19 Types of Hackers You Should be Aware of

Hacking is a common word in the field of cybersecurity. The companies are now training their security teams to take care of even hacking threats. Hacking is a situation when a person manages to get into a network or system by unauthorized means. Although hacking is not always unethical, its association is mostly with a crime.

The aim of hacking may be to corrupt systems, get information, steal data, or disrupt activity. Individuals engaging in such activities refer to hackers. They have access to multiple resources and contacts, becoming a major security threat.

The traditional era had limitations for them, but now with evolution, their boundaries have become limitless. And with this, different categories of hackers have also emerged. They all have different intentions and motives behind the attacks.

But the question is, how did hacking become so popular and prominent. Well, the millennials have heard the term since their birth but when did it evolve? Let us learn about the history first and then get into the current world of hacking.

History of Hacking and Hackers

Hacking is not a very old concept and only dates back to the 1980s when Psychology Today did a story on computer usage’s addictive nature. Soon after, Tron and WarGames came out with characters hacking into computer systems. This was the beginning of its use as a potential security risk.

One of the initial companies to face this attack was Los Alamos National Laboratory. And surprisingly the process was undertaken by some teenagers. This was the first time when hacking was in a negative light in the world. And in no time many other companies came across similar situations.

Because of increasing threats and innovation, the government made many laws and standards to overcome this crime. There are severe punishments for cybercrime now which hackers cannot get away with. Read more about cybersecurity standards and their motives.

Types of Hackers

1. White Hat Hackers

These hackers are professionals in the field of cybersecurity but in an ethical way. They hold certifications in this field and work for the government and multiple organizations. Their main aim is to assist these entities in strengthening their cybersecurity.

They bridge the gap in their network and fill up the visible loopholes. They identify weaknesses and work on them to avoid threats in the future. The rules and regulations are something they abide by all the time.

2. Black Hat Hackers

These hackers are the right opposite of the white hat hackers. They are computer experts who break into the networks without authorization with the wrong intention. The practice of threatening may differ according to knowledge but they all count as cybercrimes. The motive may be to steal money, data, or identity for unethical use.

3. Gray Hat Hackers

These hackers fall between black and white hackers. They don’t hold an authorized certificate but are experts in the field. Their intention for hacking is usually personal and led by monetary gains. They get into the network for experimenting and have a very casual approach to the process. The only main factor that differentiates them is their motive behind the hacking.

4. Script Kiddies

The amateur hackers who follow scripts by other hackers to get into a network refer to script kiddies. These are mostly young adults who try to get into the field with little knowledge of hacking. A denial of service attack is the most common technique they use by flooding the network with traffic.

5. Green Hat Hackers

These hackers are mere learners who are trying to learn the process of hacking from the base. They are sincere towards their skill and want to follow the ethical way of learning. They follow the footsteps of white hat hackers to get experience.

6. Blue Hat Hackers

They are like script kiddies but don’t want to learn the process at all. These hackers enter the field with the intent to gain popularity. They are not necessarily dangerous because there is a lack of knowledge.

7. Red Hat Hackers

They are like white hackers when it comes to their intentions. They work to save companies from threats and attacks. But unlike white hackers, they cross the rules and regulations to protect the company. They become ruthless in such situations and thus refer to Eagle-Eyed Hackers.

8. State/Nation Sponsored Hackers

These are hackers sponsored by the government to find confidential information about certain matters. These matters are mostly national security-related. The sourcing of information may be from companies, individuals, or even other country’s base. These hackers only report to government officials with everything.

9. Hacktivist

Hackers who work individually or in groups to get access to the government’s website refers to hacktivists. They work with unethical intentions to exploit confidential information for personal, political, or social motives.

10. Malicious insider Hackers

These people work inside an organization as normal employees but with an ulterior motive. They misuse confidential information and undertake illegal activities within the organization. The reason behind this may be personal or led by money.

11. The Bank Robber Hackers

These hackers work with the motive to steal money from banks or other financial institutions. They either get into the network by using different tools and techniques. They prepare fake invoices, receipts, or denial of service attacks to target these institutions.

12. The Corporate Spy

These people, unlike insiders, work on stealing either intellectual properties or other plans for personal or social gain. Most commonly, they steal IP, financial data, legal information, or secret patents. They may work for competitors or for other enemies to ruin the organization.

13. The professional hacking group for hire

These people work alone or in a group to develop powerful malware and then sell it for a good price. They work for financial gains or other valuable data. People buying from them may further use it for theft or espionage.

14. The Rogue Gamer

These hackers are the ones who obsess over gaming. They hack systems to steal competitors’ credit caches or disrupt their devices. It may sound foolish but these people do exist.

15. Cryptojackers

These hackers target users who deal in cryptocurrencies. They spread malware in their devices and steal their money taking the system access. They mainly do it to pay for the resources they use while hacking.

16. The Botnet Masters

These hackers create botnet armies and infect the system to take control over it completely. The system begins to work according to their instructions. Users usually become their target if they leave their credentials by default.

