Welcome to the Ethics of Hacking
Hackers: friend or foe? In this day and age of technology, the term 'hacker' can carry with it many connotations. An average person will usually associate the term with some shady individual in their parents' basement, trying to gain unauthorized access to someone's computer in an attempt to exploit them somehow. However, there are many different types of hackers, and some can be extremely beneficial to society. In this brief course, I will discuss some of the most commonly observed instances of hacking, as well as the ethics, morals and legality surrounding these activities. I hope to shine some light on the more positive aspects of hacking, and how ethical hacking is actually a very important if not necessary practice in today's world.
What is a Black Hat?
Black Hat Hackers are the people you want to worry about. They typically use their talents in ways that are meant to harm others. The reasons behind their actions are far and wide, consisting of but not limited to: monetary gain, infamy, revenge, political reasons, or just for the thrill of it. Black hats are very proficient in computer security, and are very active in trying to find undiscovered flaws or "0-day exploits" in operating systems or computer hardware. They not only like to work alone, but also in groups. Even worse, some black hat entities would appear to be state-sponsored, garnering the quiet support of their home governments. Black hats are, by definition, the 'quintessential hacker'.
