Ethical hacking is an area of information security that is in high demand. A Certified Ethical Hacker certification is usually required to perform penetration testing. White-hat hackers probe for vulnerabilities to report them so they can be fixed. Black-hat hackers probe for undetected vulnerabilities to exploit for nefarious purposes.

The hacker, Chris Roberts, was able to hack into an airplane while it was in flight, adjust the planes course and access the satellite communication system. While his stated intent was to prove the vulnerabilities (white hat), it was not authorized by the airline or manufacturer.

The stated intent was good. The exploit was unauthorized

Did this test cross an ethical line?

In your opinion, does this make Chris Roberts a white hat or black hat? Please explain your reasoning.