So what is a hacker anyway? A short look at Black hats, White hats and everything in between

The term "hacker" has been around for decades, but its meaning has changed significantly over time. In the early days of computing, a hacker was simply someone who was passionate about technology and loved to tinker with computers and software. These individuals were often self-taught and would spend countless hours exploring the inner workings of technology and discovering new ways to use it.
But as the world became more connected through the internet, and computers became a critical part of our daily lives, the meaning of the word "hacker" began to change. It started to take on a more sinister connotation, as individuals began using their knowledge and skills to gain unauthorized access to computer systems and steal sensitive information.
Nowadays, there are three main types of hackers: white hat, gray hat, and black hat. White hat hackers are the "good guys" of the hacking world. They use their skills to help organizations and individuals identify and fix vulnerabilities in their computer systems. This is known as "ethical hacking." These are professional security experts who are hired by companies to find vulnerabilities and fix them before they can be exploited by malicious actors.
Grey hat hackers, on the other hand, exist in a gray area between white hat and black hat hackers. They may use their skills to identify and report vulnerabilities in systems, but they may also exploit those vulnerabilities for personal gain.
Black hat hackers, meanwhile, are the "bad guys" of the hacking world. They use their skills to gain unauthorized access to computer systems and steal sensitive information. They can cause serious damage and are often motivated by money or ideology.
Social engineering is another tactic that hackers use to gain access to sensitive information. Rather than relying on technical skills, social engineers use psychological manipulation to trick individuals into revealing their passwords or other sensitive information. This can include phishing emails, pretexting, and even physical means such as shoulder surfing.
One notable example of a hack that relied heavily on social engineering is the Target data breach in 2013. Hackers were able to gain access to the sensitive personal and credit card information of millions of customers by first infiltrating the network of a third-party vendor that had access to Target's systems. The hackers then used spear-phishing emails to trick employees of the vendor into revealing their login credentials. Once inside the network, the hackers were able to move laterally and gain access to Target's systems. This highlights the importance of not only protecting your systems with technical measures but also being vigilant about social engineering attempts.
The rise of the Internet and the proliferation of digital devices has increased the importance of ethical hacking. As more and more of our personal and professional lives take place online, it becomes increasingly important to ensure the security of these systems. Bug bounty programs are a way for companies to incentivize white hat hackers to find vulnerabilities in their systems. Many large companies have a bug bounty program, which allows ethical hackers to receive rewards for reporting vulnerabilities they find. By doing so, companies can quickly fix these security holes before they can be exploited by black hat hackers.
Overall, hackers are a diverse group of people, with a wide range of skills and motivations. While some hackers use their skills to cause harm, many more are working to make the internet a safer place for everyone. Ethical hackers, bug bounties and other security measures are critical to keeping the internet secure. And we should all be vigilant about the social engineering tactics that are used by bad actors to gain access to sensitive information. We should all be thankful for the work that these ethical hackers do to keep us safe online.