The word "hacker" creates an image of a bad guy seated in a dark room, trying to break into a computer network. But not all hackers are bad. There are different types of hackers. While some of them are up to no good, some mean no harm.

So what are the different types of hackers? And why do they even do it?

Why Do Hackers Hack?

At the end of the day, a hacker's success is measured by the actualization of the goal they set out with; and that goal varies from one hacker to another.

Here are some reasons why hackers hack systems.

Self-Gratification

For some hackers, the thrill they get from breaking into the most sophisticated networks is all the satisfaction that they need. It reinforces their belief in their skills and boosts their confidence.

The self-gratification a hacker derives may not make sense to onlookers, but that doesn’t matter. They can go to any length in order to prove a point to no one but themselves.

Financial Gains

Financial gains have always been a chief motive behind cyberattacks. Since not so many people have the technical know-how to hack a system, the attacker who’s hired for the job is adequately compensated.

Or they might carry it out for themselves. Someone who initiates an attack to steal sensitive data including credit card details and social security numbers may want to use such information to retrieve the funds of individuals and organizations. The huge financial gains are a great way for hackers to enrich themselves.

Access to Confidential Information

Sometimes, hackers aren’t motivated by financial gains. They just want to access confidential information that they aren't privy to.

A hacker committed to a cause would go to any length to get information that would help protect that cause. If it means hacking an opponent’s system to access their secret information and use that information against them, they’d do it.

Types of Hat Hackers and How They Operate

The way we categorize a hacker is determined by the relationship they have with the owner of the network or system being hacked. If the hacker and the owner of the network are working together, the hacker will have authorized access to the network. The reverse is the case if the hacker is an intruder.

Here are the kinds of "hat" hackers and how they operate.

1. Black Hat Hacker

A black hat hacker is the perfect description of a villain—imagine them wearing a black hat on an all-black ensemble, trying to break into a network to cause damage.

The worst kind of hacker, a black hat hacker is up to no good. Once they hack your system, the damage they cause can be unlimited.

The operations of a black hat hacker include:

• Sending phishing messages.
• Executing cyberattacks.
• Stealing and selling personal information.
• Carrying out financial fraud.
• Blackmailing victims with ransomware attacks.

2. White Hat Hacker

A white hat hacker is the complete opposite of a black hat hacker.

Nonetheless very skilled at hacking, the white hat hacker uses their skillset for good, not evil. They protect individuals and organizations from the wrath of black hat hackers.

Also referred to as ethical hackers, a white hat hacker operates with the permission of the network owner and within the confines of the law.

The operations of a white hat hacker include:

• Identifying and repairing vulnerabilities in a network before they are discovered by cybercriminals.
• Implementing effective cybersecurity within a network to ward off cyber threats.
• Creating cybersecurity tools like anti-malware, antivirus, firewalls, etc., to secure a network.

3. Gray Hat Hacker

A gray hat hacker falls between the black hat hacker and the white hat hacker. While they might not have malicious intentions, they may hack a network without the owner's consent to check for existing vulnerabilities.

Having scanned a network for vulnerabilities, the gray hat hacker may draw the owner's attention to them, hoping to be hired to fix the vulnerabilities.

Gray hat hackers try to:

• Identify and fix vulnerabilities.
• Offer recommendations and solutions against vulnerabilities.
• Enhance defenses against cyber threats.

4. Red Hat Hacker

A red hat hacker shares some similarities with a white hat hacker. They have good intentions to save people from cyberattacks. But they mostly go about it the wrong way.

In a quest to put up defenses against cyberattacks, a red hat hacker uses any means possible, even if they're illegal. Essentially, they do the right thing the wrong way.

The operations of a red hat hacker include:

• Breaking into a black hat hacker’s network to disrupt cyberattack plans.
• Launching malware against the bad hackers.
• Tightening the cybersecurity of a network against cyber threats.

5. Blue Hat Hacker

There are actually two different types of blue hat hacker.

One definition means that the blue hat hacker is out for revenge. They aren’t motivated by money or fame, but the desire to inflict pain on their target who must have wronged them in one way or another.

A blue hat hacker goes to any length to humiliate or embarrass their target and doesn’t stop until they have achieved their aim.

But a blue hat hacker can also be an independent security expert. They are highly skilled at their job and are often invited by organizations to check the vulnerabilities in their networks.

A blue hat hacker is the go-to person if you want to deploy cybersecurity measures like penetration testing to secure your network. They initiate an attack on a system with the consent of the system owner to find effective ways to secure the network against such attacks.

6. Green Hat Hacker

A green hat hacker is a newbie to hacking. Although they are still learning the rules, they are eager to grow. And as a result of that, they do the most to prove their competence

In most cases, a green hat hacker isn’t aware of the consequences of the attacks that they deploy. Driven by the desire to prove a point, a green hat hacker is very dangerous because they could cause severe damages blindly.

Creating a Balance in Cybersecurity

It’s refreshing to know that all hackers aren’t bad, isn’t it? The different kinds of hackers create a balance in cybersecurity. As the bad hackers are trying to cause havoc, the good ones are trying to stop them.

Cybercriminals mean serious business. Sometimes, your internal cybersecurity efforts may not be strong enough to match their expertise. You need the services of the well-meaning hackers to give them a run for their money.