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The term âhackerâ originated in the 1960s at MIT to describe computer experts who applied their skills to redevelop mainframe systems, boosting their efficiency and enabling them to multi-task.
Nowadays, the word is primarily used to identify skilled programmers who gain unauthorized access into computer systems by exploiting weaknesses or deploying bugs. Theyâre often thought to be motivated by malice, mischief, or money â and sometimes all three.
With the persistent popularity of the internet and the ever-expanding evolution of e-commerce, malicious hacking has become the most widely recognized form, a perception supported by its portrayal in various kinds of news media and entertainment.
That being said, not all hacking is bad. Which brings us to the second major type of hacking. Ethical hacking, in and of itself, might seem like a contradiction in terms â after all, hacking into somebodyâs account or service doesnât seem particularly ethical. But you may be surprised by the good that it can do.
Before we go further, letâs sort out the major differences between malicious and ethical hackers.
Malicious hacking is carried out in an attempt to breach the systems or networks of an organization (or individual) in order to compromise important data by stealing it, thereby tarnishing the organizationâs reputation as well as its assets.
Malicious hackers, often referred to as âBlack Hatâ hackers, will gladly take advantage of any mistakes made by programmers during the software development process in order to penetrate the security framework of the software.
Ethical hackers, often labeled âWhite Hatâ hackers, essentially employ the same techniques and approach the process with the same mindset as malicious hackers â the difference lies in their intent.
By definition, ethical hacking is the authorized process of intentionally bypassing the security defenses of an organizationâs IT infrastructure with the express purpose of identifying any vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and other potential security threats.
Afterwards, the ethical hacker notifies the organization of any issues that they discovered while assessing the systems or network and propose solutions in order to help protect the organizationâs assets from future attacks by malicious hackers.
Granting permission to have your crucial infrastructure ethically hacked by professional cybersecurity experts can go a long way toward improving the overall security posture of your organization.
Hiring an outsider to perform this service is generally preferable as it ensures that the ethical hacker uses a systematic and measured approach, thus closely mirroring what an external cyberattack might look like.
Short answer: YES! In order to perform a hack legally, a White Hat hacker must observe and adhere to a set of clearly delineated ethical guidelines:
In general, an ethical hacker seeks to answer the following questions:
There are four primary benefits of ethical hacking, particularly when compared with the disadvantages that are part and parcel of nearly all malicious hacks.
Ethical hackers seek to identify and close loopholes in a computer system or network. This can help keep sensitive data from falling into âenemy hands.â
By testing a companyâs security measures in a controlled, safe environment, an ethical hacker can work to detect possible entry points from the perspective of a cyberattacker. In doing so, they can address and fix any issues before a malicious hacker has the opportunity to exploit them.
An ethical hacker can help determine which security measures are effective, which need to be updated, and which prove to be little deterrent to nefarious cyberattackers.
With this knowledge in hand, an organization can make more informed decisions as to how to enhance the underlying security of its IT infrastructure. By doing this, the organization further defends itself against would-be attackers that might seek to exploit the computer network or take advantage of mistakes made by personnel.
Enacting improved security measures helps safeguard the integrity of customer information, including both products and data. This also helps build trust with clients and investors, the importance of which canât be emphasized enough.
Getting inside the mind of a hacker is no easy task, even if you have a background in IT. Failing to comprehend how hackers think and what they want could be catastrophic to your business â and the bad guys are more than willing to turn your weak spots to their advantage.
White Hat hackers may be ethical in their own endeavors, but they know perfectly well how the minds of their questionable counterparts work. They understand how hackers operate, and they can leverage that knowledge to safeguard your network against intrusion.
Each business network is incredibly complex, with interconnected computers, mobile devices, home-based workers, and traveling employees logging on from the road.
Understanding what to look for when assessing an organizationâs cybersecurity can be challenging, but ethical hackers know where to start and where potential blind spots are likely to be lurking.
You may believe that your network is as secure as it can possibly be, but it might have hidden weaknesses that you arenât aware of. Those weak spots may be imperceptible to you, but a seasoned ethical hacker can recognize them from a mile away.
Pinpointing hidden weaknesses in a systemâs cyberdefenses is one of the predominant reasons to enlist the services of an ethical hacker. These âgood guyâ hackers are experts at finding open ports, backdoors, and other plausible entry points into your computer network.
Testing and retesting your network is an integral part of a successful cyberdefense, but the effectiveness of your strategy depends upon the skillfulness of the testers. If the people testing your network donât know what to keep an eye out for, this could produce a false sense of security â and culminate in a devastating data breach.
With regard to network testing and intrusion detection, ethical hackersâ skills are unsurpassed. With years of experience scrutinizing networks for vulnerabilities, they know how testing should be carried out, and you can count on the accuracy of the results.
If youâre a newcomer to the business world, having an ethical hacker as part of your startup team can help you create a superior and more robust network from day one. Constructing a computer network with integrated security features will considerably reduce your susceptibility to breaches and data theft, and bringing White Hat hackers on board gives you an undeniable advantage.
Ethical hackers have encountered all kinds of networks, and they know how those systems should be constructed. If you want to create a network thatâs fast, scalable, and impervious to hackers, these cybersecurity experts can help you accomplish it.
It might seem peculiar to welcome hackers into your company, but the right hackers can truly enhance the security of your organization and your network. Hiring ethical hackers is a phenomenal way to evaluate your cyberdefenses, so you can build a better and more secure corporate network.
Data breaches are becoming more common and costly every year. In its latest report, the Center for Strategic and International Studies stated that cybercrime costs an estimated $600 billion per year globally. Most businesses canât afford to absorb the fines, loss of trust, and other negative impacts associated with data breaches.
With malicious hackers discovering newer ways to penetrate the defenses of networks nearly every day, the role of ethical hackers has become increasingly important across all areas.
Whether yours is a small, mid-sized, or large business, thereâs always a possibility that it could fall victim to a cyberattack. Most businesses deploy some type of IT infrastructure to deliver services to their customers â whether it be computers, laptops, servers, printers, wireless routers, or (most likely) a combination of these. All these devices are in danger of being breached at some point in time by cybercriminals, unless your organization takes measures to ensure that they arenât vulnerable to attacks. This is the critical role that ethical hackers perform.
To learn more about what DataGroup Technologies (DTI) can do to bolster the security of your organization, reach out to us at 252.329.1382 or drop us a line here.
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