Hacking and Hackers
Hacking is the practice of using technical skills to gain unauthorized access to computer systems, networks, or personal devices. Hacking can be used for a variety of purposes, including stealing sensitive information, disrupting services, causing damage to computer systems, or finding and reporting vulnerabilities in the system.
TYPES OF HACKERS
A ‘hacker’ is a person who uses their technical knowledge and skills to gain unauthorized access to computer systems or networks. However, the term can also be used to describe individuals who use their skills for legal and ethical purposes, such as finding and reporting security vulnerabilities. Considering both scenarios, hackers can be classified into three types:
1. White Hat Hackers
White hat hackers are individuals or organizations who use hacking techniques for ethical purposes, such as identifying and reporting vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks. They are also known as ‘ethical hackers’ or ‘penetration testers’ and are often hired by companies or government organizations to test the security of their systems and networks and identify and report vulnerabilities in a system or network before they can be exploited by malicious actors. This can include finding and fixing software bugs, identifying and mitigating network vulnerabilities, and educating users about safe online practices. They typically follow a set of ethical guidelines and work within the law. White hat hackers help to improve the overall security of the internet and play a critical role in protecting sensitive information and preventing cyber attacks.
📌 Read more about Ethical Hacking
2. Black Hat Hackers
Black hat hackers are the main perpetrators of cybercrime who use hacking techniques for illegal or malicious purposes, such as stealing sensitive information, disrupting services, or causing damage to computer systems. They are also known as ‘crackers’ or ‘malicious hackers’. They use their knowledge and skills to find and exploit vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks and often operate outside the law. They tend to focus on financial gain or personal gain, or sometimes they may have a political or ideological motivation. It's important to note that black hat hacking is illegal in most countries and can result in severe penalties if caught, including fines, imprisonment, and a criminal record.
3. Grey Hat Hackers
Grey Hat Hackers fall in between white and black hat hackers. Grey hat hackers may not use their skills for personal gain, they can however have both good and bad intentions. For instance, a hacker who hacks into an organization and finds some vulnerability may leak it over the internet or inform the organization about it. Nevertheless, as soon as hackers use their hacking skills for personal gain they become black hat hackers.
WHAT HACKING TOOLS DO HACKERS USE?
Hackers first identify a target system that they wish to penetrate or exploit. Then they use data collection and observation tools such as sniffing, emails, malware, or social engineering to obtain more information about the target and use this information to identify the best attack vector, then create tools to exploit it. Hackers break the security system using the tools they created, stealing personal and financial data or infecting the computer.
Hackers use a variety of methods to hack into computer systems and networks. The specific method to be used will depend on the hacker's skills, tools, and the type of system or network they are trying to access. Some common methods used by hackers are:
Social Engineering: This method involves tricking people into giving away sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers. This can include phishing emails, phone scams, or pretexting (impersonating someone else to gain information).
Exploiting Software Vulnerabilities: This method involves taking advantage of known weaknesses in software to gain unauthorized access to a system. Hackers can use automated tools to scan for vulnerabilities and then exploit them.
Password Cracking: This method involves using specialized software to guess or "crack" a password. Hackers can use brute-force attacks, dictionary attacks, or other techniques to try to guess a password.
Remote Administration Tools (RATs): This method involves installing malware on a system that allows hackers to control the infected computer remotely.
Advanced Persistent Threat (APT): This method involves a prolonged, planned cyber-attack on a specific target, such as a company or government organization, to steal sensitive information.
Zero-day exploit: This method involves exploiting a previously unknown vulnerability in software or hardware, which the vendor or manufacturer is not aware of yet.
WHAT IS THE MOTIVE BEHIND HACKING?
The specific motivation to hack will depend on the individual or group of hackers. Broadly, hackers attempt to break into computers and networks for one or more of the following reasons:
Financial gain: The most common reason for hacking is usually financial gain. Hackers steal information such as credit card information, online banking credentials, or other sensitive financial data. This data can then be sold on the dark web, used to make fraudulent transactions, or extorted from the victim.
Political or ideological motivations: Some hackers hack to further a political or ideological agenda, such as protesting against a government or corporation. These hackers may target government websites, political campaigns, or companies they perceive as having a negative impact on society.
Challenge or thrill-seeking: There is a category of hackers who are doing this for the challenge or thrill of it, to prove their technical skills, or to gain recognition within the hacking community. These hackers may participate in hacking competitions or challenges or may target high-profile systems or networks for notoriety.
Espionage: Some hackers have the purpose of stealing sensitive information from a foreign government or other organization. This type of hacking is typically carried out by nation-states or criminal organizations and can include stealing sensitive military or diplomatic information, or corporate trade secrets.
Cyber-vandalism: The purpose of causing damage or disrupting services, such as launching DDoS attacks or defacing websites could be another motive for some hackers. These hackers may target websites or networks as a form of protest or to cause chaos.
Revenge: Hacking can be used as a method to take revenge against a person or group by some hackers. These hackers might target a person or business that has done them wrong in some way.
Competition: Some hackers use their skills to gain a competitive advantage over rival businesses or organizations. These hackers may attack a rival's website or network to steal confidential data or interfere with their business operations.
Personal gain: Some hackers have the purpose of gaining access to personal information or control systems/networks to extort money or other benefits. These hackers may target individuals or organizations to gain sensitive personal information or to hold a system or network hostage.
To steal Intellectual property: Some hackers have the intention of stealing trade secrets, patents, research, and other types of proprietary information. These hackers may target companies or organizations to steal information that can be used for financial gain or to give a competitive advantage.
Curiosity: Some hackers hack simply out of curiosity, to see what they can find or to learn more about a specific system or network. These hackers may not have any specific goal in mind but are just exploring for the sake of learning.