black hat
Western movie villain
Black hat describes someone who uses skills for malicious or unethical purposes, especially in computing.
A black hat hacker breaks into systems for personal gain, theft, or sabotage—contrasted with white hats who hack ethically.
The term comes from old Western films where villains wore black hats: The company hired former black hats to test their security.
Fraudulent credential harvesting
- ransomwareHostage-taking code
- exploitNotable act or abuse
- botnetRemotely controlled infected computers
- keyloggerSoftware recording typed input
rootkit · backdoor · worm · zero-day · DDoS · cracking · script kiddie · cyberattack
Openness to harm
- breachBreaking of agreement
- exploitNotable act or abuse
- firewallNetwork access control system
- antivirusMalware detection program
encryption · patch · cybercrime · attack vector · intrusion detection · penetration · compromise · defense
Microscopic infectious agent
- wormLimbless soil invertebrate
- ransomwareHostage-taking code
- spywareHidden surveillance program
- adwarePromotional software nuisance
keylogger · botnet · rootkit · payload · infection · scareware · malvertising · backdoor
One who opposes another
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
- evildoerOne who causes harm
- scoundrelDishonest, unscrupulous person
- outlawFugitive from justice
criminal · mastermind · conspirator · saboteur · wrongdoer · malefactor · rogue · bad guy
Stylish, shadowy crime drama
- hardboiledTough, cynical fiction style
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- femme fataleTreacherous enchantress
- shadowLight blocked by object
mystery · suspense · neo-noir · pulp · gritty · underworld · gangster · corruption
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- covertIntentionally concealed
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
agent · sabotage · clandestine · reconnaissance · counterintelligence · mole · eavesdropping · interception
Mounted cattle herder
- outlawFugitive from justice
- gunslingerExpert pistol fighter
- banditArmed roadside thief
- desperadoBold, reckless outlaw
Stetson · shootout · saloon · sheriff · bounty hunter · rustler · holdup · frontier
Unsolicited bulk messages
- cloakingAct of hiding something
- hidden textConcealed characters in documents
- scrapingRubbing away material
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
phishing
Fraudulent credential harvesting
- ransomwareHostage-taking code
- exploitNotable act or abuse
- botnetRemotely controlled infected computers
keylogger · rootkit · backdoor · worm · zero-day · DDoS · cracking · script kiddie · cyberattack · data breach
vulnerability
Openness to harm
antivirus · encryption · patch · cybercrime · attack vector · intrusion detection · penetration · compromise · defense · audit
virus
Microscopic infectious agent
- wormLimbless soil invertebrate
- ransomwareHostage-taking code
- spywareHidden surveillance program
adware · keylogger · botnet · rootkit · payload · infection · scareware · malvertising · backdoor · RAT
antagonist
One who opposes another
outlaw · criminal · mastermind · conspirator · saboteur · wrongdoer · malefactor · rogue · bad guy · arch-enemy
film noir
Stylish, shadowy crime drama
- hardboiledTough, cynical fiction style
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- femme fataleTreacherous enchantress
shadow · mystery · suspense · neo-noir · pulp · gritty · underworld · gangster · corruption · cynicism
spy
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- covertIntentionally concealed
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
infiltration · agent · sabotage · clandestine · reconnaissance · counterintelligence · mole · eavesdropping · interception · codebreaking
cowboy
Mounted cattle herder
- outlawFugitive from justice
- gunslingerExpert pistol fighter
- banditArmed roadside thief
desperado · Stetson · shootout · saloon · sheriff · bounty hunter · rustler · holdup · frontier · Wild West
spam
Unsolicited bulk messages
- cloakingAct of hiding something
- hidden textConcealed characters in documents
- scrapingRubbing away material
- cyberattacksmalware, phishing, ransomware, hack, virus
- Hackershacker, cracker, script kiddie, hacktivist, phreaker
- Orthodox JudaismTorah study, yeshiva, kosher, shabbat, Hasidic
- hackinghacker, exploit, hacking, dictionary attack, backdoor
- plain dressbonnet, cape dress, prayer cap, head covering, plain dress
- Quaker clothingplain dress, homespun cloth, gray wool, white cap
black hatwhite hat
Ethical cybersecurity professional
security researcher · security analyst · gray hat · blue team · red team
black hatwhite hat
Ethical cybersecurity professional
hero · good guy · protagonist · lawman · sheriff
black, hat, hats, blacken, blackness, blackest, blacker, blackish, blackened