Hacking generally refers
to unauthorized intrusion into a computer or a network. The person engaged in
hacking activities is known as a hacker. This hacker may alter system or
security features to accomplish a goal that differs from the original purpose
of the system.
Hacking can also refer to
non-malicious activities, usually involving unusual or improvised alterations
to equipment or processes.
Hacking is identifying
weakness in computer systems or networks to exploit its weaknesses to gain
access. Example of Hacking: Using password cracking algorithm to gain access
to a system
Computers have become mandatory to run a successful
businesses. It is not enough to have isolated computers systems; they need to
be networked to facilitate communication with external businesses. This exposes
them to the outside world and hacking. Hacking means using computers to commit
fraudulent acts such as fraud, privacy invasion, stealing corporate/personal
data, etc. Cyber crimes cost many organizations millions of dollars every year.
Businesses need to protect themselves against such attacks.
Who are hackers ?
The basic definition of a hacker is
someone who uses a computer system to gain unauthorized access to another
system for data or who makes another system unavailable. These hackers will use
their skills for a specific goal, such as stealing money, gaining fame by
bringing down a computer system, or making a network unavailable -- even
sometimes destroying them. However, there are three different types of hackers,
each with a particular goal, and not all are the bad guys.
Types of Hackers
The three types of hackers are the white hat hacker, the grey hat
hacker, and the black hat hacker. Each type of hacker hacks for a different
reason, a cause, or both. All have the required skills needed to accomplish their
mission. At one end of the spectrum is the black hat, who hacks for evil and
malicious intent and without permission. On the other end of the spectrum is
the white hat, who hacks against a black hat in order to protect computer and
network access and has the company's permission to do so. In the middle is the
grey hat, who hacks not for evil and not for good; they are neutral in their
cause and usually try to sell their skills for monetary gain, like a mercenary.
Black Hat Hacker - Evil Doer
The black hat hacker is the one who
hacks for malicious intent - he is the bad guy. This type of hacker uses his or
her skills to steal money or data, knock a computer system offline, or even
destroy them. Some of these hackers love to see their work and name in the
news, so they would try to target big name organizations and companies. For
instance, they might change the front page of a company website.
Black hats
also try to break into computer systems to steal credit card information and
possibly steal valuable information to sell on the black market. They may even
lock out the computer and network system from the owners and then hold them for
ransom.
The black
hat works outside of the law. This is the hacker that we as a society are most
familiar with. Some black hats have cost companies hundreds of millions of
dollars in damages for credit card and social security information theft. They
can work alone, in that case known as a lone wolf, or with a team. They work
slowly and methodically, since the black hat knows it takes patience to
compromise a computer or a network system in order to a hit a big payoff and
not be caught.
White hat hackers
Also known as ethical hackers,
strive to operate in the public's best interest, rather than to create turmoil.
Many white hat hackers work doing penetration testing, hired to attempt to
break into the company's networks to find and report on security
vulnerabilities. The security firms then help their customers mitigate security
issues before criminal hackers can exploit them.
Gray hat hackers
They fall somewhere between white hat hackers and black hat hackers.
While their motives may be similar to those of white hat hackers, gray hats are
more likely than white hat hackers to access systems without authorization; at
the same time, they are more likely than black hat hackers to avoid doing
unnecessary damage to the systems they hack. Although they aren't typically --
or only -- motivated by money, gray hat hackers may offer to fix
vulnerabilities they have discovered through their own, unauthorized,
activities rather than using their knowledge to exploit vulnerabilities for
illegal profit.
Personally, if I had a company I would not employ an ex black hat
hacker or a Gray hat hacker because they can get to know a lot about my systems
and probably be damaging to me if they get unemployed.
I would honestly employ a white hat hacker as he wouldn't hack my
systems as the nature of his work makes him unable to do so.
Resources :
1- https://www.webroot.com/gb/en/resources/tips-articles/computer-security-threats-hackers
2-https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/hacking
3- https://www.malwarebytes.com/hacker/