Cybersecurity is something that we’ve spoken about extensively here at Orbis, as it is one of (if not the biggest) threats to organisations worldwide. Whether it’s small-scale hacking such as phishing which we can see in our day-to-day lives, through to completely taking over systems on a larger scale, hackers are dominating the cybersecurity space and becoming more and more intelligent.
At present, there are three different types of hackers: Black Hat, White Hat, and Grey Hat.
Let’s break down what these hackers do.
Black Hat
“Black hat hackers are cybercriminals that illegally crack systems with malicious intent. Seeking to gain unauthorized access to computer systems is the definition of black hat hacking. Once a black hat hacker finds a security vulnerability, they try to exploit it, often by implanting a virus or other type of malware such as a trojan.
Ransomware attacks are another favored ploy that black hat hackers use to extort financial gains or breach data systems. Black hat hackers are also referred to as malicious hackers, unethical hackers, and crackers.”
White Hat
“White hat hackers, also known as ethical security hackers, identify and fix vulnerabilities. Hacking into systems with the permission of the organizations they hack into, white hat hackers try to uncover system weaknesses in order to fix them and help strengthen overall internet security. Many cybersecurity leaders started out as white hat hackers, but the vital role played by ethical hacking is still widely misunderstood. White hat hackers working on a team can be referred to as sneakers, hacker clubs, red teams, or tiger teams.”
Gray Hat
“Gray hat hackers may not have the criminal or malicious intent of a black hat hacker, but they also don’t have the prior knowledge or consent of those whose systems they hack into. Nevertheless, when grey hat hackers uncover weaknesses such as zero-day vulnerabilities, they report them rather than fully exploiting them. But gray hat hackers may demand payment in exchange for providing full details of what they uncovered.”
In summary, it’s important to note that not all hacking is illegal and not all hacking is considered malicious. Understanding the different types of hacking available can actually give organisations a better understanding of who they’re under attack by.
How can you keep tabs on your levels of cybersecurity?
White Hat Hackers
A great option that you can invest in is hiring a White Hat hacker (depending on the size of your business) to do some digging and figure out where your blind spots are. Especially for smaller organisations who are at risk, you want to ensure that you have great security processes in place to protect not just your employees, but your organisation overall.
A White Hat hacker can be found online on a consultative basis and can do a full ‘health check’ of your business’ Cybersecurity as it currently stands.
Regular reviews with suppliers
Hackers are increasingly targeting the supply chain of businesses. By compromising a third-party vendor or software provider, they can gain access to a larger network of businesses. This method is particularly effective because it exploits the trust relationships between companies and their suppliers.
You must keep tabs on your suppliers, most crucially the individuals who invoice you or try to get any kind of payment from you. Not having oversight or any process that keeps your payments watertight leaves you at a huge risk for hackers.
Invest in high-quality cybersecurity software
Simply put, if you want to have high-quality cybersecurity, you need to get the best software for your organisation. Especially for smaller businesses who may think they aren’t at risk, it’s important to note that hackers will not discriminate on business size. Whether you’re a contractor, freelancer, two-man-band or a global conglomerate, hackers are everywhere, and they will prey on weak business systems.
In conclusion, hackers are incredibly clever people who can either be the heroes of an organisation but they can also become the villains. Equipping yourself with information on how your business is running from a cyber perspective (and what you’re at risk of losing) is crucial for protecting your employees and the infrastructure of what you’ve built so far.
