The Return of the Hack Attack!

Posted: October 4th, 2023

The term “hacker” seems to be used so often nowadays, that sometimes people forget to give attention and rightful concern to what the true meaning of the word entails, especially when it has to do with a business and the data it prefers (and promises) to keep confidential. While an amateur hacker may do things such as post inappropriate things to your social media account, or share personal information about a clientele list (think the Ashley Madison scandal) the aftermath affect of the detriment a leak, or “hack” of this type could bring a business might eventually create the downfall and closing of such an entity, not to mention costly lawsuits and a ruined reputation as a business and a business owner. So what exactly does it mean to be a “hacker” or “hack” something? Well, The term computer hacker first showed up in the mid-1960s when a hacker was a programmer -- someone who hacked out computer code. At the time, hackers were visionaries who could see new ways to use computers, creating programs that no one else could conceive. They were the pioneers of the computer industry, building everything from small applications to operating systems. When you think about it in this sense, people like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were all hackers -- they saw the potential of what computers could do and created ways to achieve that potential. Thankfully, they preferred to take the positive route with their skills… As it pertains to security and the risk of your data, the word "hacker" has gotten a bad reputation, and rightfully so. The word summons up thoughts of malicious computer users finding new ways to harass people, defraud corporations, steal information and maybe even destroy the economy or start a war by infiltrating military computer systems, which is precisely what a certain group of people who identify themselves as “hackers” hope to do. A common trait among these hackers however, is a strong sense of curiosity, sometimes bordering on obsession. And as the saying goes; “curiosity killed the cat”…. These hackers prided themselves on not only their ability to create new programs, but also to learn how other programs and systems worked. When a program had a bug -- a section of bad code that prevented the program from working properly -- hackers would often create and distribute small sections of code called patches to fix the problem. Some managed to land a job that leveraged their skills, getting paid for what they'd happily do for free. Others, decided to take a less than legal approach to putting their skills into action. So how should someone protect themselves from a hacker? And more importantly, how does a company hire someone with the same skills a hacker has, while hoping the individual (s) follow their moral and ethical mindset? With a little bit of hope, and lot of information technology and customer service from a company that knows what and how to deal with these situations. Do you think your company could benefit from the guidance or management of an IT company that specializes in these types of services? Contact our team of professionals today, and let us customize a plan that fits both your needs, and your budget!