What is Hacking and How Can it Help You?
Hacking is a term that often conjures up images of hoodie-wearing tech wizards. However, hacking is actually a technical superpower that can be used for the greater good – to help protect modern infrastructure and people. Ethical hacking, also known as penetration testing or white hat hacking is all about identifying weaknesses in computer systems and computer networks and coming up with countermeasures that protect those weak points. It’s about being one step ahead of the cyber criminals and protecting your customers, your company and your reputation.
There are many different reasons why hackers want to break into computer systems and networks. Some are motivated by criminal financial gain, which can include stealing credit card information or defrauding banking systems. Others are looking for a challenge, wanting to see if they can break into the systems of bigger companies or government agencies. Then there are the hacktivists who use their skills for a political cause.
Whatever the reason, hackers will use their abilities to try and gain access to private information. The most common way this happens is through phishing emails and texts. Our initial instinct is to click on a link or open an attachment in any message we receive but this can be a big mistake. Instead, be aware of how hackers work and avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in any message you are not sure about. It is also a good idea to keep your software and devices updated as these updates typically come with solutions for the security vulnerabilities that hackers look for and exploit.