Introduction
Hackers.
They’re the arch nemesis of cybersecurity teams everywhere. They strike approximately every 39 seconds, and nearly 350M people were victims of cyber-crime just last year. That’s even with all the newfangled technology coming out to protect our systems, networks and devices!
What if there was a good kind of hacking, too?
No…seriously.
Putting on a White Hat
A white-hat hacker, also called an ethical hacker, is a cybersecurity professional who uses their hacking skills for good. Unlike malicious hackers (black hats), white-hat these snoops are trained to identify weaknesses in computer systems and networks with permission from the owner.
Think of them as digital security detectives! They exploit systems in a controlled way to find vulnerabilities before the bad actors can. Ethical hackers, then, are the good guys of the hacking world. Instead of breaking into systems for malicious purposes, they use their hacking skills to identify weaknesses in computer systems and networks with the permission of the owner.
Your own workplace might have white-hat hackers on the payroll, trying to break into your private data right now! Don’t worry, it’s not a bad thing. Ethical hackers can perform a variety of tasks to improve cybersecurity around your organization, including…
- Penetration testing, or pen-testing, simulates a cyber attack to see if they can exploit weaknesses in your company’s defenses.
- Vulnerability scanning uses automated tools to find known security vulnerabilities in your systems, thereby eliminating zero-day vulnerabilities before they’re exploited by hackers.
- Risk assessments use detailed, administrative questions to determine a company’s risk of imminent breach given the current threat landscape.
- Social engineering testing, like the simulated phishing campaigns that your higher-ups might send your way, try to trick employees into revealing sensitive information or clicking on malicious links, to see who is susceptible to such attacks.
By finding these vulnerabilities, white-hat hackers can help your workplace patch the holes and make its systems more secure. This can help prevent data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage.
Did You Know?
Hacking is a very serious issue that needs a very serious, defensive response! Why is that?
Did you know…
- The U.S. Internet Crime Complaint Center has reported 2.2M cybercrimes in the past five years.
- Email is the most common source of phishing attacks, leading to malware infections an ransomware attacks when successful!
- An estimated 30K websites around the world are hacked every day!
- 1 in 5 people who use the internet get their email exposed each year.
- 61% of hackers use generative AI to help them develop their malicious technology, as HackerOne 2023 “Hacker-Powered Security Report” discovered.
- 78% of PHI data breaches was
Conclusion
If you’re interested in becoming a white-hat hacker, there are resources and courses available to help you develop your technical skills, earn the necessary certifications, and connect with other individuals who can help gain you experience or who are in need of your new skillset!
The world of cybersecurity is always evolving, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest threats and vulnerabilities. If you’re passionate about technology and security, becoming a white hat hacker can be a rewarding career path. If not, then just know that they’re another resource here to help keep your devices and data safe from cyber-attackers.
