Who is a Hacker?

A hacker, by definition, is a person who is highly interested in the workings of computers and likes to experiment with them. They gather and learn advanced topics in the field and discover loopholes and the reasons behind them. Now, you may wonder the typical stereotype of a hacker you know is the “bad guy” who hacks others for money. In reality, that’s just one of the types of hackers we’re going to discuss. If you know more in-depth details about a technique, you will probably have the chance to find problems in the architecture, right? For example, in the real world, if you know everything about your home, all the possible ways in and out, then there’s a chance you know something that others normally don’t.

How do hackers get to know a lot of information about computer stuff? Hackers learn through books, the internet, and other resources. Some of the highly talented ones follow the Strawhat Hackers Blog too, and future experts also follow our blog, just like you. So now, let’s discover the types of hackers in detail.

Types of Hackers

Firstly, we can discover the main types of hackers. There are three main types of hackers out there:

1. White Hat Hackers
2. Black Hat Hackers
3. Gray Hat Hackers

1. White Hat Hackers

White hat hackers are the professionals who help secure systems. Unlike malicious hackers, they are authorized or certified to work for governments and organizations, conducting penetration tests to uncover vulnerabilities. By doing so, they prevent cybercrimes from black hat hackers by identifying weaknesses first and informing the system owners with suggested fixes. This proactive approach helps stop criminals before they can act.

Operating within the rules and regulations set by the government, these professionals call them “ethical hackers”.

2. Black Hat Hackers

Black hat hackers also called Crackers are the malicious actors in the hacking world. Black hats often gain unauthorized access to systems, steal or destroy vital data, and disrupt operations. Furthermore, their motivations can vary, including money, fame, or even personal enjoyment. In popular culture, they are shown as the “evil” hackers, but in real life, they often look very different.

Black hats possess the same level of knowledge and skillset as white hat hackers, but their objectives are different.

3. Gray Hat Hackers

White + Black = Gray

Gray hat hackers are a mixture of white hats and black hats. Gray hats are not legally authorized hackers and may work with both good and bad intentions. However, if they use their skills for personal gain, they people consider them black hats. Gray hats sometimes take down websites that engage in illegal activities, but they don’t have approval to do so. While their intentions may be good, their actions are illegal, which is why these hackers people classify them under the “gray” category.

Now, we can explore some other types of hackers out in the wild internet:

4. Green Hat Hackers
5. Red Hat Hackers
6. Blue Hat Hackers
7. Script Kiddies
8. Hacktivist
9. Whistleblower
10. State/Nation Sponsored Hackers

We can explore these types of hackers in detail, but in short.

4. Green Hat Hackers

Green hats are beginners who have just entered the field of hacking. Every great hacker was once a green hat. At this stage, they are still learning and experimenting with hacking techniques to develop their skills. They tend to rely on tutorials and guides but can be very curious about exploiting vulnerabilities.

5. Red Hat Hackers

Red hats are like vigilantes. They often target black hat hackers. They don’t report them; instead, they take matters into their own hands and use aggressive tactics to disable or destroy their infrastructure. Think of red hats as “hunters who hunt other hunters.” It is also illegal to fight against criminals by using the same tactics they use.

6. Blue Hat Hackers

Blue hats are not full-time hackers, but individuals who test systems for vulnerabilities. They are hired by companies or other organizations to find security holes in their platforms before others do. They act as security consultants, using their hacking skills to ensure the safety of systems.

7. Script Kiddies

After reading about the above types of hackers, you might think that black hats and red hats are the most dangerous among them, but here come the script kiddies, the most dangerous type of hackers. Now, you might think they are some kind of experts, but it’s the exact opposite. Often seen as inexperienced hackers, script kiddies rely on pre-written scripts or tools to carry out attacks. But how can such people be the most dangerous? This is because they don’t understand things in detail and instead follow tutorials or guides to execute their hacks. Despite their limited knowledge, they can still cause harm, as their actions are often unrefined but widespread.

Think of it like this: there’s a person who doesn’t know how to aim or shoot. What happens if we give them a gun full of bullets and let them shoot? Yeah, that’s the case with script kiddies.

8. Hacktivist

Hacker + Activist = Hacktivist.

Hackers who are motivated by the ideology of their politics or society are called hacktivists. They use hacking skills as a form of protest. They may fight against governments, organizations, or corporations they believe are causing harm or acting unjustly. Their main methods of attack include website defacements, DDoS attacks, and data leaks to get their message across. Their ultimate goal is to raise awareness or draw attention to a cause.

9. Whistleblower

A whistleblower is someone who tries to expose illegal or unethical activities within an organization, often at great personal risk. While not necessarily a hacker by trade, they may use hacking tools or techniques to access and disclose sensitive information that the public or authorities should be aware of. They are the kind of people who reveal injustices happening within an organization or even the government itself.

10. State/Nation Sponsored Hackers

State-sponsored hackers are hired by governments or nation-states to conduct cyberattacks or cyber-espionage. These hackers typically target government systems, companies, or critical infrastructure of other countries. They have ample resources and tend to be very skilled. The objectives of their hacks can vary from espionage and sabotage to intelligence gathering.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed different types of hackers, ranging from ethical hackers to the most dangerous ones. It’s always best to become an ethical hacker, as engaging in activities like those of black hat or gray hat hackers can lead to serious legal consequences.