Hackers..Do we really know them?

Today, I would like to share with you guys about a group of people that we call "Hackers". Every time somebody says that someone is a hacker, we always imagine and say bad thing about them. Well, it is not entirely wrong but it is not right either. The are more to these hackers that meets the eye.
If you search in Google about the definition of hackers, a lot of things will come up, such as : 

• hacker - someone who plays golf poorly
• hacker - a programmer who breaks into computer systems in order to steal or change or destroy information as a form of cyber-terrorism
• hacker - a programmer for whom computing is its own reward; may enjoy the challenge of breaking into other computers but does no harm; "true hackers subscribe to a code of ethics and look down upon crackers"
• Hacker - In home computing, a hacker is a person who heavily modifies the software or hardware of their own computer system
• and so on...

Yes, these definitions are not wrong but not entirely right either. There are two large types of hacker and it will be divided in a few more categories for each types. First you have the everyday hacker or normal hacker or the usual hackers. These hackers are not what you can actually call a real hacker but they are quite dangerous. Why are they differ than the other type of hacker, the professional hacker?
These hackers usually only uses hacking software or tools or any other things that doesn't require them to actually know what they are doing. These types of hackers grow like mushrooms and they are everywhere. Even your kids or neighbor can be these type of hackers. You can just find the software or tools via the Internet and uses them for your own satisfaction.


The professional hacker can be divided into three categories : The White Hat, The Black Hat and The Grey Hat.

The White Hat Hackers are the good guys. There are the IT people in your company, the computer technician at you local computer store, the person who helps you when you have problems with your computer, the people working in places to keep you safe from Internet threat...These are the white hat hackers. They keep you safe while you surf on the Internet. Kinda like the police force accept they don't wear uniforms

Then you have the Black Hat Hackers. These are the bad guys, the villains in the cyber world. These are the hackers that steal you credit card number, breaks into you computer and data, steal you identity, spread viruses in the Net and others cyber crime. These are the hackers that you should be careful with. They are very dangerous. 

Lastly we have somewhere between the line hacker, The Grey Hat Hacker. These type of hacker is someone you should really be careful with besides the Black Hat. They can be both good and bad hackers. They usually are freelance hacker that works on contracts. They can be working with a company for penetration test( a test to try to penetrate you own system before a real hacker hacks it), or they can be the one spreading the viruses. They usually do it for fun or as a challenge to themselves.


Well, there you have it. You see, not all hackers are bad right? Hacking is a knowledge and it can be used both for good and for bad, depending on the one using it. Its basically the same as any other knowledge which can be use for good or bad. So think before you say hackers are bad people because you never know, you might be offending the good guys. 


In the next entry I will share with you guys about cyber-crimes, what should you know about cyber-crimes and how to be careful with it. Hope you guys gain useful information from this. Until next time...