Crackers are the ones that are typically engaged in trading and publishing 'cracks' for games, patches, serial numbers and activation keys for commercial software. They may embed malware in their cracks and patches ca...

Hacking is a term used to refer to a wide range of attacks on the internet - from crashing a server, to sophisticated infiltration - leading to stealing passwords, personal information, privy business data or intellectual property.

Black Hat Hackers develop malware, intrusion techniques and tools for evil purposes and have an ulterior motive of profiting from it. Spy agencies, criminal groups and enemies of establishments tend to pay them for such exploits.

These are state-sponsored military personnel trained in hacking techniques.

They may use malware and hacking to spy or steal intellectual property to gather enemy intelligence.