Technology has without a doubt paved the road for creatives and professionals around the globe. While it has helped us make important new discoveries, develop helpful software, and made it possible for us to access anything with the click of a button or a tap of a screen, it’s important to remember that there are people out there that are preying on internet users; these people are called hackers.
But what is a hacker’s purpose? Why are they so fixated on stealing your personal information and taking over websites and servers? Well, hackers all have different reasons as to why they hack, but cybersecurity companies know the main reasons. Here is a guide to help you delve into the mind of a hacker.
Why Hackers Hack
Monetary Gain
A lot of hackers infiltrate systems to gain monetary compensation. Whether they hold personal data for ransom or steal a user’s credit card information, cybersecurity companies see hundreds of thousands of attacks aimed at online banking systems. You should always be wary of what sites you purchase from, as well as how liberally you use your credit cards on unsecured hardware or foreign systems.
Hackers Like to Make a Point
There are hackers out there that don’t care about money but are in the hacking business just to show the public what they’re capable of. In 2015, a hacker group by the name “Impact” stole details to around 32 million users on the Ashley Madison site. The site focused on providing individuals a place to meet people who they could have affairs with, and the hacker group found this immoral. They threatened to leak the user’s information, which would leave Ashley Madison “liable for fraud and extreme harm to millions of users.”
To Steal Personal Information
On the same level as monetary gain, hackers also hack in order to obtain someone else’s personal information. By stealing someone else’s identity, hackers can take out loans, transfer money from your bank account to theirs and even take out credit cards under your name.
Cybersecurity companies are seeing more of these attacks due to the increasing popularity in mobile and online banking companies. That is why individuals must make sure that they are accessing their bank accounts on a secure wi-fi network, as well as on a trusted, personal device.
Hackers are our modern-day pirates, and if you don’t take the necessary precautions to protect yourself online, you and your clients could face dire consequences. Cybersecurity companies exist to help protect you online, so contact us for all your cybersecurity needs.
