What is hacking in cyber security is questioned by many. In cyber security, hackers use their skills and knowledge to penetrate computer networks or systems, sometimes for malicious purposes. Hacking may occur through exploiting weaknesses in computers or computer networks or through phishing emails. White-hat and black-hat hackers conduct both types of security attacks.
Phishing emails
Cybercriminals have been known to use hacking and phishing emails to target business users. The main aim of these scams is to gain access to confidential information. Fraudsters can then use this information for malicious purposes. In addition, they can sell this data on the dark web.
Some of the most common phishing attacks ask for personal information, such as your credit card details, passwords, or online banking credentials. They also try to gather other information. This could include financial data, employee login information, and more. Ultimately, the attackers want to get into your account and install malware.
Phishing emails are often designed to look like they come from a trustworthy source. Usually, the sender’s name is spelled correctly, and they have a correct company logo. However, they may also have grammatical errors and spelling mistakes.
Aside from phishing, hackers also resort to ‘conversation hijacking,’ which uses a compromised email account to send out phishing messages. Typically, these emails claim that your account has been compromised and need you to respond immediately.
Another type of phishing is a social engineering attack. These phishing attempts take advantage of a user’s lack of decision-making skills. The perpetrators can trick you into giving them your information by posing as someone within your company or a supplier.
Corporate espionage
Typically, corporate espionage is the theft of trade secrets and sensitive information. The goal is to give the company a competitive advantage over its competitors. This is often done by disgruntled insiders who have access to valuable data.
Whether the perpetrators are foreign or domestic, the goal of a corporate espionage attack is the same. It may be to disrupt the corporate operation or damage the company’s reputation.
A recent case involving the aerospace and defense industry (AMSC) involved an employee who acted as a double agent. An employee of the company’s information security team discovered a ruse, inviting a GE Aviation employee to a Chinese university to study aircraft fan technology.
The company’s computer systems were breached. Hackers gained access to the systems through a compromised network monitoring tool. These hackers also installed spyware on AMSC board computers.
Another case involving a cyber espionage attack is that of GhostNet, which targeted government offices worldwide. They used digital certificate authorities to exploit networks and accounting software.
Companies should make it a priority to protect their data. They must also stay on top of the latest cybersecurity updates. Cybercrimes targeting confidential data can severely damage a company’s brand.
Industrial espionage can be more difficult to detect than traditional hacking attacks. Competitors can hire employees to steal trade secrets or other corporate secrets. Some companies hire private investigators to look into these cases.
Exploring the limits of existing programs
In the age of big data and hyperconnectivity, information security management is becoming more important than ever. Indeed, many government organizations are at risk of wireless communication technologies. This explains why a well-conceived cybersecurity strategy is vital. Cyber attacks are not limited to the military, with private companies a common target. Thankfully, modern organizations are smart enough to recognize the dangers and adopt strategies to avoid or mitigate them.
The best way to do this is to hire the right people. To do this, many organizations are turning to cybersecurity training programs. Such programs are designed to attract more talent to the field. These programs also help retain existing workers by providing them with skills they may not have had the opportunity to hone before. Aside from a good training program, organizations must also implement a comprehensive cyber risk assessment. One of the organizations’ most common pitfalls is needing a holistic approach to cyber security.
As well as being an admirable feat of engineering, the internet has also led to the emergence of new malicious actors. These include malicious pranksters, malicious hackers, and rogue software developers. Some of these individuals have embraced the internet as a convenient means of carrying out their activities, which is not to say that all are not.
White hat hackers
White hat hackers are hired by organizations to test the security of their networks. They may also research open-source software or bug bounties to find vulnerabilities and exploits.
White hat hackers can be freelancers, contractors, or employees of large corporations. Their main focus is to find and eliminate vulnerabilities and cyber criminals.
White hat hackers are hired to perform penetration testing, also known as pen testing. This process finds vulnerabilities in a system and reports the findings to the responsible parties. Often, the security team can patch the vulnerability before malicious hackers exploit it.
White hat hackers have ethical and legal principles to follow. In addition, they need to adhere to the laws of the organization they are working for.
Traditionally, black hat hackers are known to break into a system to gain personal gain. However, in recent years, there has been a shift toward white hat hacking, or ethical hacking.
While black hat hackers are usually greedy and selfish, white hats are more interested in helping the world. They use techniques similar to black hats, but they don’t exploit the vulnerabilities they find.
Some white hats choose to do ethical hacking without prosecution. If you are considering this path, you can take certification courses to help you learn how to be an ethical hacker. These include Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) certifications, such as the Advanced Penetration Tester, Exploit Researcher and Security Essentials Certification.
