Hacker
A hacker is a person who uses their computer knowledge and skills to discover bugs and vulnerabilities in computer systems.
•How to effectively defend yourself against hacker attacks?
Types of hackers
•A black hat hacker uses discovered weaknesses for unauthorized access or damage to foreign computer networks or devices. Its goal is to harm or monetize attacks. If a hacker discovers a vulnerability in a system, they use it for illegal activity and share with other hackers about its existence and how to exploit it.
•A white hat hacker (also an ethical hacker) uses their IT knowledge to improve systems and fix bugs to make them more secure and resistant to attacks. A hacker always "breaks into" systems or networks at the request of a specific organization and under precisely agreed conditions. It only uses discovered vulnerabilities with permission and discloses their existence when fixed.
•A blue hat hacker is a professional who is often hired by organizations that want to test the robustness of their security systems. Similar to a white hat hacker, it focuses on discovering bugs or weaknesses in systems, but they are usually security consultants who assess the security of a system or app before it is released to the market or during a major update. Blue hackers are considered ethical hackers as their goal is to improve the security of systems and protect them from potential cyber-attacks. They penetrate the organization's systems with permission, and their activity is legal.
•A red hat hacker usually uses the same tools and techniques as a black hacker (malware, exploitation of vulnerabilities, botnets for DDoS attacks) because their goal is to fight against the harmful activities of black hackers. Thus, they are considered a cyber vigilante, but they are is also willing to break the rules and act outside the law, thus differentiating himself from the white hacker.
•A gray hat hacker sometimes transgresses ethical standards or circumvents the law but usually does not carry out their activity with typically malicious intent. If they discover a vulnerability in a system, they typically do not exploit it or tell others how to exploit or fix it.
•A green hat hacker is a term for a self-taught cybersecurity novice known for their relentless desire to learn but often lacks the necessary technical skills and experience. It uses freely available resources and tools on the dark web, GitHub, and YouTube. They aim to gain knowledge about hacking and cybersecurity to become a professional hacker. Although their intention is not necessarily to harm, the green hacker is often unaware of the consequences of their actions and sometimes does not even know how to correct them.
Why do hackers attack?
The motivation for hacking and hacker attacks is mostly financial. The exception is so-called hacktivism, where civic or political ideals motivate hacking activity.
Among the most famous hacktivist groups is Anonymous. The name Anonymous covers a decentralized movement with members all over the world, which was founded in 2003 on an internet forum. It focuses on cyber attacks against governments, state institutions or corporations. The group's logo is the "Headless Man", representing the leaderless organization and its anonymity. Members appearing in public are distinguished by wearing Guy Fawkes masks from the novel and film V for Vendetta.
How did hacking originate?
The original hacking was associated with the creative and innovative use of technology, where individuals explored how to understand and exploit systems, including discovering vulnerabilities and bugs. Some of them have become famous for alerting developers to security flaws and helping to fix them.
However, over time, hacking has become a fragmented term that encompasses different groups of individuals with different motivations and goals. While some hackers are working to improve security, others have become known for their illegal activities, such as data theft, fraud, and system damage.
How to effectively defend yourself against hacker attacks?
•Use strong passwords—Use unique and strong passwords for each account and device. A strong password should contain a combination of letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers and special characters.
•Update your software—Regularly update the operating system and all software on your devices. Updates often include security patches that protect against known vulnerabilities.
•Use antivirus software—Install and regularly update antivirus software on your devices. Antivirus software helps detect and remove malware.
•Protect Wi-Fi networks—Secure your home Wi-Fi network with a strong password and use encryption (such as WPA2 or WPA3) to protect data transmission.
•Be careful with emails and links—When opening emails and clicking on links, especially if they are unsolicited or from unknown senders. This can prevent phishing attacks.
•Use Two-Factor Authentication—Enable Two-Factor Authentication for your accounts where available. This provides an additional layer of protection using a verification code or other authentication factor.
•Back up your data—Regularly back up your data to external storage or the cloud. This allows you to recover data if you fall victim to ransomware or other forms of data loss.
•Protect personal information—Only share your personal information with trusted sources, and be cautious when sharing information online, especially on social media.
•Educate yourself about cybersecurity—Learn about current threats and ways to protect yourself from hacker attacks. There are many resources and courses online to help you better understand cybersecurity.
•Consider using a VPN—A VPN (virtual private network) can protect your internet activity and privacy by encrypting data transmission between your device and the VPN server, making your ISP unable to track your activity.