The seven types of hackers are:
1. Script Kiddies: These are the novice hackers who use pre-written hacking scripts and programs to attack computer systems. They generally have little or no technical skills and rely on others to do the hard work for them.
2. Hacktivists: These are hackers who use their skills to promote a political or social agenda. They may hack government websites or corporate databases in order to make a statement or cause disruption.
3. Cybercriminals: These hackers commit crimes such as identity theft, fraud, and extortion for personal gain. Cybercriminals often operate in organized groups and can be very sophisticated in their attacks.
4. State-sponsored hackers: These are hackers employed by nation states to carry out espionage or cyber warfare against other countries. State-sponsored hacking teams are often very well financed and equipped with the latest tools and techniques.
Articles of Interest:
Black Hat. The stereotypical ‘hacker’ the kind you hear about on the news
Most people think of hackers as criminals. They envision someone sitting in a dark room, shrouded in shadows, typing away at a computer with nefarious intent. This is the stereotype of the black hat hacker.
Black hat hackers are the ones you hear about in the news. They are the ones who break into systems and steal data or cause damage. They may be motivated by money, politics, or just sheer mischief. Whatever their motivation, they operate outside of the law.
While some black hat hackers may have legitimate skills, they use them for illegal purposes. Hackers who engage in criminal activity can be charged with a variety of crimes, ranging from trespassing to fraud to theft to vandalism. In some cases, they may also be charged with terrorism if their actions are deemed to be part of a larger terrorist plot.
While most black hat hackers act alone, there are some who work together in groups or networks. These groups can be very organized and sophisticated, and they can pose a serious threat to businesses and governments alike. The best known example of such a group is Anonymous, which has been involved in numerous high-profile hacks over the years.
White Hat. The Yang to the Black Hat’s Yin, White Hat hackers are the polar opposite of the Black Hat in every way
White Hat hackers are the ethical hackers, the good guys. They use their powers for good, not evil. They follow a strict code of conduct and adhere to the highest standards of integrity.
Unlike Black Hats, who exploit vulnerabilities for personal gain or to cause damage, White Hats use their skills to find and fix security flaws before they can be exploited by others. They often work as part of a company’s security team or as independent consultants.
Some White Hats also engage in what is known as “ethical hacking,” which is basically using the same techniques as Black Hats but with permission from the target organization. Ethical hacking is used to test an organization’s security defenses and identify weaknesses that need to be fixed before they can be exploited by real attackers.
Not all White Hats are alike, however. There are different sub-types of White Hat hackers, each with their own focus and area of expertise.
Grey Hat
While grey hat hackers are not necessarily criminals, their actions can still cause harm. For example, if a grey hat hacker exposes a security vulnerability before it has been fixed, this could give malicious hackers an opportunity to exploit the flaw and cause damage.
Grey hat hacking can be difficult to distinguish from criminal hacking, as the two often use similar methods and tools. However, one key difference is that grey hat hackers generally do not have malicious intent-they are simply curious about how systems work and are motivated by challenges rather than malice.
Blue Hat
A blue hat hacker may be employed by a company to test its defenses against potential attacks. They identify vulnerabilities in systems and networks and work with the organization’s staff to fix them before they can be exploited. A blue hat hacker may also be part of a company’s incident response team, which investigates and responds to computer security breaches.
Most blue hat hackers have a good understanding of hacking techniques and tools, as well as how computer systems work. They use this knowledge to find weaknesses in systems so that they can be fixed before attackers find and exploit them.
While some blue hat hackers act without permission from the organizations whose systems they are testing, most operate with the full knowledge and consent of those organizations. Blue hat hacking is thus generally considered to be legal, ethical hacking.
Red Hat
Most Red Hat hackers are not malicious and simply enjoy the challenge of breaching security. However, some may use their skills to gain unauthorised access to systems for personal gain or to cause harm.
“There are two types of hackers: those who do it for fun and those who do it for profit. The former are usually more skilled, while
Green Hat
A Green Hat hacker may be someone who is just starting to learn about hacking, or someone who has been hacking for a while but doesn’t have a lot of experience. Either way, a Green Hat hacker is not as skilled as a Black Hat hacker, and usually doesn’t have the same malicious intent.
However, just because a Green Hat hacker isn’t as experienced as a Black Hat, doesn’t mean they can’t cause damage. A Green Hat hacker may not have the same level of skills as a Black Hat hacker, but they can still wreak havoc if they wanted to.
One of the most famous green Hats was the creator of the Melissa virus, David L. Smith. The Melissa virus was created in 1999 and quickly spread itself through email attachments. The virus infected over 1 million computers and caused an estimated $80 million in damages.
While Smith didn’t create the virus with malicious intent, it still goes to show that even inexperienced hackers can cause major problems.
Script Kiddie
The term was coined in the 1990s, and is still used today, although its meaning has changed somewhat over time. In the early days of hacking culture, a script kiddie was someone who was just starting out and didn’t yet have the skills to write their own hacking tools. Today, the term is often used to describe anyone who uses pre-existing tools to carry out attacks, regardless of their skill level.
While script kiddies may not have the technical expertise of more experienced hackers, they can still be dangerous. They often target vulnerable systems that haven’t been properly secured, and can cause serious damage if they are successful. In some cases, script kiddies have even been responsible for launching major attacks that have taken down entire websites or disrupted critical infrastructure.
Despite their lack of sophistication, script kiddies should not be underestimated. They can cause a lot of harm if they are able to exploit vulnerabilities in systems that are important to us. That’s why it’s important for everyone – not just experienced hackers – to learn about computer security and how to protect themselves from attack.