One who gains unauthorized access, destroys vital data, denies legitimate user's service or causes problems for their targets is called
- (a)White Hat Hacker
- (b)Cracker
- (c)Programmer
- (d)Database Administrator
Correct — B, Cracker. In security terminology a cracker is a malicious intruder (a 'black-hat') who breaks into systems without authorization to steal or destroy data, deny legitimate users their service (a denial-of-service attack), or otherwise harm the target. The defining feature is the criminal, damaging intent — which exactly matches the description in the question.
- (a)White Hat Hacker — The opposite — an ethical hacker who tests systems with permission to find and fix vulnerabilities, not to cause harm.
- (c)Programmer — A legitimate professional who writes software; the role carries no intent to break in or destroy data.
- (d)Database Administrator — An authorized custodian who manages and safeguards databases — a trusted role, not an intruder.
Security literature distinguishes the intent behind accessing a system. A 'cracker' (or black-hat hacker) breaks in with malicious purpose; a 'white-hat' hacker probes systems ethically and with permission. Purists reserve 'hacker' for a skilled enthusiast and use 'cracker' specifically for the criminal, even though popular usage blurs the two.
The question lists a mix of malicious and legitimate roles. Programmer and Database Administrator are ordinary authorized jobs; White Hat Hacker sounds adversarial but is actually the ethical side. Only 'Cracker' denotes the unauthorized, destructive actor described.
- Cracker = malicious (black-hat) intruder who breaks in to steal, destroy or disrupt
- White-hat hacker = ethical hacker who tests systems with permission
- Denying legitimate users access = a Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack
- Unauthorized access and data destruction are punishable offences under the IT Act, 2000
A cracker (black-hat) acts with malicious intent; the other three are legitimate or authorized roles.
- Assuming 'hacker' always means a criminal — a white-hat hacker is ethical
- Overlooking that Programmer and Database Administrator are legitimate, authorized roles
State PCS papers ask you to match a description to the right actor (cracker vs white-hat) or to name an attack type (DoS, phishing); anchor 'cracker = malicious, unauthorized intruder.'
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
An ethical security expert who tests systems with the owner's permission to find vulnerabilities is called a:
- (a)Cracker
- (b)White-hat hacker
- (c)Script kiddie
- (d)Phisher
Answer(b) White-hat hacker — an authorized, ethical tester, the opposite of a cracker.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The essential difference between a hacker and a cracker lies in:
- (a)the programming language used
- (b)the intent and authorization behind the access
- (c)the operating system involved
- (d)the speed of the internet connection
Answer(b) the intent and authorization behind the access — a cracker acts maliciously and without permission.