black hats
Malicious computer intruders
Black hats are hackers who break into computer systems for malicious purposes—stealing data, spreading malware, or causing damage.
The term comes from old Western films where villains wore black hats and heroes wore white.
In cybersecurity, black hat hackers contrast with white hats (ethical hackers) and gray hats (those who operate in moral ambiguity).
The term extends beyond computing to mean bad actors generally: The black hats in this industry cut corners on safety.
- hackerUnauthorized system accessor
- bad actorsHarmful or malicious participants
- villainsEvil characters in narratives
- cybercriminalsOnline law breakers
- antagonistsOpponents in conflict
dark side · dark web · malware · exploit · breaches · security breach · stolen data · threat · cyber threats · intrusions · ransomware · risks · botnets · penetration testing · social engineering · fedora · information security · crackers
black hatswhite hats
Benevolent security experts
blue team · good guys · defenders · heroes · protectors
black hatswhite hats
Benevolent security experts
heroes · good guys · lawmen · sheriffs · protagonists
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