Cybersecurity is a general term that refers to the maintenance, improvement and protection of a computer’s data, hardware and software. Cybersecurity has become an increasingly important area in recent years due to the amount of work PCs are capable of completing, as well as the number of devices that are now networked for various purposes.
There are many different aspects to cybersecurity that will be covered on this blog post such as what hackers do, how they can break into your systems and devices and much more.
What are hackers? Hackers are people who use computers to break into other people’s computers, networks and devices. They usually do this for political reasons or to steal information that can be sold on the black market.
Why do hackers hack? Hackers break into systems and devices for reasons such as personal gain or to show off their skills. They can also hack for fun, usually based on a challenge or dare.
How are hackers breaking into systems? Hackers break into computers by exploiting security flaws in software or the hardware that runs the computer. Security flaws are broken down to four primary categories:
Software vulnerabilities: Hackers manage to exploit software vulnerabilities in order to install malicious software on computers and networks. Some common software vulnerabilities include buffer overflow attacks and integer overflow attacks. Buffer overflows involve hackers trying to send information to a program that they are running. The information is sent in too large of a size, causing the program to crash and creating an opportunity for hackers to run their malicious code. Integer overflows occur when programmers use the wrong programming language for a particular task. This can cause computers to do things they are not supposed to do, which may create security holes and allow hackers into your system.
Hackers manage to exploit software vulnerabilities in order to install malicious software on computers and networks. Some common software vulnerabilities include buffer overflow attacks and integer overflow attacks. Buffer overflows involve hackers trying to send information to a program that they are running. The information is sent in too large of a size, causing the program to crash and creating an opportunity for hackers to run their malicious code. Integer overflows occur when programmers use the wrong programming language for a particular task. This can cause computers to do things they are not supposed to do, which may create security holes and allow hackers into your system.
Hardware attacks: Hardware attacks involve hackers gaining access to a computer’s hardware directly. Hackers can gain access by installing malicious hardware such as a keyboard that will allow them access at any time. Although this is rare, there has been multiple cases of companies being hacked by this method.
Hardware attacks involve hackers gaining access to a computer’s hardware directly. Hackers can gain access by installing malicious hardware such as a keyboard that will allow them access at any time. Although this is rare, there has been multiple cases of companies being hacked by this method.
Structural attacks: Structural attacks are when a hacker gains access to a computer or network by taking advantage of a weakness in the structure of the computer. This involves hackers exploiting vulnerabilities in the hardware, operating system, applications and data that make up a computer.
Structural attacks are when a hacker gains access to a computer or network by taking advantage of a weakness in the structure of the computer. This involves hackers exploiting vulnerabilities in the hardware, operating system, applications and data that make up a computer.
Social engineering: Social engineering is when a hacker attempts to trick an employee of a company into providing them with sensitive information or allow them access to the company’s computer systems. Hackers usually do this by posing as an authority figure such as a law enforcement official or identity thief. It is possible for hackers to also pose as an employee of the company that they are attempting to break into.
Who are hackers? There are many different people you will find under the term ‘hacker’. There are white hat hackers, black hat hackers and grey hat hackers. White hat hackers are employed by the company that they are breaking into, and they try to find security loopholes in the system so that a company can patch their system. Black hat hackers are employed to break in to systems for other reasons; they try to steal information, disrupt a system or cause other trouble. Grey hat hackers are the most difficult to find out about because their actions go unreported.
What is hacktivism? Hacktivism refers to hacking as a protest against something and how it affects people’s freedoms. Hacktivists try to use their hacking skills to make people aware of the injustices that occur and encourage them to take action. Hacktivists hack websites by taking over them and replacing their content with an activist message. Hackers can also hack companies, such as large corporations, to disrupt their business operations in order to force the company into change.
What are phreakers? Phreakers are a group of hackers who focus on breaking into telephone systems. Phreaking is the phone hacker version of hacking, and it refers to using information, technology or computer networks to understand how communication networks work. Many phreakers use programming languages such as assembly languages or machine language to program computers for a certain task.
What is a white hat hacker? A white hat hacker is a term used to refer to the good guys. White hat hackers use their skills for legal purposes, such as finding security holes in a system so that they can be patched. White hat hackers use their programming and hacking skills to improve security and make the internet safer for everyone.
A white hat hacker is a term used to refer to the good guys. White hat hackers use their skills for legal purposes, such as finding security holes in a system so that they can be patched. White hat hackers use their programming and hacking skills to improve security and make the internet safer for everyone.
What is a black hat hacker? Black hat hackers are the bad guys; they use their hacking skills to break into computer systems for malicious reasons. They either steal data or disrupt a system in order to cause trouble.
Black hat hackers are the bad guys; they use their hacking skills to break into computer systems for malicious reasons. They either steal data or disrupt a system in order to cause trouble.
What is grey hat? Grey hat hackers are those who perform ‘ethical’ hacks that may be frowned upon by some people, but aren’t necessarily illegal. They may find security holes and exploit them so that they can publish information about them, and this information may be of use to others.Grey hat hackers are often employed by companies to find security holes in their systems so that they can be patched. Grey hat hacking is often used by white hat hackers to find temporary vulnerabilities so that they can be fixed, or it may be used by black hats to steal information or disrupt a system they are interested in.
How does a hacker get into my system? A hacker gains access to a computer system through various methods. Here are some of the most common ways hackers gain access:
Password Cracking: This method involves finding an account name and password combination of an employee; this allows the hacker access to the account sending them an invitation.
Phishing: This method involves sending an employee an email that looks like it is from a legitimate source, but contains malware that gives the hacker access to the computer system.
Malware: Malware is a term used for malicious software. This software allows hackers to gain access to computers and systems without having to know a username and password. When a system is infected with malware, the hacker has control of your computer.
This method involves finding an account name and password combination of an employee; this allows the hacker access to the account sending them an invitation. This method involves sending an employee an email that looks like it is from a legitimate source, but contains malware that gives the hacker access to the computer system. Malware is a term used for malicious software. This software allows hackers to gain access to computers and systems without having to know a username and password. When a system is infected with malware, the hacker has control of your computer.
What is social engineering? Social engineering is when a hacker attempts to trick an employee of a company into providing them with sensitive information or allow them access to the company’s computer systems. Hackers usually do this by posing as an authority figure such as a law enforcement official or identity thief. It is possible for hackers to also pose as an employee of the company that they are attempting to break into.
Social engineering is when a hacker attempts to trick an employee of a company into providing them with sensitive information or allow them access to the company’s computer systems. Hackers usually do this by posing as an authority figure such as a law enforcement official or identity thief. It is possible for hackers to also pose as an employee of the company that they are attempting to break into.
What is pharming? Pharming is a practice used by hackers that allows them control over another person’s computer system by gaining access through email. When someone receives an email containing malware or a link, they click on it, allowing the hacker access to their computer system.
Pharming is a practice used by hackers that allows them control over another person’s computer system by gaining access through email. When someone receives an email containing malware or a link, they click on it, allowing the hacker access to their computer system.
Do all hackers have bad intentions? No, not all hackers are bad. In fact, many white hat hackers find security holes in the computer systems of companies and then report this information to them so that they can patch these holes and make their systems more secure. This is called social engineering; it’s when a hacker poses as someone who has authority over the company, such as law enforcement officials or identity thieves.
