A hacker is an individual who uses computer, networking, or other technical skills to overcome a technical problem. The term also refers to anyone who uses their abilities to gain unauthorized access to systems or networks in order to commit crimes. Hackers can breach defenses to gain unauthorized access into computers, phones, tablets, IoT devices, networks, or entire computing systems. There are different types of hackers, including:
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White hat hacker: An ethical computer security expert or programmer who works with organizations or ethical hacking groups to find cybersecurity vulnerabilities in order to fix them, not take advantage of them.
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Black hat hacker: A hacker who intentionally violates computer security for a variety of reasons, such as theft, fraud, corporate espionage, and even old-fashioned malice.
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Gray hat hacker: A hacker whose goals are somewhere in between.
Hacking can be done for ethical reasons, such as trying to find software vulnerabilities so they can be fixed. However, most references to hacking and hackers characterize them as unlawful activity by cybercriminals, motivated by financial gain, protest, information gathering (spying), and even just for the "fun" of the challenge. Hacking can take on many forms and targets many kinds of organizations, which is why a multilayered defense strategy is necessary for every company and government agency.
