Not all hackers are the same. The media often portrays all hackers as criminals, but the reality is much more nuanced. Let's explore the different categories of hackers—from the white hats who protect us to the black hats who threaten us.
Security professionals employed to find vulnerabilities. Work with permission.
Criminal hackers. Use skills for malicious purposes, personal gain.
Between white and black. May hack without permission but disclose vulnerabilities.
Deep knowledge of exploits. Can create/modify code. Top 1% of hackers.
Hack for a cause—political, social, or human rights.
Hack without regard for consequences or jail time.
Lacks technical knowledge. Uses tools created by others. Cannot modify/debug exploits.
Remember: Labels describe behavior, not inherent worth. Skills can be used for good or evil.