What is Hacking?
Hacking is identifying weakness in computer systems or networks to exploit its weaknesses to gain access. Example of Hacking: Using password cracking algorithm to gain access to a system
Computers have become mandatory to run a successful businesses. It is not enough to have isolated computers systems; they need to be networked to facilitate communication with external businesses. This exposes them to the outside world and hacking. Hacking means using computers to commit fraudulent acts such as fraud, privacy invasion, stealing corporate/personal data, etc. Cyber crimes cost many organizations millions of dollars every year. Businesses need to protect themselves against such attacks.
In this tutorial, we will learn-
Common Hacking Terminologies
What is Cyber Crime?
Types of Cyber Crime
What is Ethical Hacking?
Why Ethical Hacking?
Legality of Ethical Hacking
Summary
Before we go any further, let’s look at some of the most commonly used terminologies in the world of hacking.
Who is a Hacker? Types of Hackers
A Hacker is a person who finds and exploits the weakness in computer systems and/or networks to gain access. Hackers are usually skilled computer programmers with knowledge of computer security.
Hackers are classified according to the intent of their actions. The following list classifies hackers according to their intent.
1._Ethical Hacker (White hat): A hacker who gains access to systems with a view to fix the identified weaknesses. They may also perform penetration testing and vulnerability assessments.
2._Cracker (Black hat): A hacker who gains unauthorized access to computer systems for personal gain. The intent is usually to steal corporate data, violate privacy rights, transfer funds from bank accounts etc.
3._Grey hat: A hacker who is in between ethical and black hat hackers. He/she breaks into computer systems without authority with a view to identify weaknesses and reveal them to the system owner
4._Script kiddies: A non-skilled person who gains access to computer systems using already made tools.
5._Hacktivist: A hacker who use hacking to send social, religious, and political, etc. messages. This is usually done by hijacking websites and leaving the message on the hijacked website.
6._Phreaker: A hacker who identifies and exploits weaknesses in telephones instead of computers.
What is Cybercrime?
Cyber crime is the use of computers and networks to perform illegal activities such as spreading computer viruses, online bullying, performing unauthorized electronic fund transfers, etc. Most cybercrimes are committed through the internet. Some cybercrimes can also be carried out using mobile phones via SMS and online chatting applications.
Type of Cybercrime
The following list presents the common types of cybercrimes:
Computer Fraud: Intentional deception for personal gain via the use of computer systems.
Privacy violation: Exposing personal information such as email addresses, phone number, account details, etc. on social media, websites, etc.
Identity Theft: Stealing personal information from somebody and impersonating that person.
Sharing copyrighted files/information: This involves distributing copyright protected files such as eBooks and computer programs etc.
Electronic funds transfer: This involves gaining an un-authorized access to bank computer networks and making illegal fund transfers.
Electronic money laundering: This involves the use of the computer to launder money.
ATM Fraud: This involves intercepting ATM card details such as account number and PIN numbers. These details are then used to withdraw funds from the intercepted accounts.
Denial of Service Attacks: This involves the use of computers in multiple locations to attack servers with a view of shutting them down.
Spam: Sending unauthorized emails. These emails usually contain advertisements.
What is Ethical Hacking?
Ethical Hacking is identifying weakness in computer systems and/or computer networks and coming with countermeasures that protect the weaknesses. Ethical hackers must abide by the following rules.
Get written permission from the owner of the computer system and/or computer network before hacking.
Protect the privacy of the organization been hacked.
Transparently report all the identified weaknesses in the computer system to the organization.
Inform hardware and software vendors of the identified weaknesses.
Why Ethical Hacking?
Information is one of the most valuable assets of an organization. Keeping information secure can protect an organization’s image and save an organization a lot of money.
Hacking can lead to loss of business for organizations that deal in finance such as PayPal. Ethical hacking puts them a step ahead of the cyber criminals who would otherwise lead to loss of business.
Legality of Ethical Hacking
Ethical Hacking is legal if the hacker abides by the rules stipulated in the above section on the definition of ethical hacking. The International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) provides a certification program that tests individual’s skills. Those who pass the examination are awarded with certificates. The certificates are supposed to be renewed after some time.
