Hackers are generally termed as a criminal activity in the mind of most people.Hackers are extremely talented in exploiting software vulnerabilities or weak security practices. They do this to gain unauthorized access or even sometimes to inject malware that would crumple the entire system of an organisation mainly for personal gain .In contrary,A hacker is ideally a person who is skilled in information technology. He uses his technical knowledge to overcome an obstacle or sometimes even achieve a goal within a computerized system highly skilled in breaching securities to gain unauthorized access to phones, tablets, computers, IoT devices, networks, or the networking system of an entire organization. They are generally very proficient in exploiting weaknesses in network security.

The intent behind hacking is what sets the hackers apart. The knowledge is used for harming individuals or governments or for personal gain, which makes hackers dangerous. The types of hacker attacks vary from organization to organization. The intensity and type of attack are dependent on the hackers’ ability to find the loophole and penetrate the security system.

Information is widely available over the internet. 

Keen individuals can learn and adapt to them immediately.This has therefore put a lot of pressure on all organizations to always be up to date with their Cybersecurity precautions.Though this kind of shift in working has reduced the physical burden on workers it has also increased the chances of data theft.

 People involved in stealing data or harming the systems are knowledgeable people with wrong intentions known as Hackers.

It is an insult to the body of cybersecurity when we fail to discern the right from the wrong hackers.

WHITE HAT HACKER

White hat hackers are types of hackers who are professionals trained in cybersecurity. They are authorized or certified to hack the systems. These set of hackers work for governments or organizations by getting into the system. They exploit the system from the loopholes in the cybersecurity of the organization. This hacking is done to test the reliability level of cybersecurity in the organization.They identify the weak points and fix them to avoid attacks from external sources.They help enterprises create defences, detect vulnerabilities, and solve them before other cybercriminals can find them.White hat hackers are also known as ethical hackers because they are under rule and regulation of the organisation and government.

BLACK HAT HACKERS

Black hat hackers are also knowledgeable computer experts but with the wrong intention. They attack other systems to get access to systems where they do not have authorized entry. On gaining entry they might steal the data or destroy the system. The hacking practices these types of hackers use depend on the individual’s hacking capacity and knowledge. As the intentions of the hacker make the hacking a criminal activity. They hack organizations’ networks and steal bank data, funds or sensitive information. Normally, they use the stolen resources to profit themselves, sell them on the black market or harass their target company.

GRAY HAT HACKER

These types of hackers work with either good or bad intentions. The hacking might be for their gain. The intention behind hacking decides the type of hacker. If the intention is for personal gain, the hacker is considered a gray hat hacker.The Gray hat hacker falls between the black and white hat hackers.The difference is, they don’t want to rob people nor want to help people in particular. Rather, they enjoy experimenting with systems to find loopholes, crack defenses, and generally find a fun hacking experience.

SCRIPT KIDDIES

It is an acceptable fact that half knowledge is always dangerous and harmful.The Script Kiddies are amateurs types of hackers in the field of hacking. They try to hack the system with scripts from other fellow hackers. They try to hack the systems, networks, or websites. The intention behind the hacking is just to get the attention of their peers. Script Kiddies are young who do not have complete knowledge of the hacking process.

In general, hacking is broadly categorised in to three:

NATION SPONSORED HACKERS

Government appoints hackers to gain information about other countries. These types of hackers are known as State/Nation sponsored hackers. They use their knowledge to gain confidential information from other countries to be well prepared for any upcoming danger to their country. The sensitive information aids in being on top of every situation but also in avoiding upcoming danger. They report only to their governments.

HACKTIVIST:

These types of hackers intend to hack government websites. They pose themselves as activists, so known as a hacktivist. Hacktivists can be an individual or a bunch of nameless hackers whose intent is to gain access to government websites and networks. The data gained from government files accessed are used for personal political or social gain.

MALICIOUS INSIDER

These categories of hackers include individuals working in an organization who can expose confidential information. The intent behind the exposure might be a personal grudge against the organization, or the individual might have come across illegal activities within the organization. The reason for exposure defines the intent behind the exposure.