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A few days ago, I was talking with my cousin, remembering how he had been a victim of a cyber attack and the problems it brought him. He asked me how they could have acted, and I recalled “the trend that hackers use.” “It was a black hat”, I told him. He looked at me with a surprised expression, and I explained what I will share next.

Yes, believe it or not, in the world of hackers, there are good guys. They are also known as "ethical hackers." When they carry out an attack, they do it with the intention of identifying security vulnerabilities they may encounter along the way. In this way, they provide recommendations on how to address those shortcomings.

White hat hackers use their knowledge to detect security issues within organizations, often being hired by many of them to gain firsthand insight into their vulnerable points. This way, organizations experience less downtime and can even repel attacks by having white hat hackers on their side.

How do white hat hackers work? There are various methods, among which stand out: social engineering, penetration testing, reconnaissance and research, programming, and physical and digital tools.

This is the other side of the coin, and they are the most well-known for the havoc they cause. Of course, who could imagine that there are "the good ones" in this digital world, right? Black hat hackers are criminals who specialize in stealing passwords, credit card numbers, and all kinds of personal (and organizational) information that can be found online.

These hackers often have a specialty, whether it be phishing or remote access tools. They work on commission through offers they find on the Deep Web. Some others create and sell malicious tools.

How do black hat hackers work? They are often masters of deception, calling potential victims while posing as employees of large companies and requesting that they download an application or grant remote access. By doing this, the victim gives up the information they hold or, worse yet, allows the hackers to carry out other attacks from their own computer. There are also automated methods, such as using a bot to scan the internet for unprotected devices.

Could there be a middle ground in this story? Absolutely! The so-called gray hat hackers are those who carry out malicious attacks with the goal of becoming famous, rather than helping the victim, who usually feels anything but gratitude.

In a way, gray hat hackers combine characteristics from both sides. When they find a vulnerability, they request "a small payment" to fix the issue.

What mainly differentiates both sides? Motivation. Black hat hackers infiltrate with harmful and illegal intentions. White hat hackers help organizations stay secure from intrusions and detect vulnerabilities in their security. They do this specifically to prevent attacks from black hat hackers.

Well, while it's true that the vast majority of us are ordinary mortals in this hacking world, I can give you some tips that will help you guard against the most common intrusions.

Remember, at Indigo Smart Solutions, we can advise you on how to be properly protected online, as well as design secure applications and systems for your organization. Click here to chat with us.