Certified Incident Handler (CIH) Practice Ecam

What type of threat actor is characterized by malicious intent and uses sophisticated tools to exploit network vulnerabilities?

1. Script Kiddies

2. White Hats

3. Black Hats

4. Grey Hats

The correct answer is: Black Hats

The choice of black hats as the correct answer is well-founded. Black hat actors are individuals or groups that engage in malicious activities with the intention of exploiting vulnerabilities for personal gain, such as financial profit, data theft, or causing harm to individuals or organizations. They are often equipped with advanced skills and sophisticated tools, allowing them to bypass security measures and carry out their exploits effectively. This usage of technology positions them as a significant threat to cybersecurity. In contrast, script kiddies typically lack deep technical skills and use pre-written scripts or tools created by others to carry out attacks, not necessarily demonstrating the sophistication seen with black hats. White hats operate with good intentions, using their skills to improve security by identifying and fixing vulnerabilities, rather than exploiting them. Grey hats often straddle the line between ethical and unethical behavior but do not always engage in the malicious intent attributed to black hats. Thus, the characteristics of malicious intent and the utilization of sophisticated tools distinctly align with black hat threat actors.