The history of hacking is shaped by notable individuals and collectives:
: These are ethical security professionals who use their skills for good, often helping organizations find and fix vulnerabilities. Hackek
: These hackers sit in the middle, often finding vulnerabilities without permission but not necessarily with malicious intent, though their actions are still technically illegal. Famous Figures and Groups The history of hacking is shaped by notable
: Once known as the "world's most wanted hacker," he specialized in social engineering —tricking people into giving up sensitive information. Hackek
: Famous for stopping the devastating WannaCry ransomware attack, though he later faced legal issues for previous activities.
: A global "hacktivist" collective known for its leaderless structure and its members' use of Guy Fawkes masks.