A hacker is an individual who uses computer, networking or other skills to overcome a technical problem. The term also may refer to anyone who uses their abilities to gain unauthorized access to systems or networks in order to commit crimes.
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.
Criminal hackers, who sometimes lack technical skills, often use scripts and other specifically designed software programs to break into corporate networks. This software may manipulate network data to gather intelligence about the workings of the target system.
The white hat is given special permission with limits on what the hacker can and cannot do on their customer's computer and network systems. This special permission is usually given in a legal document signed by both the white hat and the company, which keeps both parties out of legal trouble.
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 ...
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.
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.
Other grey hats will hack for a cause and justify it for a logical reason. Most grey hats try to use their skills to become independent security consultants. For example, a grey hat may break into a bank's financial system and then inform the bank of what vulnerabilities were exploited.
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.
identity theft. occurs when a thief steals personal information such as your name, address, social security number, birth date, bank account, and credit card info and runs up debts in your name. hacker. most commonly defined as anyone who unlawfully breaks into a computer system- either an individual computer or a network.
break into systems to destroy information or for illegal gain. grey-hat hackers. a bit of a cross between black and white. -they often illegally break into systems merely to flaunt their expertise to the administrator of the system they penetrated or to attempt to sell their services in repairing security breaches.
scareware. a type of malware that downloads onto your computer and tries to convince you that your computer is infected with a virus or other type of malware. data breach. occurs when sensitive or confidential information is copied, transmitted, or viewed by an individual who isn't authorized to handle the data.
malware. software that has a malicious intent. -malware, adware, spyware, and viruses. adware. software that displays sponsored advertisements in a section of your browser window or as a pop-up box. - legitimate means of generating revenue for those developers who do not charge for their software or information.
stealth viruses. temporarily erase their code from the files where they reside and then hide in the active memory of the computer. -this helps them avoid direction if only the hard drive is being searched for viruses. malware. software that has a malicious intent. -malware, adware, spyware, and viruses. adware.
biometrics authentication. security process that relies on the unique biological characteristics of an individual to verify that he is who it says he is. -now use finger vein authentication technology. -read the unique vein patterns inside your finger to verify your identity.