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black hat

Show me everything on Hacker Tools and Techniques: Underground Sites and Hacking Groups

- Black hat is used to describe a hacker (or, if you prefer, cracker) who breaks into a computer system or network with malicious intent. Unlike a white hat hacker, the black hat hacker takes advantage of the break-in, perhaps destroying files or stealing data for some future purpose. The black hat hacker may also make the exploit known to other hackers and/or the public without notifying the victim. This gives others the opportunity to exploit the vulnerability before the organization is able to secure it.

The term comes from old Western movies, where heros often wore white hats and the "bad guys" wore black hats.

Learn more about Hacker Tools and Techniques: Underground Sites and Hacking Groups

Exploit research: Keeping tabs on the hacker underground: In this tip, information security threats expert Ed Skoudis outlines the top Web sites that can help security pros anticipate the attack techniques of tomorrow.
Hacker attack techniques and tactics: Understanding hacking strategies: This guide provides you with a plethora of tips, expert advice and Web resources that offer more in-depth information about hacker techniques and various tactics you can employ to protect your ...
Virtual Honeypots: From Botnet Tracking to Intrusion Detection: In Chapter 11 of Virtual Honeypots: From Botnet Tracking to Intrusion Detection, Niels Provos and Thorsten Holz get inside the botnet and reveal some interesting conclusions.
Spy vs. Spy: Excerpt from Chapter 6 of Spies Among Us: How to Stop the Spies, Terrorists, Hackers, and Criminals You Don't Even Know You Encounter Every Day.
Thwarting hacker techniques: Here's a step-by-step guide to stopping hackers in their tracks at every point of the intrusion process, from reconnaissance to vulnerability exploitation.
Doing 'good' with hacker tools: Hacker tools aren't just for the bad guys. Learn how these tools can help you locate and identify security problems to prevent network attacks on your organization.

LAST UPDATED:

05 Jun 2007

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More resources from around the web:

-	The SANS Institute offers "Which hat is DilDog wearing?", an analysis of one hacker to determine whether they are wearing a white hat or a black hat.
-	This column describes the various hacker types and their motives.
-	IT Security offers a summary of hackers, their motives, and types of intrusions.
-	Black Hat is also the name for an annual security conference.

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