10 Types of Hackers You Should Beware Of

Hackers have been a menace since the world entered its digital age, and they keep growing in strength. To a layperson, the word hacker means someone who can hack their devices on a whim. In reality, hackers are more dangerous than that. But did you know there exist so many types of hackers, each specializing in specific targets?

We are fast approaching an age where everything is digitized and connected to the internet. Soon, even the cars we drive will be vulnerable to hackers. To best counter this, we must know the type of hackers we may be dealing with. Here are the 10 types of hackers you should watch out for.

These are unethical hackers who use their skills to gain unauthorized access for illegal or malicious purposes. Black hat hackers may be motivated by financial gain, revenge, or simply the thrill of bypassing any network security. They typically engage in activities such as stealing sensitive data, spreading malware, or launching DDoS attacks.

One famous black hat hacker is Kevin Mitnick, convicted in 1999 for computer and wire fraud. Mitnick gained unauthorized access to several computer systems, including those of major corporations. He then stole proprietary software and other valuable and sensitive information. He was eventually caught and served five years in prison.

Also called ethical hackers, these types use their hacking skills ethically, often to improve network security. White hat hackers may work as cybersecurity professionals. Their main roles include testing the defenses of companies and organizations to identify vulnerabilities that need to be fixed. Password cracking is one of their core activities.

One famous example of a white hat hacker is Marcus Hutchins, also known as “MalwareTech.” Hutchins gained notoriety for accidentally discovering and stopping the spread of the WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017. This attack affected more than 200,000 computers worldwide.

This is another group of hackers that fall between white and black hat hackers. Gray hat hackers don’t usually have the same malicious intentions as black hat hackers. However, they may not always follow the law. A gray hat hacker may discover a vulnerability in a company’s system and report it to the company. At the same time, they may choose to sell confidential information to third parties.

One famous example of a gray hat hacker is George Hotz, also known as “Geohot.” Hotz gained fame for being the first person to unlock the iPhone. He has since used his skills to work as a cyber security researcher and start his own self-driving car company.

These individuals or groups use networks of infected devices, known as botnets. They then launch cyber attacks or perform other illicit activities like phishing. A botnet is created when a device is infected with malware that allows it to be controlled remotely by the hacker.

These criminal hackers can then use the botnet to send spam, launch DDoS attacks against security systems and zero-day exploits, distribute ransomware, or perform SQL injection. Botnet hackers may be motivated by financial gains.

Another collaborative hacker group is crypto-jackers. They use malware to mine cryptocurrencies on other people’s computer networks secretly. They may do this by infecting machines with malware. This in turn uses the device’s processing power to solve complex mathematical problems, generating new cryptocurrency units.

Cryptojackers may be motivated by the potential financial gain from mining cryptocurrencies. This is because the value of some cryptocurrencies can be high. Cryptojacking can be challenging for cybersecurity apparatus to detect. They can also have adverse effects on the infected device, such as slowed performance, increased energy usage, and shortened lifespan.

An example of cyrptojackers that has been making waves in the cyber world recently is the Kingsing Hacker Group. It has been behind some high-profile hacking of security systems around the world.

Script kiddies use pre-written scripts or programs to launch attacks. Most are pranksters who lack a deep understanding of how their dangerous scripts work or the consequences of their actions. They may engage in DDoS attacks, website defacements, or spreading malware.

Script kiddies are often considered a nuisance rather than a severe threat. They typically do not have the skills or motivation to carry out more sophisticated hacks. One famous example of a script kiddy is Michael Calce, aka the “Mafiaboy,” a Canadian teenager. He was arrested and charged for involvement in a series of DDoS attacks against high-profile websites in 2000.

Hacktivists are types of hackers that use hacking as a means of promoting a political or social cause. They may engage in activities such as defacing websites and stealing and releasing sensitive information. They may also launch DDoS attacks to disrupt the operations of organizations that they oppose.

Hacktivism can be seen as a form of cybercrime. The actions of hacktivists often violate laws and cause harm to individuals and organizations. However, some hacktivists see themselves acting in the public interest or as a form of civil disobedience. One famous example of a hacktivism group is called Anonymous. It has so far claimed responsibility for several high-profile hacks and cyber attacks supporting various causes.

Whistleblowers are types of hackers who expose illegal or unethical activities, often within their organizations. They may reveal information to the public, the media, or authorities to bring attention to the wrongdoing and change. On the other hand, malicious insiders are individuals with legitimate access to a system who use it for unauthorized purposes. They are a huge insider threats and may steal sensitive data, sabotage operations, or engage in cybercrime.

One famous example of a whistleblower is Edward Snowden. He revealed the extent of government surveillance programs to the media in 2013. Snowden was a National Security Agency (NSA) contractor at the time and had access to classified information about the programs. He later fled to Russia to avoid prosecution for his actions.

As for malicious insiders, one example is Bradley Manning, a former U.S. Army soldier convicted of leaking classified military documents to WikiLeaks in 2010. Manning had access to the records as part of his job but chose to disclose them to the public without authorization.

Government-funded and supported, state-sponsored hackers engage in cyber espionage or cyber warfare. These highly experienced types of hackers may target other governments, military organizations, or critical infrastructure like computer systems to gather intelligence. Their activities are geared towards disrupting operations or advancing the interests of their state.

State-sponsored elite hackers often have advanced skills and resources and may be more challenging to identify and defend against. Stopping a confidential data breach from these types of hackers is almost impossible. They usually use Advanced persistent threats (APTs) to execute their attacks and take advantage of security vulnerabilities.

One famous example of a state-sponsored hacker with malicious intent is the group known as APT29. The group has been linked to the Russian government and blamed for several high-profile cyber attacks and cyber espionage. Their attacks include the breach of the U.S. Democratic National Committee’s servers in 2016.

Lastly, we have cyberterrorists. These types of hackers are organized crime groups that use cyber attacks to promote terror or fear. They may target critical infrastructure, such as power grids, financial systems, or communication networks.

This is aimed at disrupting a society’s or government’s operation. Cyberterrorists may use the internet to spread propaganda, recruit members, or coordinate physical attacks. While there have been isolated incidents of cyberterrorism, it is generally considered less common.

Staying safe online is becoming harder by the day as cyber warfare ramps up. There are many other types of hackers like blue hat hackers, green hat hackers and even red hat hackers, all with different targets. This is why I recommend privacy and cyber security tools like VPNs that can help keep out threats like hackers.

By hiding your IP address and using the unhackable AES 256-bit encryption, a reliable VPN will allow you to browse the internet without worries.