The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: An Overview of the Various Types of Hackers

Hacking is the act of exploiting the weaknesses or vulnerabilities of a system or network to gain unauthorized access or control. Hacking can be done for various purposes, such as stealing data, disrupting services, spreading malware, or just having fun. However, not all hackers are the same. There are different types of hackers based on their skills, intentions, and methods. In this article, we will explore some of the common types of hackers you may encounter in the cyber world.

## White Hat Hackers

White hat hackers are ethical hackers who work for the government or organizations to test their cybersecurity and find loopholes. They follow the rules and regulations and do not harm anyone. They are also called cybersecurity experts .

White hat hackers use their skills to protect the systems and networks from malicious attacks. They may perform penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, or security auditing to identify and fix the flaws. They may also educate the users and developers about the best practices and standards of cybersecurity. White hat hackers are often certified by professional organizations, such as the EC-Council or the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2 .

Some examples of white hat hackers are:

- Kevin Mitnick: He is a former black hat hacker who became a white hat hacker after serving time in prison. He is now a security consultant and the founder of Mitnick Security Consulting .

- Tsutomu Shimomura: He is a computer security expert who helped the FBI track down and arrest Kevin Mitnick in 1995. He is also a co-author of the book Takedown: The Pursuit and Capture of Kevin Mitnick, America's Most Wanted Computer Outlaw .

- Joanna Rutkowska: She is a Polish white hat hacker who is known for her research on rootkits, virtualization, and operating system security. She is also the founder of Invisible Things Lab and Qubes OS .

## Black Hat Hackers

Black hat hackers are the opposite of white hat hackers. They are cybercriminals who break into personal devices and networks using ransomware, spyware, phishing, and other techniques. They steal or destroy sensitive data for profit or personal gain. They are also called threat actors .

Black hat hackers use their skills to exploit the systems and networks for malicious purposes. They may target individuals, businesses, or governments to extort money, steal identities, or cause damage. They may also sell or leak the stolen data to other hackers or third parties. Black hat hackers are often motivated by financial gain, political agenda, or personal vendetta. Black hat hackers are usually anonymous and operate in the dark web .

Some examples of black hat hackers are:

- Anonymous: It is a collective name for a group of hackers who carry out cyberattacks against various targets, such as governments, corporations, or religious organizations. They are known for their signature Guy Fawkes masks and their slogan "We are Anonymous. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us." .

- LulzSec: It is a spin-off group of Anonymous that was active in 2011. They hacked into several high-profile websites, such as Sony, CIA, FBI, and PBS, and leaked their data. They claimed to do it for the "lulz" or the laughs. They are also known for their slogan "Laughing at your security since 2011!" .

- Albert Gonzalez: He is a former black hat hacker who was the mastermind behind the largest credit card theft in history. He hacked into the networks of several retailers, such as TJX, Heartland, and 7-Eleven, and stole over 170 million credit and debit card numbers. He was arrested in 2008 and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2010 .

## Grey Hat Hackers

Grey hat hackers are somewhere in between white hat and black hat hackers. They are not legally authorized hackers, but they may have good or bad intentions. They may use their skills for personal gain or to expose vulnerabilities to the public. They may also hack without permission but report the flaws to the owners .

Grey hat hackers use their skills to explore the systems and networks for curiosity or challenge. They may not cause any harm or damage, but they may also not follow the ethical standards or laws. They may also disclose the vulnerabilities to the public or sell them to other hackers or third parties. Grey hat hackers are often motivated by recognition, fame, or altruism. Grey hat hackers are usually ambiguous and unpredictable .

Some examples of grey hat hackers are:

- Adrian Lamo: He is a former grey hat hacker who hacked into several websites, such as The New York Times, Microsoft, and Yahoo, and reported the vulnerabilities to the owners. He also hacked into the computer network of the US Army and leaked classified information to WikiLeaks. He was arrested in 2010 and sentenced to six months of home confinement in 2011 .

- George Hotz: He is a grey hat hacker who is known for unlocking the iPhone and hacking the PlayStation 3. He also hacked into several cars, such as Tesla and Jeep, and exposed their security flaws. He is now a security researcher and the founder of Comma.ai .

- Samy Kamkar: He is a grey hat hacker who created the Samy worm, a self-propagating cross-site scripting (XSS) attack that infected over one million MySpace users in 2005. He also hacked into several devices, such as drones, cars, and garage doors, and demonstrated their security weaknesses. He is now a security consultant and the co-founder of Openpath .

## Other Types of Hackers

There are also other types of hackers, such as:

- Script kiddies: They are unskilled hackers who use scripts or tools provided by other hackers. They do not have much knowledge of hacking, but they try to attack systems and networks for fun or fame. They may use social engineering or other methods to trick victims. They are also called skiddies .

- Green hat hackers: They are amateurs who are interested in learning how to hack. They are different from script kiddies because they care about hacking and want to become full-blown hackers. They may ask questions to other hackers and listen to their advice. They are also called newbie hackers .

- Blue hat hackers: They are similar to white hat hackers, but they are not employed by the organizations they work for. They are outsourced by the companies to test their software or systems before the launch. They may also be hackers who seek revenge on those who have offended them. They are also called revenge hackers .

- Red hat hackers: They are like white hat hackers, but they are more aggressive and ruthless. They try to stop black hat hackers by attacking them back and destroying their systems. They may use illegal methods or malware to do so. They are also called vigilante hackers or eagle-eyed hackers .

- State-sponsored hackers: They are hackers who are hired by the government to spy on other countries or organizations. They may collect confidential information or sabotage their enemies. They may also launch cyberattacks or cyberwarfare. They are also called nation-state hackers or cyber soldiers .

These are some of the types of hackers that exist in the cyber world. There are also other types of hackers, such as hacktivists, bounty hunters, malware developers, phreakers, cryptojackers, elite hackers, and more.