Summary
Hacking is identifying and exploiting weaknesses in computer systems and/or computer networks.
Cybercrime is committing a crime with the aid of computers and information technology infrastructure.
Ethical Hacking is about improving the security of computer systems and/or computer networks.
Ethical Hacking is legal.
Potential Security Threats To Your Computer Systems
A computer system threat is anything that leads to loss or corruption of data or physical damage to the hardware and/or infrastructure. Knowing how to identify computer security threats is the first step in protecting computer systems. The threats could be intentional, accidental or caused by natural disasters.
In this article, we will introduce you to the common computer system threats and how you can protect systems against them.
Topics covered in this tutorial
What is a Security Threat?
What are Physical Threats?
What are Non-physical Threats?
What is a Security Threat?
Security Threat is defined as a risk that which can potentially harm computer systems and organization. The cause could be physical such as someone stealing a computer that contains vital data. The cause could also be non-physical such as a virus attack. In these tutorial series, we will define a threat as a potential attack from a hacker that can allow them to gain unauthorized access to a computer system.
What are Physical Threats?
A physical threat is a potential cause of an incident that may result in loss or physical damage to the computer systems.
The following list classifies the physical threats into three (3) main categories;
Internal: The threats include fire, unstable power supply, humidity in the rooms housing the hardware, etc.
External: These threats include Lightning, floods, earthquakes, etc.
Human: These threats include theft, vandalism of the infrastructure and/or hardware, disruption, accidental or intentional errors.
To protect computer systems from the above mentioned physical threats, an organization must have physical security control measures.
The following list shows some of the possible measures that can be taken:
Internal: Fire threats could be prevented by the use of automatic fire detectors and extinguishers that do not use water to put out a fire. The unstable power supply can be prevented by the use of voltage controllers. An air conditioner can be used to control the humidity in the computer room.
External: Lightning protection systems can be used to protect computer systems against such attacks. Lightning protection systems are not 100% perfect, but to a certain extent, they reduce the chances of Lightning causing damage. Housing computer systems in high lands are one of the possible ways of protecting systems against floods.
Humans: Threats such as theft can be prevented by use of locked doors and restricted access to computer rooms.
What are Non-physical threats?
A non-physical threat is a potential cause of an incident that may result in;
Loss or corruption of system data
Disrupt business operations that rely on computer systems
Loss of sensitive information
Illegal monitoring of activities on computer systems
Cyber Security Breaches
Others
The non-physical threats are also known as logical threats. The following list is the common types of non-physical threats;
Virus
Trojans
Worms
Spyware
Key loggers
Adware
Denial of Service Attacks
Distributed Denial of Service Attacks
Unauthorized access to computer systems resources such as data
Phishing
Other Computer Security Risks
To protect computer systems from the above-mentioned threats, an organization must have logical security measures in place. The following list shows some of the possible measures that can be taken to protect cyber security threats
To protect against viruses, Trojans, worms, etc. an organization can use anti-virus software. In additional to the anti-virus software, an organization can also have control measures on the usage of external storage devices and visiting the website that is most likely to download unauthorized programs onto the user’s computer.
Unauthorized access to computer system resources can be prevented by the use of authentication methods. The authentication methods can be, in the form of user ids and strong passwords, smart cards or biometric, etc.
Intrusion-detection/prevention systems can be used to protect against denial of service attacks.There are other measures too that can be put in place to avoid denial of service attacks.
Summary
A threat is any activity that can lead to data loss/corruption through to disruption of normal business operations.
There are physical and non-physical threats
Physical threats cause damage to computer systems hardware and infrastructure. Examples include theft, vandalism through to natural disasters.
Non-physical threats target the software and data on the computer systems.
Skills Required to Become a Ethical Hacker
Skills allow you to achieve your desired goals within the available time and resources. As a hacker, you will need to develop skills that will help you get the job done. These skills include learning how to program, use the internet, good at solving problems, and taking advantage of existing security tools.
In this article, we will introduce you to the common programming languages and skills that you must know as a hacker. 