In cybersecurity, the terms “black hat” and “white hat” are often used to describe two opposing forces. These labels, derived from old Western movies where the villain typically wore a black hat and the hero wore a white hat, have come to symbolize the ethical divide in the world of hacking. But what separates these two forces? We are about to find out.

Who are the Black Hats?

In the old Western movies, the villain typically wore a black hat, which symbolized their role as the antagonist. In the world of hackers, it’s no different – the black hat hackers are the criminals of the online world, individuals who exploit systems, networks, and software for malicious purposes.

With no regard for the law, their activities are illegal and unethical, often causing significant harm to individuals, organisations, and even nations. Black hats are usually involved in these scams for selfish reasons, whether for financial gain, notoriety, or just the thrill of bypassing security measures.

What do they do?

The impact of black hat activities can be devastating, and they have no shortage of methods for hacking whoever they want, whenever they want. These are some of their favourite tactics:

• Malware Attacks: Black hats create and spread malicious software like viruses, ransomware, and spyware to infiltrate and damage systems.
• Phishing Attacks: They craft deceptive emails or websites to trick users into revealing sensitive information such as passwords and credit card numbers.
• Data Breaches: Black hats break into secure networks to steal valuable information, including personal data, intellectual property, and trade secrets.
• Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks: They overwhelm a network or website with traffic to make it inaccessible to legitimate users.
• Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: The hackers intercept and manipulate communications between two parties without their knowledge.

To give you an idea of a real-life example, some black hat hackers use call centres to make calls in which they pretend to work for a well-known technology organisation like Microsoft. In this form of scam, the hackers try to convince potential victims to allow remote access to their computers or download software to solve a hypothetical problem on their devices.

Who are the White Hats?

The “good guys” – white hat hackers are the antithesis of black hats as they use their skills for ethical purposes. Often referred to as “ethical hackers” or “good hackers”, they work to protect and secure systems and networks from potential threats.

White hats are typically employed by organizations to identify and fix vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.

What do they do?

All in all, white hat hackers use the same hacking methods as black hats, but the key difference is that they have the permission of the system owner. Instead of exploiting vulnerabilities, they work with network operators to help solve the problem before others discover it. Some of their methods include:

• Penetration Testing: White hats simulate cyberattacks to find and fix vulnerabilities in systems, networks and applications.
• Vulnerability Assessments: They conduct thorough examinations of systems to discover weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers.
• Security Audits: White hackers review and analyse an organisation’s security measures to ensure they are effective and up to date.
• Incident Response: They provide immediate assistance and solutions in the event of a security breach or cyberattack.
• Security Research: White hacks investigate new threats and develop strategies to defend against emerging cyber threats.

White hats play a crucial role in the cybersecurity ecosystem. By proactively identifying and mitigating risks, they help prevent data breaches, protect sensitive information, and maintain the integrity of digital infrastructure.

The Grey Area: Grey Hat

Between these two extremes lies a third category: grey hat hackers. Grey hats operate in a morally ambiguous space, often without malicious intent but also without explicit authorization. They may discover and disclose vulnerabilities to in an organisation’s system, sometimes in exchange for a reward to fix the problem or to show off their skills and gain recognition.

From Black Hat to White Hat: Meet Kevin Mitnick

One of the most famous black hat hackers is Kevin Mitnick (he even became the most wanted cybercriminal in the US!). Throughout his career, Mitnick hacked dozens of major corporations, including IBM, Nokia, Motorola, and even the US National Defence warning system.

His actions led to a warrant for his arrest in 1992, prompting him to go on the run. During his fugitive years, he caused millions of dollars in damages and became the most-wanted computer criminal in the United States. He ended up being captured by the FBI in 1995 and his case highlighted the growing threat of cybercrime.

Mitnick has released from prison in 2000 and decided to transform his career from black hat hacker to a white hat and security consultant. He founded Mitnick Security Consulting, LLC, and became a renowned public speaker, author, and advocate for cybersecurity awareness. Quite a turnaround, isn’t it?