Nobody wants to have their information hacked. Whether you’re a regular run of the mill individual or if you own your own business, getting hacked and having your information stolen from you is the absolute opposite of what you want. But how exactly do hackers steal your information and what can you do to try and prevent any of it from happening? Hank Green, one of the many faces of YouTube, touches this subject on a newer episode of his science show, SciShow.

In the above video, Green gives you a crash course on the many different kinds of hackers, as well as how they go about stealing your information and what measures you can take to prevent any of it. He goes on to explain that there are three main types of hackers: a black hat hacker, a white hat hacker, and a grey hat hacker. Each Hat color represents a different motive they have for hacking. The Black Hats are painted as the bad guys who hack into systems with the sole purpose of reeking havoc and stealing your information. White Hats are hackers that are typically hired to hack into systems to test for security faults and vulnerabilities. Finally, the Grey Hats exists in a world somewhere between the other two where they aren’t exactly out to hurt anybody.

One of the best ways to prevent hacking of your information is by installing a firewall on your computer. A firewall acts as a digital barrier and helps prevent unauthorized access to both your computer and your network. Frequently changing your login passwords and making sure all of your software is up to date are two more excellent ways to ensure both your system and your information stays safe.

SciShow is an education YouTube channel dedicated to educating the public and bringing you the information you don’t know you need, seven days a week, every week.