Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

Which class of hacker does John belong to, given he was hired by a government agency to gain top-secret information?

1. State-sponsored hackers

2. White hat hackers

3. Ethical hackers

4. Black hat hackers

The correct answer is: State-sponsored hackers

John belongs to the class of state-sponsored hackers because he is hired by a government agency to access top-secret information. This classification indicates that he is operating on behalf of a state, potentially for purposes of national security or to gain competitive intelligence against other nations. State-sponsored hackers typically possess advanced skills and access to resources that enable them to carry out sophisticated hacking activities sanctioned by their government. While white hat hackers and ethical hackers also engage in security-related activities, their work is characterized by a focus on helping organizations secure their systems and networks, rather than acting under government directives for espionage or state interests. Black hat hackers, on the other hand, operate outside the law and engage in malicious or criminal activities for personal gain, which does not align with John's scenario, where he is working under the authority of a government agency for a specific purpose.