The 5 Types of Hackers Who Want to Harm Your Business

Not all hackers are bad people. That's true, of course. There are many types of hackers with their own reasons. White hat hackers are ethical hackers which hack into systems to uncover security flaws and improve their defences against cyber attacks. White hat hackers are always under the owner's consent. There are even blue hat hackers, grey hat hackers, green hat hackers, etc. We're not going to talk about these hat hackers here. We'll take a closer look at the not-so-nice hackers (or black hat hackers), the five types of attackers and the motives behind their attacks.

Script kiddies (or Skids) are at the bottom of any hacker totem pole. They're named after their use of scripts or other automated tools created by others. They're usually young people looking for fame or fortune online or just bored and seeking thrills.

Script kiddies aren't to be dismissed so easily. The ILOVEYOU virus, considered one of the worst malware on the planet, was developed by skids. It had the appearance of a simple love letter through an email but was rather a hacking technique to get the unsuspecting user to open the hidden file attachment.

Hacktivists sometimes hack into businesses and government websites to promote a particular political cause or to affect social change. These so-called “hackers with a cause” steal confidential information to expose or disrupt their target's operations.

Small- or medium-sized businesses aren't exempt from these cyberattacks. If your company is associated or partners with organizations that are prime targets for hacktivists, then this is especially true.

Cybercriminals break into digital systems or networks with the intent to steal data, destroy data, taint data, and/or lock data away. They often target individuals, small businesses (SMBs), and large companies that have vulnerabilities in their cybersecurity.

this type of hacker uses a variety of methods, including social media tricks to trick users into giving up their sensitive personal or business data. This information is then stolen by hackers, sold on the dark net, or used to launch cyberattacks against other companies for financial gain. They can also infect computers with various kinds of malware, all while having unauthorized access to these computers.

These hackers are backed by governments because they're true to their name. Hackers' goals include promoting their backers' interests within their own countries or abroad. Most often, this involves taking down sites that criticize the government, sway public opinion, cyber-terrorists, and tackling top secret information, among others.

State-sponsored hackers are already a serious threat to business owners, but they become even more dangerous when they target an entire nation's financial systems or disrupt its energy supply lines. This could include interfering with the economy or disrupting business operations. Hackers are not just targeting tech and pharma companies anymore. Businesses in other industries are also vulnerable.

The scariest kind of hacker is the one who hides inside your organization. A trusted source can be your company's existing or former employees, contractors, partners, or business associates. Often times they're just looking for revenge. They'll steal sensitive information or attempt to disrupt an organization's operations if they feel that a company has wronged them. Edward Snowden is a good example of someone who hacked his own organization — the United States government.

Hackers are constantly changing their tactics to achieve their goals, so they're never far from any business, including yours. You need to keep yourself one step ahead by working closely with cybersecurity experts who can protect your business from dangerous hackers and other threats. Contact us today to learn more.