What is The Black Hacker?

What Is a Hacker?

A hacker is someone who uses technical expertise to understand and modify systems. Hackers can either help fix vulnerabilities or exploit them for personal gain. In Web3, the term “hacker” often refers to two main roles: security researchers (who identify and fix issues) and attackers (who exploit vulnerabilities).

Imagine an information system as a building—hackers are like engineers familiar with its structure: some inspect and reinforce weaknesses, while others take advantage of cracks to enter. Labeling all hackers as “bad actors” is inaccurate; however, when hacking skills are used for criminal purposes, legal and risk management measures must be in place.

What Is the Difference Between Hackers and Cybercriminals?

The term “hacker” highlights technical skill and a spirit of exploration, while “cybercriminal” emphasizes illegal intent and profit-driven actions. The line between them is defined by whether their actions are authorized and comply with disclosure policies and laws.

White-hat hackers are authorized security researchers who report vulnerabilities privately for remediation, often receiving “bug bounties” (rewards paid by platforms for fixes). Black-hat hackers exploit vulnerabilities without authorization for profit. Gray-hat hackers fall in between: they may disclose issues without permission but do not act with the intent to profit.

What Do Hackers Do in Web3?

Hackers in Web3 either improve security or carry out attacks. On the security side, activities include code audits, bug bounties, and incident response. On the attack side, hackers focus on asset theft and protocol manipulation.

For security, hackers examine smart contracts—self-executing programs on the blockchain similar to vending machines—for logic flaws, permission setups, and fund flows; submit reports to bug bounty platforms; and assist in freezing or recovering assets during incidents.

On the attack side, hackers may target private keys (the signing keys controlling assets) and user habits via phishing (fake messages that prompt you to click or sign), or exploit protocol design flaws for profit.

How Do Hackers Discover Vulnerabilities?

Hackers find vulnerabilities by reading code, testing, and interacting with systems. The core approach is to treat systems as “complex machines,” seeking out edge cases that developers might have overlooked.

One method is code review: analyzing contract logic line-by-line to ensure critical sequences such as “deduct funds before transfer” are correct.

Another technique is fuzz testing: feeding random data into programs to observe abnormal behavior, like inserting various coins and instructions into a vending machine to see if it malfunctions.

Authorization checks are also performed: verifying whether user signatures grant excessive permissions or if “replay attacks” (reusing old instructions) are possible.

What Are Common Types of Hacker Attacks?

Hacker attacks in Web3 revolve around people, keys, contracts, and cross-chain connections. Key scenarios and risks include:

• Phishing & Signature Manipulation: Hackers impersonate support or websites to trick you into signing transactions in your wallet. A signature acts as authorization—like signing a contract; signing incorrectly may allow attackers to transfer your tokens.
• Private Key Exposure: Your private key is the “master key” to your assets. Screenshots, cloud storage, or entering it on insecure devices can result in theft. Once leaked, assets can be directly stolen.
• Smart Contract Logic Flaws: Examples include reentrancy (calling fund functions repeatedly before updating balances), or price manipulation (temporarily altering oracle data; oracles act as sensors bringing external prices on-chain).
• Cross-chain bridge issues: Bridges connect different blockchains, like cargo routes between cities. Poor key management or validation can lead to large-scale unauthorized asset release.
• Social Engineering: Hackers exploit trust and urgency (“limited-time bonuses,” “suspicious login alerts”) to trick you into sharing information or making mistakes.

What Is the Difference Between White-hat and Black-hat Hackers?

White-hat hackers follow authorized processes and responsible disclosure, aiming to improve security; black-hat hackers act illegally for profit. Their motivations, workflows, and legal risks differ fundamentally.

In practice, white-hat hackers sign testing agreements, reproduce issues, submit technical reports, wait for fixes, and collect bounties (via bug bounty platforms or official security contacts). Black-hat hackers conceal their tracks, exploit vulnerabilities rapidly, and launder funds.

For platforms, establishing coordinated disclosure processes is critical—providing researchers with compliant channels, clear response timelines, and reward standards to reduce the risk window for secret exploitation.

How Can You Protect Yourself From Hacker Risks?

The core of defense is securing your private key, understanding signatures, and layering risk controls. Individuals can take the following steps:

1. Enable two-factor authentication: Go to Gate’s security settings to activate 2FA (such as SMS codes or authenticators), adding a barrier to login and transactions.
2. Set up anti-phishing codes and withdrawal whitelists: Enable anti-phishing codes (unique identifiers displayed in platform emails) at Gate; set withdrawal whitelists so only trusted addresses can receive withdrawals.
3. Separate hot and cold storage: Use hot wallets for regular funds; hardware wallets (offline devices) for long-term assets to reduce hacking risk.
4. Practice minimal authorization: When interacting with DApps, only grant necessary token permissions and amounts; regularly revoke unnecessary authorizations in your wallet or via block explorers.
5. Verify links and sources: Access platforms via official websites or trusted directories; be skeptical of “support,” “bonus offers,” or “urgent alerts”—confirm through tickets or official channels when needed.
6. Keep devices and software updated: Ensure your system, browser, and wallet plugins are always up-to-date to minimize exposure to known vulnerabilities.
7. Establish a transaction checklist: Confirm recipient addresses, amounts, contract names/functions, and re-read authorization details before executing—turn these habits into your first line of defense.

