Be the Hacker to Counter Online Hacking

When it comes to combating cyber-crimes such as online hacking, the methods and technologies used mean that there’s a very thin line that divides you, the cyber-security expert, from the criminal hacker (or cracker) you are meant to stop. In such a case, it is most important to be aware of yourself and where you stand, as also being aware of your opponent, the evil genius computer hacker (sounds melodramatic, but humor us) and his strengths and weaknesses.

Applying Sun Tzu & The Art of War to the ‘ War Against Online Hacking ‘

Ancient Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu has said something to the same effect: for certain victory, one must at all times recognize yourself and acknowledge of your enemy; being aware of yourself but not recognizing your enemy’s nature lowers your odds of victory to merely probable, while not being aware of either will lead to certain defeat.

Heed the immortal words of Sun Tzu, know yourself. Or perhaps more to the point, know your computer system; the security holes and the loopholes. Think like an online hacking expert as to how you would invade the system if you were a hacker; to stop the hacking attack, you must become the hacker, find the weaknesses, and plug them in anticipation of the actual online hacking attempt.

Your diligence or ingenuity in writing code is no guarantee of security from being compromised. You must be proactive and use an online hacking mindset in discovering faults in the system that can be exploited to gain unauthorized entry.  Even then, your job may only be half done.

Trying to trace a hacker on the Internet can be as elusive a task as looking for irrefutable proof that the ‘Loch Ness Monster’ exists. Of course, technologies exist in the field of cyber-forensics that can enable tracking online hacking miscreants, but as the proverb goes: a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush. So, it is better to thwart any attempts at online hacking than to detect and punish the hacker later, because a stitch in time saves nine. It might also save your company from featuring on the nine ‘o clock news as the latest victim.

Simply learning the most commonly exploited loopholes and the most widely used access methods would not help, especially if you slavishly follow what you’ve learnt by heart. You’ll be mistaken in your assumption that you’re secure from all online hacking activity. You must instead learn to be dynamic; understand that ordinarily, a hacker is one-step ahead of the law and would easily thwart all textbook attempts to prevent hihim from hacking into the system. You must therefore erase this lead a hacker has over you by being unpredictable yourself, then only shall you fulfill the tenets described by Sun-Tzu and only then shall you be assured of victory. Armed with this knowledge shall you go forth to fight online hacking.

Stay tuned to this online hacking weblog for more updates, articles and opinions of the world of (cyber)crime-fighting.