white hat

noun, Informal.
1.
a virtuous hero, especially in a cowboy movie; good guy.
Compare black hat (def 1).
Related forms
white-hat, white-hatted, adjective
Examples from the web for white hat
  • Sometimes the new flaw exposed by the white hat creates widespread hacking opportunities.
  • He wears a shiny silver suit and a white hat with a feather in it.
  • Traditional law enforcement are often seen as the white hat agencies.
British Dictionary definitions for white hat

white hat

noun
1.
(informal)
  1. a computer hacker who is hired by an organization to undertake nonmalicious hacking work in order to discover computer-security flaws
  2. (as modifier): a white-hat hacker Compare black hat
Contemporary definitions for white hat
noun

a computer programmer hired to prevent illegal acts such as hacking a forbidden network or sending out a virus or worm; also, a computer expert, usually a former hacker, who now uses his or her skills for legitimate causes; also called white hat hacker

Word Origin

fr its use in western /cowboy movies

Usage Note

computing

Slang definitions & phrases for white hat

white hat

modifier

: I told them they were the white-hatguys

noun phrase

A law-abiding, morally upright, and heroic person, as distinct from the villainous black hat

[1970s+; fr the conventional dress of heroes in cowboy movies]