17. The Adware Spammer

These people work on bugging advertisements with viruses and other malware. They redirect you to a malicious website and get into your system with them. These hackers are highly dangerous as many people ignore advertisements regularly.

18. The thrill hacker

These people want to hack the system to feel the thrill of committing something tough. It is more like they want to set a benchmark for their capabilities. Their motive is driven by popularity and image.

19. The accidental hacker

These hackers are not actually hackers. They are more like intellects in the field who accidentally end up hacking a website. They may have been doing coding for fun and experimenting to see how it works.

Devices Most Vulnerable To Hacking

1. Smart Devices

Any smart device like a TV or mobile phone is vulnerable to hacking. They become an easy target due to open-source and inconsistent software. The files in them are easy to corrupt or steal.

2. Webcams

Hackers use Remote Access Trojan to hack webcams easily. This rootkit malware doesn’t just spy but also has the ability to see the user’s movements and activities.

3. Routers

Denial of service attacks or spoofing is a common way of hacking routers. Access to this device allows them to access data sent and received by the users.

4. Email

Phishing links in emails are most common even for normal citizens. Hackers use malware and ransomware to target individuals on emails.

5. Jailbroken phones

Jailbreaking a phone leads to a violation of the end user’s license agreement with the developer. Above this, they are highly vulnerable to networks and systems hacking.

Ways to Prevent from Getting Hacked

1. Software Update

Update all software on your device very regularly. This is because new versions come with advanced settings which are harder to break in. The algorithm changes with every update making it tough for anyone to crack.

2. HTTPS Encryption

Always check the authenticity of websites because hackers create fake ones to woo users. The authenticity comes with the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure prefix in the search bar.

3. Avoid Clicking Strange Links

Many advertisements or links have bugs and malware in them. They redirect users to malicious websites which may infect their device. Always avoid email, messages, or pop-ups that look strange.

4. Change the Default Settings

Many devices come but pre-set usernames and passwords, and they are mostly the same across all their models. This makes it easier for hackers to get in. Thus users should always change these settings after getting a new device.

5. Download from First-party Sources

It is always advisable to use a registered and secure platform to download. Because they have less chances of infections from bugs and trojans.

6. Install Antivirus Software

Antivirus software guarantees protection from malware and spoofing. And their regular update meets the demands of all users making their system more secure. They are good for precautionary reasons.

7. Use a VPN

A virtual private network is a way of protecting users while browsing the internet. They can hide their location and manage their browsing history without any interception.

8. Do Not Login as an Admin

The term “Admin” has become a common username that is easier to guess for hackers. And having the exact name in hand also makes it easier for them to guess the password.

9. Use a Password Manager

Password managers can help individuals in creating stronger passwords. They have a combination of letters, numbers, and characters so that it becomes hard to guess or crack. And prefer using different passwords for different devices/accounts.

10. Two-factor Authentication

Having two-factor authentication can allow individuals to have layered security. This can block hackers from breaking in even if they guess the password.

11. Anti-phishing Techniques

There are multiple ways by which individuals can handle phishing attacks. Knowing even the basics of such techniques against anti phishing and ransomware can be very helpful.

Types of Cybercrime

• Computer Fraud – Intentional deception by using a computer system
• Privacy violation – misusing personal information without permission
• Identity Theft – impersonating someone using their information
• Sharing copyrighted files/information – selling copyright protected files
• Electronic funds transfer – processing the illegal monetary transaction
• Electronic money laundering – using a computer to launder money
• ATM Fraud – misusing account numbers and PIN numbers
• Spam – using advertisements to hack systems

Ethical Hacking

Ethical hacking is a way of protecting companies from threats in the future. It breaks into the system or network to find weaknesses but to help companies overcome them. The intentions are to help and protect the entities from future threats. Some rules that ethical hackers need to follow are –

• Get an authorized contract from the company’s owner
• Keep the data and information confidential
• Maintain an audit report of the identified weaknesses
• Inform the responsible team about the measures and weaknesses

Why Ethical Hacking?

Ethical hacking is a legal process if the hackers follow all the rules and regulations laid by the government. The International Council of E-Commerce Consultants even has certificate courses to legitimate this practice.

Companies need to have strong goodwill and confidentiality to function. The business information must stay under protection at all times. And this process can help companies with security. They can always stay one step ahead of cybercriminals and avoid threats.

Common Hacking Techniques/Tools

Some common techniques that hackers use are –

• Denial of service (DDoS)
• Malware attack
• Trojan horse
• Virus
• Keylogger
• Worms
• Adware
• Botnets
• Spyware
• Ransomware
• Man in the middle
• Phishing
• SQL injection
• Dictionary attack
• Shoulder surfing
• The Rainbow table
• Social engineering

Read about cybersecurity techniques in detail.

Conclusion

Hackers are the masterminds behind all the cyber attacks. Above we saw the reason behind why they pursue this process. It was just one term for many of us, but every hacker has a goal that differentiates him from others. While many are ethical hackers, the wise weightage is higher for malicious ones. Following safety instructions can help companies safeguard themselves from these people.