Hackers come in all shapes and sizes, from curious teens tinkering around with technology to high-level professionals with deep technical expertise. But even though hackers have different levels of experience and ability, they can all be generalized into two basic groups: experts and non-experts.

Most hacking is done by either non-experts or “script kiddies” who have only minimal technical skills and use pre-packaged tools and scripts to carry out their attacks. These attacks are usually unsophisticated and typically involve low-level security scanning, mass web page defacements, or the exploitation of easily accessible stray network services.

In contrast, expert hackers have more comprehensive knowledge of systems and networks, and possess the ability to write and modify code. Unlike the script kiddies, their attacks are more sophisticated and often employ a multi-tiered approach which involves combining existing hacking techniques with new methods of attack. Expert hackers are usually well-versed in the latest technologies and are often hired by security companies, law enforcement agencies, and governments to test the security of their systems.

Regardless of their skill level, hackers are a part of our world. As technology continues to evolve, hackers will continue to exist and the number of experts and non-experts will continue to grow. The best way to protect against hacking is to keep up to date with the latest security protocols and to ensure that all systems are properly configured.