Different types of hackers

In a previous article I talked about the definition of hacking and all there is to it. In this one I'm writing about various types of hackers. You might say Types of hackers ? Is there really such as thing ? I'm here to tell you that there are various types of hackers and I'm going over the most common ones here.

How are Hackers classified ?

Hackers are classified based on what they use their hacking knowledge to achieve. Supposing a major vulnerability is found in a system the first category of hackers would try to fix that vulnerability to improve security while the other would try to exploit that to his/her own benefit such as stealing money or destroying such systems for revenge or some other reason

Types of hackers

There are 5 main categories of hackers namely:

  1. White hat hacker:
    This type of hacker also called an Ethical hacker reports and patches found vulnerabilities found in systems in order to improve the security of such systems. They can also be regarded to as the Good guys in the hacking world. This type of hackers can be found everywhere and are always willing to help each others
  2. Black hat hackers
    Black hat hackers are the exact opposite of white hats. They are the ones who exploit vulnerabilities to steal money and other sensitive information. They poison databases, hack banks, create online scams and all other illegal stuffs
  3. Grey hat hackers
    These guys are all over the hacking community including myself, we hack for the fun of it not having good intensions or bad intensions just neutral. This type of hackers can find a vulnerability in a system and choose to ignore it or exploit it depending on situation. Sometimes they do illeagal things but still classified as neutral
  4. Script kiddies
    This type of hackers have no knowledge of how computers and hacks works but are still able to penetrate systems with tools made by real hackers. They simply use tools to do all their hacks and have no knowledge of how they work whatsoever
  5. Hacktivists
    These are Hackers who use their hacking knowledge to protest against injustice and hack systems to prove their notion. You can consider them as freedom fighters of the cyber world

Other categories of hackers include

  • Red hat hackers
  • Blue hat hackers
  • Green hat hackers

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