Which of the following describes a grey hat hacker?

A grey hat hacker is someone who often operates in a morally ambiguous space regarding hacking ethics. They may identify and exploit security vulnerabilities without authorization but do so without malicious intent—sometimes even with the intention of helping the affected organization to secure their systems. This behavior may lead to situations where they technically break laws, such as unauthorized access, but their actions can ultimately contribute positively by alerting the system owners to vulnerabilities that need addressing.

This definition aligns well with option C, as it encapsulates the duality of grey hat hackers: their potential legal infractions contrasted with their motivations to inform and protect. The other choices reflect different types of hackers instead, such as white hat hackers who strictly adhere to ethical guidelines and operate with explicit permission, or characteristics that do not match the nuanced actions of a grey hat hacker.