Hacking involves changing a system's security features without authorization to accomplish an unauthorized goal. Hackers are classified as white hats, black hats, or grey hats depending on their motives. White hats hack to improve security, black hats hack for personal gain, and grey hats notify administrators of weaknesses. Crackers are similar to black hats in that they intentionally breach security for criminal reasons like identity theft. Malware programs like viruses, worms, Trojans, and ransomware are designed to gain unauthorized access to systems or steal information without the user's permission.