Show The term “hacker” is popularly associated with cybercriminals harboring malicious intentions, when in reality, it’s a lot more. A hacker can be anyone who utilizes their computer software and hardware knowledge to break down and bypass a computer, device, or network’s security measures. It’s popularly believed hacking is illegal on principle, which isn’t the case if a system owner willingly and knowingly grants access. In fact, many private entities and government agencies hire hackers to help maintain their system’s security. There are two main factors that determine what type of hacker an individual is: their motives and legality of their actions. Hackers are divided into three types—white, black, and grey hat, a naming system that was derived from old western films, where the protagonists would always wear white hats and vice versa for villain characters. 1. Black Hat Black hat hackers are normally responsible for creating malware, which is frequently used to infiltrate computerized networks and systems. They’re usually motivated by personal or financial gain, but can also participate in espionage, protests, or merely enjoy the thrill. Black hat hackers can be anyone from amateurs to highly experienced and knowledgeable individuals looking to spread malware, steal private data, like login credentials, along with financial and personal information. Upon accessing their targets and depending on their motives, black hat hackers can either steal, manipulate, or destroy system data. 2. White Hat Also known as “ethical hackers,” they’re often employed or contracted by companies and governmental entities, working as security specialists looking for vulnerabilities. While they employ the same methods as black hat hackers, they always have permission from the system’s owner, making their actions completely legal. White hat hackers implement strategies like penetration tests, monitor in-place security systems, along with vulnerability assessments. Ethical hacking, the term used to describe the nature of a white hat hackers’ actions, can even be learned through independent sources, training, conferences, and certifications. 3. Grey Hat As the name suggests, these individuals utilize aspects from black and white hat hackers, but will usually seek out vulnerabilities in a system without an owner’s permission or knowledge. While they’ll report any issues they encounter to the owner, they’ll also request some sort of compensation or incentive. Should the owner not respond or reject their proposition, a grey hat hacker might exploit the newfound flaws. Grey hat hackers aren’t malicious by nature, but do seek to have their efforts rewarded. Since grey hat hackers don’t have permission to access the system by its owner, their actions are ultimately considered illegal, despite any alarming findings they might reveal. Filed Under: M2M (machine to machine)
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Computer hackers can also try to access your computer and private information directly if you are not protected by a firewall. They can monitor your conversations or peruse the back-end of your personal website. Usually disguised with a bogus identity, predators can lure you into revealing sensitive personal and financial information, or much worse. What are things that a hacker can do to me?
Predators who stalk people while online can pose a serious physical threat. Using extreme caution when agreeing to meet an online “friend” or acquaintance in person is always the best way to keep safe. How will I know if I've been hacked?
What can I do about computer hackers and predators?
Protect yourself while online
Security Tips to Prevent Hacking
Practice safe email and virus/malware protocols
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A hacker is an individual who uses computer, networking or other skills to overcome a technical problem. The term also may refer to anyone who uses their abilities to gain unauthorized access to systems or networks in order to commit crimes. A hacker may, for example, steal information to hurt people via identity theft or bring down a system and, often, hold it hostage in order to collect a ransom. The term hacker has historically been a divisive one, sometimes being used as a term of admiration for individuals who exhibit a high degree of skill and creativity in their approach to technical problems. However, the term is also commonly applied to individuals who use this skill for illegal or unethical purposes. Hacker was first used in the 1960s to describe a programmer or an individual who, in an era of highly constrained computer capabilities, could increase the efficiency of computer code in a way that removed, or hacked, excess machine code instructions from a program. It has evolved over the years to refer to someone with an advanced understanding of computers, networking, programming or hardware. Hackers use technical skills to exploit cybersecurity defenses. Ethical hackers test for cybersecurity vulnerabilities and may take up hacking as a profession -- for example, a penetration tester (pen tester) -- or as a hobby. The end goal is often to gain unauthorized access to computers, networks, computing systems, mobile devices or internet of things systems. Many professional hackers use their skills to determine security holes in enterprise systems and then advise where companies should boost their security defenses to keep threat actors out. Results can also be deleterious: Malicious hackers may steal login credentials, financial information and other types of sensitive information. Many hackers aim to exploit either technical or social weaknesses to breach defenses. Technical weaknesses may include vulnerabilities in software or other exploitable weak spots. To exploit social weaknesses, hackers may attempt to manipulate social outcomes through false pretenses, such as impersonating a co-worker or other individual to gain financial or login information. Hackers may also use their technical skills to install dangerous malware, steal or destroy data, or disrupt an organization's services. Hackers of all types participate in forums to exchange hacking information and tradecraft. There are numerous hacker forums where ethical hackers can discuss or ask questions about hacking. Many of these hacker forums offer technical guides with step-by-step instructions on hacking. In contrast, forums and marketplaces serving threat actors or criminal hackers are often hosted on the dark web and provide an outlet for offering, trading and soliciting illegal hacking services. Criminal hackers, who sometimes lack technical skills, often use scripts and other specifically designed software programs to break into corporate networks. This software may manipulate network data to gather intelligence about the workings of the target system. These scripts can be found posted on the internet for anyone, usually entry-level hackers, to use. Hackers with limited skills are sometimes called script kiddies, referring to their need to use malicious scripts and their inability to create their own code. Advanced malicious hackers might study these scripts and then modify them to develop new methods.
In the past, the security community informally used references to hat color as a way to identify different types of hackers, usually divided into five main types. A few of these terms have been replaced to reflect cultural changes.
While the technological basis of these techniques is constantly evolving to keep up with developments in cybersecurity, the following common hacking techniques are persistent:
While many famous technologists have been considered hackers -- including Donald Knuth, Ken Thompson, Vinton Cerf, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates -- threat actors are more likely to gain notoriety as hackers in mainstream accounts. Gates was also caught breaking into corporate systems as a teenager before founding Microsoft. Some notorious threat actors include the following:
While not all types of hacking are considered malicious, the presence of threat actors necessitates strong cybersecurity defenses for enterprises, especially those dealing with sensitive information. Breaches in security can cause financial loss, as well as irreversible damage to an organization's reputation. This guide on data security touches on the different types of data security, best practices and tips for building a security strategy. As remote work can increase cybersecurity risks, it is important to manage cybersecurity accordingly in the new digital age.
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