Risk Warning: All investments or transfers are subject to hacker and market risks. Prioritize security, diversify holdings, and maintain backup channels.

How To Become a White-hat Hacker?

The entry path is building strong fundamentals, practicing vulnerability reproduction, and engaging with the community. Recommended steps:

1. Learn blockchain and Web basics: Understand transactions, blocks, private keys, signatures; master web requests and common vulnerability concepts (like input validation, access control).
2. Study Solidity (Ethereum’s contract language) and typical security issues: Write simple contracts yourself; reproduce classic cases such as reentrancy, integer overflow, price manipulation.
3. Use security tools: Try static analysis (like Slither), test frameworks (such as Foundry or Hardhat), build local environments for reproduction and unit testing.
4. Read audit reports and analyze real incidents: Compare audit findings with attack paths to sharpen your intuition for spotting vulnerabilities.
5. Participate in bug bounties and competitions: Submit reports on compliant platforms (e.g., Immunefi, Code4rena), follow rules/disclosure deadlines, build experience and reputation.
6. Establish professional ethics: Test only within authorized scope; privately report critical issues first; respect laws and platform policies.

What Are the Trends in Hacking?

The trend is simultaneous evolution of attacks and defenses—both data analysis and tools are becoming more specialized. Public reports indicate that the scale of hacking incidents varies year by year but overall risks remain high.

For example, Chainalysis’s 2023 Crypto Crime Report notes that losses from attacks were around $3.8 billion in 2022 but dropped to about $1.1 billion in 2023 (Chainalysis 2023 report). This shows defensive progress but does not mean risks are gone.

Methodologically, AI and automated testing are increasingly used for code audits and anomaly detection; formal verification (mathematically proving program properties) is more common in critical contracts; cross-chain protocols and novel signature schemes are major areas of research.

On the platform side, more exchanges and projects are implementing “coordinated disclosure plus bounty” programs to shorten vulnerability exposure windows; user security education has become routine (security pop-ups, signature prompts, whitelists).

Key Takeaways on Hacker Knowledge

Hackers are not synonymous with criminals—the distinction lies in motivation and authorization. Understanding private keys, signatures, and contract logic is foundational for defending against attacks. Building layered defenses through security settings and operational habits significantly lowers risk. Pursuing a white-hat path requires gradual accumulation of knowledge from basics to practice—while strictly adhering to ethics and law. As attack and defense continually evolve, ongoing learning and vigilance are essential for safeguarding assets and participating in Web3 over the long term.

FAQ

Is There a Difference Between “Hacker” and “Cracker”?

In Chinese usage, “hacker” (黑客) and “cracker” (骇客) are often mixed but have subtle differences. “Hacker” broadly refers to individuals with advanced computing skills—encompassing both ethical security researchers and malicious attackers; “cracker” specifically means someone engaged in illegal intrusion or destruction, typically with negative connotations. Simply put: “hacker” denotes technical identity; “cracker” denotes criminal activity.

What Should Regular Users Do If Attacked by Hackers?

If you experience a hacker attack: immediately change all passwords—especially for email and financial accounts; back up important data; check for abnormal transactions; report the incident to relevant platforms and preserve evidence; consider contacting law enforcement or consulting a security expert. Prevention is better than reaction—enable two-factor authentication, update software regularly, and be cautious with links to greatly reduce your risk.

Why Is Hacker Culture Considered Beneficial for Internet Development?

Hacker ethos promotes openness, innovation, and free sharing—driving the development of foundational technologies like open-source software and internet protocols. Many white-hat hackers help companies strengthen defenses by discovering vulnerabilities—and some earn significant bounties. Without hacker-driven research and code audits, the internet ecosystem would face far greater risks.

How Are Hacker Skills Used in Web3 and Crypto?

In Web3, hacker skills serve two main purposes: white-hat hackers audit smart contracts for DeFi projects, find vulnerabilities, and protect user funds; malicious actors attempt wallet thefts or execute flash loan attacks. Platforms like Gate employ security teams and bug bounty hunters for ongoing risk assessment.

What Foundation Is Needed To Learn Hacking Skills?

Learning requires programming basics (Python, C) and network knowledge. The right path: start with computer fundamentals → master programming languages → dive into cybersecurity → join CTF competitions and bug bounty programs. Pursue the white-hat route—obtain ethical hacking certifications (like CEH), offer security services to businesses or join security initiatives at platforms like Gate.