11 Different Types of Hackers and What They Do

What are the different hacker types?

The world of hacking is populated with an array of different types of hacking and hackers. They usually fall into two main camps— ethical hackers and unethical hackers. And some that blur the lines behind the two. Before we get into explaining all the different hacker types and what they do, let's take a look at what we mean by ethical and unethical hacking.

Ethical hacking: Ethical hacking is hacking that has been authorized. For example, an organization may employ the skills of an expert hacker to test its security systems. The ethical hacker will adopt the strategies of an unethical hacker to help identify weaknesses and resolve any vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

Unethical hacking: Unethical hacking is that which is done without the target's authorization or knowledge...until it's too late. The motivation for an unethical hacker may be to steal sensitive or confidential data, steal money or intellectual property, or upload ransomware.

Now we've got the basics down, let's look at the different hacker types, what they do, and the motivations behind it.

Black hat hackers

A black hat hacker is what most people think of when you mention a hacker. But they are just one of the “bad guys” of the hacking world. A black hat hacker is your run-of-the-mill cybercriminal. They use their advanced technical knowledge to find vulnerabilities in computer systems and software, and once they do, they will exploit them, usually for financial gain.

Black hat hackers pose serious threats to both individuals and businesses, as they work tirelessly to break into personal devices and computer networks often in search of sensitive data that they can steal or hold for ransom.

White hat hackers

If black hat hackers are the bad guys, then white hat hackers are the good guys. White hat hackers also use their cybersecurity skills to find vulnerabilities in networks and computer systems. But the difference between black hat hackers and white hat hackers is that the white hats have been hired to do so and do it within ethical and legal hacking boundaries. They conduct penetration and software tests to find and fix the weak spots before a black hat cybercriminal can take advantage of them.

Gray hat hackers

Hacking, like everything in life, isn't as simple as black and white. Gray hats hackers are cybersecurity experts that blur the lines, conducting unethical types of hacking but without malicious intent.

Like the black hat hacker, a gray hat hacker uses their skills to gain unauthorized access to computer networks but they don't steal anything or compromise the network. Instead, their motivation is for the “fun” of it, or simply to prove that they can.

In some cases, gray hat hackers will even let the network owner know of the weak points that they've found. They act in a gray area, penetrating systems without permission, but without causing any real harm.

Green hat hackers

A green hat hacker is one that is new to the hacking world, learning the ropes, and keen to put into practice what they know. They don't have clear intentions just yet so whether they will “graduate” as a black hat hacker with malicious intent or become a hired white hat hacker to protect and serve, only time will tell. But the danger is that these young “wannabe” hackers, are impressionable and can be easily led down a dark path.

The problem with these hacker types is that while their skills may not be up to par with the whites, the blacks, or even the gray hat hackers, they can still do some serious damage. In their eagerness to learn, they may accidentally cause irreversible harm using all sorts of cyberattack techniques and malware without the skills or expertise to fix what they've done.

Blue hat hackers

There are two definitions of a blue hat hacker, oddly, one is in the black hat camp, and the other is in the white hat camp. Let's cover the latter first.

Some blue hat hackers are a subset of white hat hackers. They are hired to test new software or a network system for vulnerabilities before it is released. They use their expert hacking skills to identify any security vulnerabilities and fix them before the product is launched.

The other version of a blue hat takes its lead from the black hat hackers with malicious intent and illegal hacking methods. The difference is that instead of seeking money or causing harm just for the sake of it, these particular blue hat hackers are in it for revenge. An example of this type of hacking would be a fired employee sabotaging the system before leaving the company.

Red hat hackers

Red hat hackers are the cyber-vigilantes of the bunch. These hacker types are intent on bringing down black hat hackers. They are well-known for their aggressive ruthlessness, using any means possible to stop cyber criminals, that includes illegal methods and even using black hat's own tactics against them.

They will not only attempt to stop cybercriminals from hacking a system, but they will go after them to destroy their devices to take them out of the game completely. They may also steal whatever resources the black hats have, but instead of keeping it for themselves, red hat hackers will give the money to charities or those in need. Their approach has earned them the nickname of “Robin Hood of hackers”. They aren't in it for money, revenge, or rewards, but for the greater good!

Hacktivists

Moving away from the colored hats, but still blending ethical and unethical types of hacking, we have hacktivists. Hacktivists are similar to red hat hackers, using illegal hacking methods for vigilante justice. The term is a mash-up of the words hacker and activist.

While the focus of red hat attacks is black hat criminals, hacktivism is a type of hacking that focuses cyberattacks on governments, governmental institutions and agencies, and large corporations. Their targets are never random, but are carefully chosen to make a political statement, highlight a social cause, or right what the group considers to be “a wrong”.

Hacktivists adopt a wide range of hacking activities to cause as much disruption and chaos as possible, from data breaches and leaking of sensitive data such as politicians' emails to interrupting state TV broadcasts, and DDOS attacks.

Depending on your political leanings or views on a social issue, they can be seen as vigilantes or villains. One of the most famous hacktivist groups is “Anonymous”, a decentralized group of activist hackers whose cyberattacks often make the headlines.

Script kiddies

Script kiddies are kind of like lazy green hat hackers. It's a derogatory term within the hacking community used to describe someone who lacks the skills or drive to learn how to hack for themselves. Instead, they copy or download well-known computer scripts of other hackers and implement them without really understanding what they are doing or the consequences. They might not necessarily have malicious intent, some are simply newbies trying to show off to their mates what they can do.

Script kiddies are not one of the sophisticated hacker types but more like a bull in a china shop. They can be very destructive but they will often leave tracks that can lead to their own downfall. As was the fate of a 15-year-old script kiddie whose actions led to the Talk Talk data breach in 2015.

State/Nation sponsored hackers

Almost an antithesis of hacktivists is the state or nation-sponsored hackers. These guys take on the types of hacking jobs that Anonymous wouldn't touch with a barge pole.

They are pretty much white hat hackers with a bit of (dark) spy work thrown in for good measure. Instead of being hired by a corporation, they are highly-paid government employees. They are appointed to not only provide cybersecurity but to gain intelligence about other countries. The information they gather helps them identify potential threats and prepare for future attacks.

Malicious insider

Hacker types can include a whistleblower otherwise known as malicious insiders. These hackers work from inside the company or organization. They may be an employee with a grudge or with a conscience, for example, when an employee finds out their company is conducting illegal or unethical activities. They may hack the system to either blackmail the company for their own personal gain or simply to expose them to the outside world. To expose or to exploit, ethical or unethical, it all depends on the hacker!

Elite Hacker

Elite hackers are exactly what they sound like, they are the best of the best, masters of the craft of hacking. They are the elite of all hacker types. This definition is purely based on skills so elite hackers can fall into either group, conducting ethical or unethical types of hacking, wearing a white or black hat.

Want to know about the most famous yet mysterious hacker group? Check out our article: Who is Anonymous?