Why Companies Are Turning to Hackers for Solutions

In an age of cybersecurity, it is easy to see why so many large businesses are turning to hackers for solutions. But will this always be the case?

Hackers can cause serious damage to a business by compromising its security. This can lead to a variety of problems including lost customer data, proprietary information and even financial losses.

Why Are So Many Large Businesses Turning to Hackers?

Cybersecurity has become a major concern in the business world. Almost every day, companies are reporting damaging breaches of their network security.

While many businesses have spent millions of dollars and thousands of hours defending their networks, hackers are constantly coming up with new ways to break into systems and steal information. They have a powerful incentive to penetrate a system because it’s very lucrative to make money by extorting or stealing data.

But a solid risk analysis can help companies match the right security controls to their specific needs. This helps keep their information and customer data safe from malicious attacks.

In addition to hiring hackers, many businesses are also turning to students to get their hands on hacking skills. This can be a great way to teach digital natives about cybersecurity.

Security Vulnerabilities

A security vulnerability is a weakness in a computer system or software program that makes it easy for unauthorized individuals to gain access. Once exploited, vulnerabilities can be used to install malware, steal sensitive data or shut down an entire system.

Often, companies fail to find and fix security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. This leads to data breaches or worse.

Servers can be vulnerable to cyber attacks because they contain valuable information and trade secrets or perform a revenue-generating function such as hosting an eCommerce website. These systems are typically housed in off-site data centers and should be secured with personalized access cards, biometric scanners and physical security controls.

Human errors and process vulnerabilities also create security vulnerabilities. These include improper user credential management, weak passwords and uncontrolled or immature user behaviors that can make it easier for hackers to get into an enterprise.

Bots

Bots are software programs that automate repetitive tasks. You might have seen chatbots on banking and retail websites that answer your questions without the need to involve customer service executives.

A bot might also be used to scan content on a website or social media account. These bots are often programmed to perform a specific task, and can be much faster than a human user could do.

However, bots can be malicious too. Bad bots are sent to scrape content from websites, send spam or steal information.

They can be a nuisance, and some companies even use them to target their competitors’ websites. Some hackers are happy to take advantage of this and sell stolen data to third parties.

Hackers often target businesses with sensitive information, like identification data, social security numbers, credit card and bank details, health records, and other personal details. They are a threat to a company’s reputation, and if they get hold of these sensitive details, it can lead to financial losses and loss of trust.

Soft Targets

Despite all the effort companies put into keeping their systems secure, hackers are a persistent threat. In fact, Ponemon reports that a single data breach can cost a business millions of dollars in damages and downtime.

There are many reasons why businesses are targeted by hackers, but a clear understanding of their motivations and tactics can help you develop your own cybersecurity strategies to protect your company.

For example, a hacker may choose to target a healthcare organization because medical devices are an easy target for cybercriminals to exploit. They lack the security features found on other network devices and a hacker could gain access to sensitive patient information through them.

Another common target is government organizations because of the reams of sensitive information they hold and the top-secret national security details that are stored on their networks. These are the targets of a nation-state hacker, who often attacks a specific victim based on political motivations, though they can also attack financially if they’re interested in making a quick buck.