Types of Hackers

Question 1

What is a hacker ?

Answer 1

A hacker is an individual who uses their computer and technical skills to gain access to systems and networks.

Question 2

Classifications of Hackers

Answer 2

The primary three types; every hacker fits into one of these three categories:

• Black hat hackers:
  black hats are hackers who use their knowledge and skills to discover and exploit security vulnerabilities for financial gain or malicious reasons.
• White hat hackers
  white hats are ethical hackers who use their knowledge and skills to improve a system’s security by discovering vulnerabilities before black hats do.
• Grey hat hackers
  grey hats are hackers who maybe aren’t quite as ethical as white hat hackers but also aren’t so morally egregious as black hat hackers (the middle ground, hence the grey).
• Now, the others:
• Suicide hackers
  suicide hackers are hackers who perform attacks for a cause despite the risk of being caught and prosecuted.
• Script kiddies
  Script kiddies are inexperienced hackers who don’t have enough knowledge or skills to perform hacks on their own. Instead, they use tools and scripts developed by more experienced hackers.
• Cyber terrorists
  cyber terrorists are hackers who are influenced by religious or political beliefs. They attempt to disrupt systems an networks in order to promote fear and unrest.
• State sponsored hackers
  state-sponsored hackers are recruited by governments to gain access to classified information about other governments.
• Hacktivists
  hacktivists break into government and corporate systems out of protest. They use their skills to promote a political or social agenda.