Nov 09 2022
Hackers. It’s a word that strikes fear into the hearts of computer users everywhere. But what, exactly, is a hacker? How can you protect your computer from them? And what should you do if your computer is hacked? Read on to find out. . . .
When most people think of hacking, they think of large-scale cyber attacks by well-funded criminals or nation-states. However, hacking can also refer to more basic and common activities like breaking into a computer system or stealing someone’s password. Regardless of the scale, all types of hacking pose a risk to users and their data.
We spoke with best-selling Author and ethical hacker, Craig Ford regarding the ‘hacker stereotype’, and what you can do to protect yourself.
Who are Hackers?
On who hackers actually are, Craig gave some interesting perspectives.
“What do you all think a hacker looks like? Many of you will think that they are hooded figures, hiding in dark rooms with gloves on. Hunched over their keyboard with some kind of matrix-looking code running on the screen.
“That is not reality. I am a hacker, yes that is right. I am what they call in the cyber security industry a pentester, I take engagements from clients that have me try to break their systems, and find the holes but unlike a malicious actor (the bad guys and girls) I will help my clients figure out how to fix the issues and make them stronger for it.
“Hackers are not these hooded figures, they could be your neighbours or your family members. They could be like me and are more likely to be seen in a suit than a hoodie. Don’t believe all the hype and drama around hackers. The people who will break into your systems and wreak havoc are criminals. They are the same as someone who will physically steal your car or take your TV. They just do the crime through digital means.”
How likely is it I can be hacked?
When posed the idea that hackers are only after large-scale businesses such as Optus and Medicare, Craig warns that anyone can be hacked..
“This is something that a lot of small businesses and home users say. I have a bit of a shock for you, malicious actors or cyber criminals don’t care who you are, what you do or even really what information you have, it doesn’t matter to them at all. If you have weaknesses in your protection and you make it easy for them to infect your machine with ransomware or steal your data. They will take the opportunity. Period.
“Do yourself a favour, do the basics at least. Install a good antivirus solution, set up MFA (Multifactor authentication), and don’t use the same passwords for all of your accounts. That will make it too easy for them. Simple easy things can help you and your business stay safer in this connected world.”
What can I do to protect myself from being hacked?
Craig’s passion for Cybersecurity is outlined in his best-selling first book, A Hacker, I am. He advises that doing some of the simplest tasks can help to keep you safer on the internet.
“By doing regular updates on your computers and applications it will help protect you from millions of known CVE’s (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures), which is essentially a list of exploits cyber criminals/malicious actors will use to attack your systems or infect you with a virus.
“Most organisations that fall victim to a cyber incident do so because of patching not being installed that could have protected them. Some of these patches or updates have been available for months or more and have just been left uninstalled.”
In addition to Craig’s sound advice, we advise you to also create strong passwords (including capital letters, numbers, and symbols) and never use the same password for more than one account. You should also be cautious about opening emails from unknown senders, clicking on links in suspicious emails, or downloading attachments.
If you believe you have been hacked, please call us right away. We can help you clean up your computer and restore your files. Together we can keep our data safe and secure.
Craig Ford has also begun a series called, Foresight. This series is a cyber/fantasy series based on his extensive knowledge in the Cyber field.
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