, but rather than stealing data, they would alert the management to the weakness.
The hacker may occasionally offer to fix it for a fee as well. They don't offer their services as security consultants or steal data. However, they aren't overly concerned with other people's cybersecurity.
Secure databases are maintained by numerous businesses at various locations. A grey hat hacker typically looks for ways to obtain such private information for illegal purposes. If an exploitable vulnerability is in fact present, the hacker gets in touch with company representatives to let them know so that the proper steps can be taken.
- Red Hat Hacker
Red hat hackers are akin to online law enforcement personnel. They actively look for and take down black hat hackers. When they do, they take matters into their own hands rather than reporting the hacker to the police. The potential attackers' computer will be hacked by a red hat hacker, who will then stop any malicious activity.
A red hat hacker, for instance, can overwhelm a black hacker's network to thwart his attempts. Additionally, some red hat hackers may use aggressive techniques that could totally destroy a black hat hacker's computer.
Red hat hacker teams may collaborate instead of acting alone to attack numerous black hat hackers.
- Hacktivist
Hacktivists are hackers who attempt to gain attention for a particular cause by breaking into the networks or websites of pertinent companies. A hacktivist may vandalize a company's or governmental organization's website in an effort to draw attention to and protest against a certain policy.
Anonymous is one of the most well-known online hacktivist organizations. The group gained international attention for its campaigns against the terrorist group ISIS. Nearly 150 ISIS-related websites were successfully taken down by Anonymous, who also tracked down almost 100,000 Twitter accounts and 5,000 videos that spread misinformation and hatred.
Another well-known instance of hacktivism is Wikileaks. Thousands of highly-classified government documents about the US war in Afghanistan were successfully obtained and made public by the organization. In several instances, US soldiers killed Afghan civilians and reported them as collateral damage, according to the documents that were leaked.
Additionally, Wikileaks released documents pointing to wrongdoings intended to harm Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders' 2016 election campaign.
- Script Kiddie
A script kiddie is a novice hacker who is only familiar with the most fundamental hacking methods. Script kids are unlikely to harm the environment significantly. These individuals typically use open-source hacking software or obtain it from acquaintances. Script kids are at best potential hackers and do not pose a serious threat to anyone's data. These people can redirect more traffic to a website's slower page and deface it.
The threat of cybercrime is multiplied by a digital world that is becoming more connected. The lack of skilled cybersecurity professionals creates exciting career opportunities as more internet companies start up. As a result, it offers governments a fantastic chance to boost employment and make the internet safer.
IFF Lab's cybersecurity courses can help you develop the skills necessary to become a highly sought-after ethical hacker. Forge a lucrative career by learning from seasoned industry professionals through practical training sessions.
Also read: What is ethical hacking? A guide for beginners
Happy Learning!
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