Black Hat Hacking

Black hat hacking is a criminal activity in which black hat hackers try to break into computer systems and networks with a malicious intent and motive. These cybercriminals stick their nose into organizations or individual business with the purpose of releasing malware that destroys organizational or personal files, holding computers hostage unless ransom paid, stealing credentials such as passwords, credit card number and other sensitive personal information.

Most black hat hackers usually start as novice script kiddies and become motivated and notorious hackers capable of launching further sophisticated cyberattacks with various intentions. Besides, their motivations may emanate from self-serving rationales such as grudge, revenge, financial gain, theft, fame, or maybe to bring havoc to businesses and human livelihood. As opposed to black hat hackers, white hat hackers exploit computer systems or networks to identify and exploit security flaws so that they can make recommendations for improvements. Furthermore, the main difference between black hat hackers and white hat hackers is the motivation behind the hacking. The rest, they all use the same techniques, skillsets, tools and procedures.

The black hat hacker engage in cybercrime operations and uses hacking as a means for financial gain, espionage, intelligence gathering, theft and other malicious reasons, such as implanting malware into computer systems.

According to some international laws and regulations, criminal hacking may involve one or more of the following activities:

• Accessing a protected computer, system or network
• Modifying or disclosing data held on a computer systems
• Distributing malicious code in order to damage a system or data held on it
• Accessing a computer with the intention to defraud
• Compromising computer credentials or passwords
• More