Hackers have infamously been portrayed in a negative light especially now with the recent dispute amongst Apple Inc and the FBI. The dictionary definition of a hacker states: 1. an expert at programming and solving with a computer. 2. A person who illegally gains access to and sometimes tampers with information in a computer system.

The term “hacker” usually has a negative connotation. People assume a hacker is a thief, a con artist, or simply illegally breaking into computer systems for evil. But what a lot of people don’t know is that many big time corporations, such as, Google, Tesla, and Facebook, actually hire hackers to use their powers for good. These hackers are used to clean up, manage and just overall make safer perimeters online for these companies.

Not all hackers are the same; it comes down to their intent. The most popular hackers are White Hat and Black Hat Hackers. White Hat Hackers,also known as “ethical hackers” are the good guys. These types of hackers test security systems, perform assessments, check for vulnerabilities in soft wares and ultimately have good intentions.

Black Hat Hackers are doing the exact opposite; they are illegally violating computer safety for personal gain or just mischievous reasons. They are the ones who are giving hackers a bad reputation, and most commonly known to the public and the ones people feel.

Ultimately, the intent of the hacker is what separates the bad guys from the good ones. After all, these individuals or groups have the skill set to bypass even the toughest security systems. At the end of the day there is good and bad in every craft but it’s the end goal that really makes the different.