What are the differences between white hat, black hat, and grey hat hackers?

White hat, black hat, and grey hat hackers are classifications based on their behavior and intentions:

1. White Hat Hackers: These hackers are ethical and work to improve security by finding vulnerabilities in systems and networks. Their actions are legal, as they usually have permission to test and enhance security protocols. White hat hackers help organizations identify weaknesses so they can be addressed before malicious hackers exploit them.

2. Black Hat Hackers: On the other hand, black hat hackers engage in illegal activities for personal gain or to cause harm. They exploit vulnerabilities for malicious purposes such as stealing data, financial gain, or disrupting systems. Their actions are against the law and can have serious consequences.

3. Grey Hat Hackers: Grey hat hackers fall somewhere between white hat and black hat hackers. They may engage in activities that are not entirely ethical but without malicious intent. Grey hat hackers may discover vulnerabilities without permission but disclose them to the affected party or sell the information to interested parties. They operate in a moral gray area between white and black hat hacking.

Overall, white hat hackers aim to improve security, black hat hackers seek personal gain through illegal means, and grey hat hackers exhibit behavior that can be ambiguous in terms of ethics and legality.