Black hats and white hats – it’s a phrase you will hear often in IT security circles. With all the hype around data breaches and cybercrime wave, you might wonder what these contrasting hats actually mean. Is one hat better than the other? Do white hats cause more damage than black hats? What if you are wearing a hat that is not white or black, but some other color?
The truth is that it’s not that simple. Both black hats and white hats are useful in different situations. The key is knowing what they are and when to use them. In this article, we will discuss some of the differences between black hats and white hats, as well as when and why you would wear each type of hat.
Usefulness Of Black Hats
Black hats are frequently associated with mischief or criminality, but this is far from true. In fact, they can be quite useful in keeping your IT infrastructure secure. Think about it this way: if a hacker can get access to your database, they can use it to steal information or cause irreparable damage. For this reason, a black hat hacker’s priority is usually not getting access to your system, but rather trying to find a way to harm you. They want to do this either physically or, in the case of social engineering, virtually (e.g., by masquerading as someone else or some trusted entity).
By contrast, white hats are usually associated with goodness and virtue, and hackers usually choose to be white hats because they believe that they can use their skills for good. Their priority is to protect you from harm, and they often do this by trying to prevent security breaches or cyberattacks. Thus, a white hat hacker’s priority is usually to keep you safe and to protect your assets. The more you know about white hats, the better – they are frequently found hacking into systems to reveal vulnerabilities so that they can be fixed before someone can abuse them.
When To Wear Black Hats
Since black hats are associated with negative connotations, people usually think that they should be worn only when necessary. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, you can often find white hats wearing masks that depict skulls or other scary things, which gives the impression that they are trying to scare people. This is actually not the case, and these individuals usually wear these hats because they want to be identified as a hacker rather than a superhero. As we mentioned above, their priority is to protect you, so they will often attempt to prevent any breaches or attacks from happening.
When To Wear White Hats
While wearing a white hat is generally a good idea, this is not always the case. Sometimes, it’s better to wear a black hat. For example, if you want to keep your identity confidential, you should wear a black hat. This way, people will not easily be able to guess your identity just by looking at you. If you want to prevent unauthorized access to your devices or sensitive data, you should wear a black hat. They are actually the same, but the color of the hat represents how you want people to perceive you. White hats are usually associated with good deeds or actions, so it is better to wear them when helping others or when acting in a kind or generous manner.
Wear What You Want, But Be Careful
Just because you wear a particular hat does not mean that you have to be limited to one outfit. You should feel free to mix and match as much as you want, but you must be careful not to go against the grain of the colors. For example, if you wear a red hat, you can’t go and wear a yellow one at the same time. People will realize that this is not a balanced meal. This is also why it’s important to try on different types of hats to see how they look on you. If you do this, you can become more confident in your choice and less likely to regret it afterward. You can also keep track of what colors you have worn and see if there are any trends.
Hopefully, this article clarified some of the differences between black hats and white hats, as well as when and why you would wear each type of hat. The key takeaway is to understand what each one represents and try to keep a balance between these different “hats” as you navigate your day-to-day life in the information security world. Good luck!