White Hat Avatar?

July 31, 2009 4:35 PM

Regarding the term: "white hat avatar." I'm embarrassed to ask, but what does this mean?
posted by Mr Chips to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

Well, I'm not sure what you're referring to without more context, but "white hat" usually means good, as opposed to black hat which means bad. And an avatar, online, can be an image that represents you.

Alternatively, the dictionary provides these definitions of avatars:

1. The incarnation of a Hindu deity, especially Vishnu, in human or animal form.
2. An embodiment, as of a quality or concept; an archetype: the very avatar of cunning.
3. A temporary manifestation or aspect of a continuing entity: occultism in its present avatar.

So perhaps a good incarnation of a deity?
posted by IndigoRain at 4:59 PM on July 31, 2009

It's probably referring to someone who has two or more online personas, and sometimes plays a game or chats while logged in as the "white hat" one, and sometimes as the "black hat" version of himself.
posted by rokusan at 5:32 PM on July 31, 2009 [1 favorite]

A cliche of old cowboy movies had the good guy wear a white hat and the bad guy wear a black one, so you know who to root for when they fight.

In the world of network security, white hats try to break systems to make them more secure, and black hats just want to exploit the systems for their own gain.

I like to imagine that when talking to potential employers or law enforcement almost everyone self-identifies as white-hat, whereas when talking to friends over a drink or trying to impress a potential love interest, almost everyone will insinuate that they are black-hat.
posted by idiopath at 7:31 PM on July 31, 2009 [2 favorites]