: Famous for stopping the devastating WannaCry ransomware attack, though he later faced legal issues for previous activities.
: A global "hacktivist" collective known for its leaderless structure and its members' use of Guy Fawkes masks.
: These individuals break into systems with malicious intent, such as stealing data or committing financial fraud.
: These hackers sit in the middle, often finding vulnerabilities without permission but not necessarily with malicious intent, though their actions are still technically illegal. Famous Figures and Groups
: These are ethical security professionals who use their skills for good, often helping organizations find and fix vulnerabilities.
The history of hacking is shaped by notable individuals and collectives:
Not all hackers have the same intent. They are often categorized by "hats" to denote their ethics: