black-hat hackers
Criminal digital infiltrators
Black-hat hackers are computer programmers who break into systems for malicious purposes—stealing data, extorting money, or causing damage.
The term borrows from old Western films where villains wore black hats.
Contrast with white-hat hackers, who use the same skills for legitimate security testing, and gray-hat hackers, who occupy ethical middle ground.
Hostage-taking code
- wormLimbless soil invertebrate
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- spywareHidden surveillance program
- keyloggerSoftware recording typed input
botnet · rootkit · adware · dropper · payload · RAT · logic bomb · scareware
Hostage-taking code
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
- identity theftStealing personal data criminally
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- cyberextortionOnline coercion for payment
credit card fraud · cryptojacking · cyberscam · skimming · dark web · money laundering · wire fraud · account takeover
Breaking of agreement
- exploitNotable act or abuse
- zero-dayUnpatched security vulnerability
- backdoorHidden bypass mechanism
- rootkitHidden unauthorized access software
penetration · vulnerability · compromise · unauthorized access · privilege escalation · buffer overflow · exfiltration · lateral movement
Fraudulent credential harvesting
- social engineeringManipulating people for information
- spoofingFraudulent imitation
- DDoS attackMalicious traffic flood
- crackingBreaking without separating completely
sniffer · watering hole · whaling · vishing · smishing · pretexting · baiting · tailgating
Leaderless hacktivist network
- APTProlonged targeted network breach
- script kiddieUnskilled person using premade exploits
- hacktivistIdeological computer infiltrator
- cyberterroristOne who attacks digitally
insider threat · carder · phisher · spammer · botmaster · cyberspy · cracker
ransomware
Hostage-taking code
keylogger · botnet · rootkit · adware · dropper · payload · RAT · logic bomb · scareware · backdoor
ransomware
Hostage-taking code
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
- identity theftStealing personal data criminally
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
cyberextortion · credit card fraud · cryptojacking · cyberscam · skimming · dark web · money laundering · wire fraud · account takeover · credential stuffing
breach
Breaking of agreement
rootkit · penetration · vulnerability · compromise · unauthorized access · privilege escalation · buffer overflow · exfiltration · lateral movement · persistence
phishing
Fraudulent credential harvesting
- social engineeringManipulating people for information
- spoofingFraudulent imitation
- DDoS attackMalicious traffic flood
cracking · sniffer · watering hole · whaling · vishing · smishing · pretexting · baiting · tailgating · dumpster diving
Anonymous
Leaderless hacktivist network
- APTProlonged targeted network breach
- script kiddieUnskilled person using premade exploits
- hacktivistIdeological computer infiltrator
cyberterrorist · insider threat · carder · phisher · spammer · botmaster · cyberspy · cracker