Types of Hackers and How to Become a Web Hacker? [Part One]

Hacking refers to identifying weaknesses in networks or computer systems and then exploiting its weaknesses to gain access. To run a successful business, computers have now become mandatory. Having isolated computers is just not enough; they will have to be networked to simplify communication with external businesses. This indeed exposes them to the outside world and hacking. Hacking thus means using computers to execute fraudulent acts like privacy invasion, stealing personal/corporate, etc. Hence, businesses need to protect themselves against such hacking attacks.

Types of Hackers

Some of the common types of hackers are as follows:

1. Ethical hackers
2. Black hat hackers
3. Blue hat hackers
4. Grey Hat Hackers
5. Intelligence Agencies
6. Organized Crime
7. Hacktivists

Let me describe one to another

1. Ethical hackers

These hackers are also known as white hat hackers who do not illegally break into a computer's network. Instead, they perform several tests to check the efficiency of their company's security systems. Ethical hacking is done without any personal or profit motive. Computer security software manufacturers are those who mostly carry out this particular attack. They are considered to be the only line of defense between a black hat hacker and a company.

2. Black hat hackers

Unlike the white hat hackers, these black hat hackers execute just the opposite in both methodology and intention. After gaining access to a network, they only focus on corrupting data for their gain. They then share the information with other hackers to take advantage of the same vulnerabilities.

3. Blue hat hackers

Security companies call them to check for vulnerabilities in their system. Before launching a new product, companies will hire these rouge hackers for testing their systems.

4. Grey Hat Hackers

These hackers possess the properties of both black and white hat hackers. They generally scan the internet to observe flaws in a network. Next, they will hack into them and show the flaws to their administrator, thus seeking adequate compensation.

5. Intelligence Agencies

These hackers safeguard national systems from foreign threats.
6. Organized Crime

This is a particular group of black hat hackers who try to find their gain by exposing computer systems.

7. Hacktivists

These hackers hack to advance social causes like politics, religion, or personal beliefs. Their main aim is to embarrass the victim or to deface a website. They come under two categories: the right to information and cyber terrorism. The former category refers to the concept of taking confidential information and exposing it to the public because they believe all information is free. The latter category aims at causing widespread fear by destroying a system's operation and then making it useless to advance political motives.

How to Become a Web Hacker?

The following tips will give you a brief idea of how to become a hacker:

Learn UNIX

UNIX is a multi-tasking and multi-user computer operating system that has been specifically designed to provide good security to the systems.

Learn more than one programming language

It is important to learn other modern computer programming languages such as Perl, PHP, JAVA, and Python.

Learn more than one operating system

Windows operating system is considered to be one of the most commonly compromised systems, hence it is always good to learn how to hack Microsoft systems, which are closed-source systems.

Become familiar with different networking concepts

It is important that you thoroughly understand TCP/IP and UDP protocols to exploit the vulnerabilities on the world wide web.

Read articles about hacking

From these articles, you will gain insight into hacking and how to develop the attitude to be a hacker.

Learn to program in C

As the most powerful language in computer programming, this programming language will help you divide the task into smaller pieces and these pieces can be expressed by a sequence of commands.

Get to about cryptography

The technology of cryptography and encryption is extremely important for the internet and networking. Cryptography is increasingly used in ATM cards, e-commerce, and computer passwords. While hacking, these encrypted codes will have to be broken, and this is called decryption.

Start by experimenting on your computers

By initially experimenting on your computers, you will be able to rectify things if you have done any mistakes.