Note: This blog post on the topic of the white hat hacker (ethical hacker) is the first in a series of articles on the different types of hackers.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a lifelong Lord of the Rings<\/em> fan, the term \u201cwhite hat hacker\u201d always conjures up images of Gandalf the White in my mind. Gandalf stands for everything good in the face of evil or maliciousness. He always tries to do good and serves as a guiding light (in some cases, quite literally with aid of his trusty staff) to shine the way for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n White hat hackers \u2014 or what are known as ethical hackers or white hats \u2014 are much the same. They\u2019re the equivalent of Gandalf in the digital world (although likely without the epic beard). But what does it mean to be a white hat hacker (and what’s the definition of one)? What do these individuals try to accomplish? And what skills or training do you need to become one?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a world where the cost of cybercrime topped $3.5 billion<\/a> in 2019 alone, white hat hackers are the good guys who fight to keep the bad guys at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But if you\u2019re looking for an official white hat hacker definition, there really isn\u2019t a universal one. Basically, white hat hackers are those who hack systems with the permission of the owner. They do it to help the owner secure or improve their system. Black hat hackers, on the other hand, hack without permission \u2014 usually to cause damage for their own nefarious purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, in a nutshell, white hat hackers are defined as the \u201cgood guys.\u201d They\u2019re a community of hackers, computer experts and penetration experts who protect businesses and individuals by finding and fixing exploitable security vulnerabilities (such as zero day attacks<\/a>) before the bad guys do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n White hats often work to find exploits in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When people think of the term \u201chacker,\u201d they often picture a stereotypical shadowy figure; the person whose face is hidden by a hoodie as they type feverishly on a computer in their mom\u2019s basement. And while this may be the case for the obscure hacker, that\u2019s not the reality for most people who call themselves by that moniker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Basically, white hat hackers are virtual superheroes. They use their computer knowledge and expertise to help make the world (wide web) a better place for businesses and users alike. But instead of wearing spandex and a cape, you\u2019ll find them working in IT and cybersecurity teams or consulting for businesses across the globe. Heck, they might even be someone you know \u2014 like that Jim guy who works in your IT department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some white hat hackers are actually reformed black hat hackers and cybercriminals. Many white hat hackers use the same techniques as other less ethical hackers and train in the same arenas as them. The big difference is that they choose to use their skills for good instead of evil and operate with the permission of the organization they\u2019re trying to hack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many notable white hats who turned from the proverbial dark side:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll talk about these guys and other renowned white hat hackers in a future article (stay tuned.) But for now, let\u2019s get back on topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To put it simply, white hats are offensive security analysts that help companies and organizations gain awareness and strengthen their security and cybersecurity posture. They do this by helping those organizations identify ways to shore up their defenses by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out this video from Tech Insider, which shows a group of hackers breaking into the U.S. power grid:<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Is a White Hat Hacker (Ethical Hacker)? White Hats Defined<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
They\u2019re Not Who You Think They Are\u2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When Bad Guys Become the Good Guys\u2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Do White Hat Hackers Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n