What do they get from doing damage? Is it just about money? Or ego? Well, there are numerous reasons why hackers hack a website or an app or even servers. And this is nothing new. In the early days of the internet, hackers hacked websites or took down services just to show they could break a system. So, you could say it was more about their ego or showing off or sometimes just to make a point that something can be broken. These days, it’s way more complicated and so are the intentions behind such activities.
Not all hackers are inherently bad. When used in mainstream media, the word, “hacker,” is usually used in relation to cybercriminals, but a hacker can actually be anyone, regardless of their intentions, who utilize their knowledge of computer software and hardware to break down and bypass security measures on a computer, device or network. Hacking itself is not an illegal activity unless the hacker is compromising a system without the owner’s permission. Many companies and government agencies actually employ hackers to help them secure their systems.
1.Black Hat Hackers
Black hat hackers usually have extensive knowledge about breaking into computer networks and bypassing security protocols. They are also responsible for writing malware, which is a method used to gain access to these systems.Their primary motivation is usually for personal or monetary gains but on many occasions, they just do it for fun also. They can also be involved in cyber espionage, protest, or perhaps are just addicted to the thrill of cybercrime.they are the ‘bad hackers’.The black hats tries to steal data and also tries to modify or destroy data as well.
2.White Hat Hackers
White hat hackers choose to use their powers for good rather than evil. They are also known as “ethical hackers.” White hat hackers can sometimes be paid employees or contractors working for companies as security specialists that attempt to find security holes via hacking. They implement commonly known cybersecurity techniques like penetration testing and thorough vulnerability assessments to ensure that the security systems are in place.
3. Grey Hat Hackers
Grey hat hackers are a blend of both black hat and white hat activities.Grey hat hackers will look for vulnerabilities in a system without the owner’s permission or knowledge.Mostly they do report the vulnerabilities found to the concerned parties, but they also demand compensations in return. If not rewarded properly, they might exploit the vulnerabilities as well. sometimes the hackers will post the newly found exploit online for the world to see.
Paying Hacker Is No Bad Thing.
There are hackers who aren’t cyber-criminals. But they are getting rewarded by various technology companies. These are the hackers who report security problems so that they can be fixed before threat actors can exploit them.There are bug bounty hunters.A bug bounty program is a deal offered by many websites, organizations, and software developers by which individuals can receive recognition and compensation for reporting bugs, especially those pertaining to security exploits and vulnerabilities.
These programs allow the developers to discover and resolve bugs before the general public is aware of them, preventing incidents of widespread abuse. Bug bounty programs have been implemented by a large number of organizations, including Mozilla Facebook, Yahoo!, Google,Microsoft, apple , and the Internet bug bounty.
Wikipedia
Amount Of Bounty To Hackers
Tesla is offering $500,000 (£380,000) to any that can hack a Tesla Model 3, and Apple is prepared to cough up $1.5 million (£1.1 million) to iPhone hackers. Not to be outdone, Google has added a 50% “reward” bonus to the $1 million (£768,000) on offer to hackers that compromise the Titan M secure element on Pixel devices, matching that top Apple bounty.
Forbes