Hacker vs Ethical Hacking It’s possible that the word “hacker” sounds more like a spaghetti western or a fashion display in Paris. In spite of this, it is an ingenious method for differentiating between criminals who attempt to evade detection by computer systems for the purpose of theft and computer specialists who work to prevent such attempts.Â
In addition, there is another kind of hacker known as a grey hat, who engages in unethical computer behavior but does so without any malice in mind. For the time being, we will shift our attention to hackers who wear black and white hats and let them continue playing their risky game in peace.
What Is a Hacker Who Wears a Black Hat, and What Do They Do?
A technically proficient computer network specialist who is aware of how to circumvent security mechanisms is known as a “black hat hacker.” One or more of the following might be driving him or her: the desire for personal or financial gain, the desire to oppose a social cause, the need to avoid monitoring or just the excitement of committing cybercrime.Â
These cybercriminals devise malicious software, Trojan horses, ransomware, and viruses that have the potential to infect our computers and create problems for individual users as well as businesses. Hackers that wear black hats include everyone from students who want to improve their ranks to international criminals who steal financial records from top companies.
The following are some of the activities that often involve hackers wearing black hats:
1. Create malicious software and other forms of malicious code
The term “malware” refers to software that is harmful. The following categories of malicious software are among the most common:
- Viruses.
- Trojan horses.
- Worms in computer systems
- Botnets.
- Rootkits.
Malware is created and disseminated by hackers with the intention of compromising the security of a computer or system.
2. Take Advantage of the Weaknesses in the Security
Bugs that may be exploited by hackers as an access points in programs or weak spots in computer networks are referred to as vulnerabilities. However, were we aware that there are now accessible lists of prominent vulnerabilities that are found in the public domain? One such sample is a collection of common security flaws as well as vulnerabilities found in MITRE.
3. Engage in deception designed to socially engineer targets
Hackers that wear black hats enable individuals we know to make fraudulent use of social media accounts in order to disclose private, personal, or financial information, which they then utilize for nefarious reasons. They are also able to infiltrate the victim’s social media accounts and distribute links or files to other people in the victim’s network that contain malware.
4. People Who Are Being Blackmailed by Making Use of Spyware and Ransomware
Hackers that wear black hats are the ones who install spyware on the computers of their targets. They employ ransomware to encrypt crucial data or lock devices, and then they demand payment in order to regain access to the data or equipment. Or spyware might be used to keep track of the target’s whereabouts and activities. This kind of malicious software may either collect screenshots of the user’s activity or allow the hacker to remote view and access the user’s computer displays.
5. Implement Political Plans of Action
Sometimes the material is leaked to the media in order to add to the instability of the civil population or in order to question important leaders of the government.
6. Make Money Off Your Private or Discreet Information
It is possible that we may use this information ourselves or that we will sell it to our competitors or to other cybercriminals.
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What exactly is a “White Hat Hacker,” and what exactly do they do?
The black hat hacker’s archrival is the white hat hacker. This hacker uses their abilities to uncover weak places in a company’s digital security wall in an effort to prevent cybercriminals from committing crimes before they have ever committed them. White hat hackers are able to utilize many of the same techniques that black hat hackers employ; the main difference is that white hat hackers hack for the greater good.
Their job includes conducting penetration tests, assessing vulnerabilities, and evaluating the effectiveness of current security mechanisms. The vast majority of hackers that wear white hats have achieved the certification of certified ethical hackers. Now that we have an understanding of what “white hat hackers” are, let’s have a look at some of the activities that white hat hackers often engage in:
1. Penetration Examination
During a penetration test, hackers look for bugs or security vulnerabilities in the computer’s operating system, software, network, or online application. White hat hackers, on the other hand, get permission from the people they hack, in contrast to black hat hackers.
Hackers with a moral code make it their mission to find weak spots in a system’s security by either breaking into it in its entirety or deploying a variety of cyber threats without causing the system any disruption. Hackers that wear black hats will make advantage of these vulnerabilities in their quest to identify protection flaws. White Hat hackers do penetration testing using a variety of approaches, both manual and automated, as well as software (pen testing).
2. Create Different Types of Protective Products
Programmers that create security solutions including anti-virus software, anti-malware software, anti-spyware software, firewalls, browser security plugins, honeypots, and data filters might be considered hackers. Hackers that wear the “white hat” are now working on building internet approaches and solutions to identify and combat cyber risks.
3. Assist Businesses in Achieving Compliance
Organizations that are in the business of processing private data on behalf of customers are required to adhere to protection rules by laws such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR. Hackers who wear white hats take responsibility for ensuring that their employer companies comply with all applicable legislation and safety standards. It makes it possible for businesses to keep and even grow the confidence of their customers while also avoiding financial penalties.
4. Educate Users on Cybersecurity Procedures
Hackers that wear white hats are often students or analysts who educate customers on how to recognize and prevent being victimized by online risks. In addition, businesses and other groups have the ability to create emergency plans in the event of a disaster.
Final Thoughts
As a conclusion to the essay on “Black Hat Hackers vs. White Hat Hackers,” we can argue that hackers have the potential to be either terrible criminals or heroic figures who save the world. When seen from a different perspective, black hat hackers provide a challenge to the cybersecurity sectors by pressuring them to continually invent and explore new technological solutions.
The difference between a hacker wearing a black hat and a hacker wearing a white hat is that not every hacker is malicious; in fact, some of the most famous hackers have switched to wearing white hats.