Hack Your Way to Success: 2026 Ethical Hacking Essentials Challenge – Level Up Your Skills!

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.