What is the main difference between white hat and black hat hackers?

The main difference between white hat and black hat hackers lies in their intent and ethical standards. White hat hackers are ethical security experts who use their skills to identify and fix vulnerabilities in systems, often working with organizations to enhance their security posture. They typically operate within legal parameters and often have permission from the system owners to conduct penetration testing or security assessments, helping to prevent malicious attacks.

In contrast, black hat hackers engage in illegal activities, exploiting systems for personal gain or to cause harm, such as stealing data or deploying malware. Their actions are often malicious and intended to breach security rather than improve it.

While some other options might have elements of truth, they do not accurately capture the core essence of the roles that define white and black hat hackers. The distinction in ethics, intent, and legality is fundamental in understanding the cybersecurity landscape.