Hacker

In common usage, a hacker is a person who breaks into computers and computer networks, either for profit or motivated by the challenge. The subculture that has evolved around hackers is often referred to as the computer underground but is now an open community.
Other uses of the word hacker exist that are not related to computer security (computer programmer and home computer hobbyists), but these are rarely used by the mainstream media because of the common stereotype that is in TV and movies. Some would argue that the people that are now considered hackers are not hackers, as before the media described the person who breaks into computers as a hacker there was a hacker community. This group was a community of people who had a large interest in computer programming, often sharing, without restrictions, the source code for the software they wrote. These people now refer to the cyber-criminal hackers as "crackers"

DIFFERENT CATAGORY OF HACKING

White hat

A white hat hacker breaks security for non-malicious reasons, for instance testing their own security system. This classification also includes individuals who perform penetration tests and vulnerability assessments within a contractual agreement.

 

Grey hat

A grey/gray hat hacker is a hacker of ambiguous ethics and/or borderline legality. This includes individuals who typically conduct themselves within the letter of the law, but might push the boundaries a bit. This group may include individuals who perform reverse engineering of proprietary software code with no intent of obtaining gain, or individuals who do so in order to find security holes and intend to disclose those holes to the vendor. Due to several viewpoints in regards to disclosure of vulnerabilities, one may be categorized as a grey hat.

 

Blue Hat

A blue hat hacker is someone outside computer security consulting firms that are used to bug test a system prior to its launch, looking for exploits so they can be closed. Microsoft also uses the term BlueHat to represent a series of security briefing events.

 

Black hat

A black hat hacker, sometimes called "cracker", is someone who breaks computer security without authorization or uses technology (usually a computer, phone system or network) for vandalism, credit card fraud, identity theft, piracy, or other types of illegal activity.

 

Elite (or known as 1337 or 31337 in 1337_speak)

Elite is a term used to describe the most advanced hackers who are said to be on "the cutting edge" of computing and network technology. These would be individuals in the earliest 2.5 percentile of the technology adoption lifecycle curve, referred to as "innovators." As script kiddies and noobs utilize and exploit weaknesses in systems discovered by others, elites are they who bring about the initial discovery.

 

Script kiddie

A script kiddie is a non-expert who breaks into computer systems by using pre-packaged automated tools written by others, usually with little understanding of the underlying concept—hence the term script (i.e. a prearranged plan or set of activities) kiddie (i.e. kid, child—an individual lacking knowledge and experience, immature).

 

Noob

A noob (abbreviation of "newbie") is a term used to describe someone who has almost no knowledge or experience of the workings of technology, and hacking.

 

Hack∤ivist

A hacktivist is a hacker who utilizes technology to announce a social, ideological, religious, or political message. In general, most hacktivism involves website defacement or denial-of-service attacks. In more extreme cases, hacktivism is used as tool for Cyberterrorism.