Hacking is a nightmare for system administrators, security experts, website and business owners. It is a sneaky tactic employed by many unscrupulous individuals to get into another person’s computer without permission. This technique is often used to steal information, spy on someone else’s activities or just launch a malicious attack. However, with the type of security software people have these days, illegal and unwelcome intrusion remains a problem. This leads one to wonder, ‘Is hacking an inside job?‘
Do you think most computer hacking an inside job? Tell us what you think in the comments.
When insiders go bad
From experience, many unscrupulous programmers and those looking for some adventurous albeit troublesome surfing find hacking a forbidden fruit too delicious to refuse. Not only does it offer plenty of self-satisfaction on the part of the hacker, it also opens numerous doors of opportunity. Hacking, after all, is the popular route criminals take to perform criminal activities. Still, with each new threat that rears its ugly head, computer security companies also find new ways to battle each one. So how do hackers cope?
[Read also: How To Prevent Cell Phone Hacking]
Hacking as an inside job seems to be a no-brainer. After all, how else can a well-protected computer system be infiltrated when there are security measures in place? An insider has better access to a network computer that will readily connect to the heart of a system which is its most vulnerable part. Insiders also tend to be privy to sensitive information including passwords, key passes, co-employees’ computing habits, system vulnerabilities, etc. When it is so easy to do something illegal and there is a good chance you can get away with it, why not do it?
Why turn traitor?
There are many reasons why hacking is an insider job, at least, most of the time. According to Diligence Information Security, an estimated 70% of attempts at security breaches made in corporate settings can be traced to employees. There are reasons why this is so.
Hacking from the inside is relatively easy, or at least easy enough for even an unsophisticated hacker to perform. The simplest hacks often require only physical access to a computer or a network, knowledge of a password and certain processes in order to carry out. In a way, hacking as an inside job is akin to going for the path of least resistance – it is easier than trying to break in from the outside.
[Read also: Sites Where You Are Most Likely to Get Hacked]
Another reason why insider hacking is attractive is that it is potentially lucrative. Employees, consultants and suppliers are frequently targeted to infiltrate their company’s network or system in exchange for pay. This is commonly referred to as industrial or corporate espionage and it can affect companies from different industries such as pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, production or finance, among others.
Insider hacking can also happen when there is malicious intent, either coming from people who want to misuse their access and authority or those who want cause trouble due to a grudge. An employee who was just let go, for example, or someone who may not have received the attention or recognition he thinks he deserved could be the person who will be holding very strong ill feelings against his employer. If he has access or is capable of finding a way to get into the system to wreck havoc, he probably will.
Protecting yourself from an inside job
There really is no bulletproof way to completely protect a network or system from a hacking attempt. However, implementing a sound policy, installing security software and educating employees and users regarding the safe use of computers can help minimize these threats and even make it more difficult for hackers to perform a breach.
[Read more: I’ve Been Hacked! 5 Things to do]
Do you think companies face a bigger threat to their networks from their own employees than from hackers? Tell us in the comments.
I guess I never thought of it as an inside job. I could see that happening especially when there is an incentive like money involved. I don’t know if the news is just talking about hacking a lot more lately or what, but there sure seems like there is a lot more of it lately. Makes me wonder how hacking goes on that nobody knows about.
We heard big companies websites being hacked and personal information being compromised… Seems so easy… Creepy isn’t it?
Hey Peter First of all Congratulation for Completing 100 Article for Computerhowtoguide.com. Well Done Man. Awesome Writing. Specially i love the Title its really Eye Catching ;).
~ Amit Shaw from iTechCode
Oh you noticed that? 😛 Yeah it’s an awesome feeling in achieving 100 articles in Computerhowtoguide.com. I hope there will be more 100s to come. Thanks for the comment Amit.
Congratulations for completing 100 articles on CHTG. Hacking is an inside job. I heard a lot about intentional hacking through which software companies make their softwares hack proof So there are opportunities for hackers.
Again congratulations Peter.
Thanks Puneet 🙂
Yes thats right, bigger companies wants to make their software hack proof and for this they use intentional hacking. I heard a news about a guy who hacked Google chrome in a contest organized by google, google paid him $60,000 (around) as prize.
Very interesting post Peter. Viruses, easy to remember passwords, not applying regular updates to scripts and other downloaded apps are just some of the things we forgot to take actions 🙁
Nice of you to drop by Nhick.
That is one big question… I was thinking this before, how can someone hack your personal account or
company account if no one knows the important details.Or is it because of our high technology these days.
Yeah and they will immediately blame hackers on the outside once their systems got hacked. Seldom will they think it could be someone from the inside.
I guess it could be a inside job. They would know all of the shortfalls, passwords, and god knows what else.
Easy job for them.
How about someone that works at a large data center or hosting company. Can you imagine how much information and websites they probably have access to in a given day.
Catastrophe…
Hackers are everywhere, they can be lurking around within the company or a thousand miles away from you. There is no stopping them. They are causing havoc in big companies and even on individuals, hacking personal information and bank accounts. I guess a more secure system should at least minimize these hackers’ activities. And for individuals, refrain from visiting unreliable websites and delete those fictitious email messages right away. It may not totally eradicate the problem but at least we are doing something in our own little way.
Hacking seems to be every where. No matter how good the security, hacking seems to be unstoppable.
That is truly a big question to all of us here, there are so many hackers on the internet every now and then. But I guess hacking is inside job. Well, it is just a thoughts of mine.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Nicholle.
I believe most insider hacks are for the sake of revenge or fun. I think over the months I had been blogging and reading security news, most insider hacks don’t really go for money. They break the company’s system and let them lose a big pile of money. But outsider hacks, probably could due to money…
While you could be right about that, I think either way is possible. Appreciate the comment Alan, you seem to be very busy lately? 😉
I have been hacking since a long time,and i do not think hacking as an insider job,though it’s easier for an insider to hack,but then it won’t be termed as a hacking.
You’ve been hacking? Well I’m sure it’s for the good right ? 😛
If an insider job that caused a computer system to be broken into is not termed as ‘hacking’, then what should it be termed Abhishek?