What Is a Black Hat Hacker?

A black hat hacker is a cybercriminal who accesses your computer systems and network without your knowledge to steal data, disrupt systems and extort money. Black hat hackers try to take advantage of an organization’s security vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to software, systems and networks. Once they gain access to an organization’s data, black hat hackers may hold the data for ransom or sell it to other businesses or cybercriminals.

Continue reading to learn how black hat hackers differ from other hackers, what black hat hacking may look like and how your organization can stay safe from black hat hackers.

Black hat vs gray hat vs white hat hackers

There are three main types of hackers: black hat, gray hat and white hat. When you think of a hacker, you are most likely imagining a black hat hacker who steals data and installs malware on devices. They’re motivated by money, but some black hat hackers may seek revenge or want to commit espionage.

Black hat hackers are unethical, while white hat hackers use their skills for good. They help organizations by finding and fixing security vulnerabilities, letting organizations know which weaknesses need to be patched before malicious hackers (black hat hackers) exploit them.

In between black hat and white hat hackers, gray hat hackers may use their skills for good or evil. Gray hat hackers’ motivations can differ dramatically, from wanting to improve security to wanting to expose security vulnerabilities, depending on the situation. For example, a gray hat hacker might use their skills to help someone who was the victim of a cyber attack by recovering their data and removing malware from their device. The next day, a gray hat hacker could look for security vulnerabilities and report them to an individual for a fair price.

Examples of black hat hacking

Several examples of black hat hacking include phishing scams, ransomware attacks, Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks and data breaches.

Phishing scams

Black hat hackers use phishing scams to trick people into sharing sensitive information, like organizational data or important passwords. Impersonating trustworthy people, black hat hackers target their victims by sending them convincing messages and asking them to click on a link or download an attachment. Once an employee falls for the scam, a black hat hacker can gain access to an organization’s systems and steal sensitive data.

Ransomware attacks

A ransomware attack happens when a black hat hacker infects an organization’s devices with ransomware, blocking access to files and data until the ransom is paid. After the payment, a black hat hacker will typically return access to the organization; however, sometimes a black hat hacker will take the money and run. Black hat hackers launch ransomware attacks through phishing attacks, targeting an employee within an organization to reveal private information by impersonating someone trustworthy. For example, a black hat hacker may target a new employee at your organization and pretend to be an authoritative figure. If the black hat hacker asks your employee to click on an attachment within a phishing email, ransomware could infect the employee’s device without their knowledge and spread throughout the network, infiltrating your entire organization. Soon enough, your organization would be unable to access any data and must pay the black hat hacker a ransom to return access.

Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks

A Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack occurs when a black hat hacker tries to disturb a server’s normal traffic by overwhelming it, causing it to slow down or crash. Black hat hackers typically conduct DDoS attacks to disrupt a web source’s normal operations by having many bots make requests and prevent a server from operating at all. Sometimes, black hat hackers will ask for a ransom to stop a DDoS attack from continuing to impact an organization’s server.

Data breaches

Black hat hackers often target organizations through data breaches, which happen when unauthorized users steal and use sensitive data exposed through security vulnerabilities, human error or cyber attacks. A black hat hacker may hack into an account and steal passwords or Personally Identifiable Information (PII), like customers’ Social Security numbers or phone numbers, to commit identity theft.

How organizations can stay protected against black hat hackers

Your organization can protect itself against black hat hackers in a variety of ways, including using a firewall, investing in a Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution, maintaining updated software and training employees on security awareness regularly.

Use a firewall

It’s important to use a firewall to stay protected against black hat hackers because it controls incoming and outgoing network traffic. Since a firewall has a predefined set of rules that filter through incoming and outgoing data, your organization can use it to block outside traffic from accessing your internal network. This form of protection enhances your organization’s overall security and reduces the chances of becoming a victim of cyber attacks.

Invest in a Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution

Your organization can protect itself against black hat hackers by investing in a Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution, which manages and secures accounts that have access to highly sensitive data. For example, your organization’s IT administrators or HR staff should have their accounts protected with a PAM solution because accounts with access to sensitive information should be closely monitored in case their accounts get compromised. A PAM solution like KeeperPAM^® can help your organization by ensuring secure remote access, enforcing least-privilege access and managing user lifecycles. Many PAM solutions, including KeeperPAM, come with password management to encourage strong password hygiene practices of using strong passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), which are ways your employees can secure their accounts and organizational data.

Keep devices and software up to date

If your organization’s devices or software are outdated, black hat hackers have an easier time taking advantage of security vulnerabilities to hack into your network and steal important data. Keeping your devices and software updated ensures that every employee is securing their data and work-related accounts because the latest software updates will enhance security, patch issues and fix any known bugs. There are several solutions your organization can invest in to help ensure your devices and software are updated, such as Kandji, so you do not need to waste time updating everything manually.

Conduct regular penetration testing

A penetration test, also referred to as a pen test, simulates a real cyber attack on an organization’s systems to evaluate its security strengths and vulnerabilities. Pen tests are essential in determining where your organization needs to improve in terms of security because simulating a cyber attack prepares you for a real one and could prevent actual data breaches from occurring. For example, if your organization runs a pen test and finds several flaws in your security systems, you can fix them before a real cyber attack impacts your organization. Running pen tests regularly can help prevent a black hat hacker from accessing your organization’s network and data.

Train employees on security awareness

Your employees should be trained on security awareness topics because many organizations suffer data breaches due to human error. According to a 2024 Statista survey, 66% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) claimed human error is their organization’s most significant security vulnerability. If your employees do not know what a phishing email may look like and click on any malicious links, your organization could suffer a cyber attack, leading to a data breach and significant financial losses. Training your employees on how to recognize phishing attempts and what to do if they receive a suspicious email can greatly reduce human error and, therefore, prevent cyber attacks from affecting your business.

Keep your organization protected against black hat hackers

Protect your organization from black hat hackers and other cybercriminals by using a firewall, investing in a PAM solution, keeping your software updated and conducting pen tests. A great PAM solution your organization should use to stay safe from black hat hackers is KeeperPAM, which helps you manage privileged accounts and protect sensitive data from unauthorized users.

Request a demo of KeeperPAM today to improve your overall security and achieve full visibility of every privileged user in your organization.