I am pretty certain that you have heard of hackers but do you know that their hats make them good or evil ones?
A white hat hacker is a computer expert who gets into computer systems but to ensure the security of the information systems of an organization that hired them.
A black hat hacker is a computer expert who gets into computer systems but for their personal or financial gain or, simply, for the thrill of committing cybercrime.
According to the Internet sources, these names come from Western movies, where heroes and villains might traditionally wear a white and a black hat respectively.
A grey hat hacker is a computer expert who gets into computer systems without malicious intentions but using illegal means. They also might look for vulnerabilities in a system without permission of the owner then ask for a reward.
A blue hat hacker is a computer expert who is hired to find vulnerabilities in products before launching.
A red hat hacker is a computer expert who targets Linux systems. They are similar to white hats but they act like vigilantes. They take revenge on black hats themselves, instead of handing them over to the authorities.
Before putting white, black, grey, blue or red hats on, these hackers probably wore green and purple hats too.
A green hat hacker is someone who is still learning the ropes. They might lack technical hacking skills and education but they are eager to achieve their goal.
A purple hat hacker is someone who tests their hacking skills by practicing hacking on their own computer systems.
Speaking of which…
Phreaking and Phreaker
Is a slang term which was coined to describe the activity of studying, experimenting with, or exploring telecommunication systems through legal or illegal means. This term is a very nice example of a sensational spelling of the word freak with the ph- from phone. Phreak, phreaker, or phone phreak are names used for and by individuals who participate in phreaking.
Which hat would you wear?
English by Vesna 