Which individuals believe that hacking and defacing websites can promote social change?

The correct answer is B, Hacktivists. In CEH hacker-classification concepts, hacktivists are attackers who use hacking techniques to support a social, religious, ideological, or political cause. CEH-aligned material describes hacktivism as actions intended to put forward a cause or political agenda, affect societal change, or highlight perceived political injustice. Another CEH-aligned explanation states that these individuals may hack servers, deface websites, create viruses, and cause disruption because they believe their actions will force social change or bring attention to an issue. Gray hat hackers may reveal vulnerabilities without permission, but their primary motivation is not necessarily social change. Ethical hackers, or white hats, work defensively with authorization and prior consent, not through illegal defacement. Black hat hackers usually act for malicious intent, personal gain, data theft, or service disruption. Therefore, the group specifically associated with hacking and website defacement to promote social or political change is Hacktivists.