The Role of Ethical Hackers

Ethical hackers, also known as gray hats, emerged in response to the changing perception of hacking, which shifted from exploration to criminality by the late 80s and 90s. These individuals sought to distinguish themselves from black hat hackers by focusing solely on factual vulnerabilities rather than ethical implications. Their goal was to democratize knowledge about potential security risks, proving that information should be accessible to improve cybersecurity rather than impose restrictions. In doing so, they formed groups like The Loft and Cult of the Dead Cow, uniting their efforts to uncover and address vulnerabilities in software.