Gray hat hacking refers to a type of hacking that falls between ethical hacking and malicious hacking. Gray hat hackers may exploit vulnerabilities in systems without permission, but they typically do not have harmful intentions. Instead, they often seek to inform the system owners about the weaknesses they discover, sometimes asking for a fee for their services. This practice can raise ethical and legal questions, as it involves unauthorized access to systems. While gray hat hackers can help improve security, their actions may still violate laws or terms of service, leading to potential consequences for both the hacker and the affected organization.