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A "hacker" is an individual with a deep knowledge of computer systems who uses their skills to overcome technical problems, but the term now most commonly refers to someone who uses these abilities to gain unauthorized access to systems for either ethical or malicious purposes. The term can describe an ethical hacker, who works to find vulnerabilities to improve security, or a malicious actor, who uses their skills for illegal activities like data theft or disrupting systems.

Ethical vs. malicious hackers

Ethical hackers (white hats): These individuals use their skills for good, often working as security professionals to test and improve the security of computer systems. They may be hired to find weaknesses before malicious actors do.

Malicious hackers (black hats): These are criminals who exploit vulnerabilities for personal gain, such as stealing data, financial information, or disrupting services.

Grey hat hackers: These individuals may hack into systems without permission but without malicious intent, sometimes offering to fix the vulnerability in exchange for a fee.