
Understanding Cybercriminals 187
technology, networks, telecommunications, computer security, and cryptog-
raphy. Their motivations, sometimes but not always creditable, can vary as a
result of their socio-cultural or socio-professional memberships. Depending
on their ethics and the uses to which they apply their knowledge (at the service
or not of society, licit versus illicit), it is common to describe hackers by the
colour of a hat, in reference to the hat worn traditionally by cowboys.
Even though it is rare that hackers identify themselves in this way, a white-
hat is associated with the good ones, those who work towards better security ...