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Hacking is the act of gaining unauthorized access to computers, networks or systems. Hackers do this for a variety of reasons, such as financial gain, social or political activism or espionage. They use a variety of tools, including malware, to penetrate a target, including keystroke logging and screen capturing to steal passwords or private information; network scanners to identify open ports hackers can connect to; steganography to hide malicious files within legitimate ones; and timestamp alteration to mislead investigators. They may also snoop data packets with packet sniffers and create fake WiFi (Wi-Fi Access Point) in public areas to lure victims into connecting to them, which allows them to see private information such as login details or credit card numbers; or use ransomware to lock up a victim’s devices and demand money for their return.

White-hat hackers are able to exploit vulnerabilities for the benefit of society and organizations; they are often employed by those companies. They are usually more skilled than black-hat hackers, and they can earn a reputation for themselves by participating in bug bounty programs run by major technology firms that pay out large sums to anyone who finds serious flaws in their software programs.

Gray-hat hackers operate in a moral grey area and are sometimes referred to as “pretty boy hackers.” They have the official backing of a government and are likely to engage in activities such as spying on adversaries, disrupting critical infrastructure or spreading misinformation in the name of national security. They can be just as dangerous as black-hat hackers. For example, Kevin Mitnick, a hacker who was once considered a “bad guy,” was hired by 40 major corporations to help them detect vulnerabilities.