It is no secret that the world has gone digital. Almost any company that you can think of has an online presence which has only grown in prominence as online shopping has taken center stage.
Bust as the world of retail moves online, so do criminals. Cybercrime has been rated as one of the world’s biggest risks and will only grow in prominence as the world becomes more connected.
Necessary protection
This has given rise to the development of hacking-as-a-service (HaaS). Hackers have now discovered that they can use their unique set of skills to help society rather than be social menaces.
GTconsult recently announced that it would be supporting Defcon Group DC2744 because of the benefits that hacking can provide a business.
“Recent studies show that by 2025, more than 70% of the world’s white-collar crimes will be committed online. The truth of the matter is that the world is not prepared for this and the regular man on the street – or small companies – do not know how to protect themselves. In the past, hacking had such negative connotations to it that it quickly became a highly illegal activity to participate in. It still is illegal to use hacking to commit a crime, but the practice of hacking has grown to such an extent that we now have social hacking and the formulation of Defcon groups that use hacking to help individuals and companies prepare for a possible cybercrime apocalypse,” said DC2744 Chief Operations Officer Adrian Tempelhof.
The need for HaaS
He added that if the public does not know where or how they are vulnerable, they will not know where to look in order to find protection.
“That is at the heart of what DC2744 does, we help people discover where they are vulnerable, why they are vulnerable, and how they can turn this vulnerability around. Perhaps we can also change the perception that people have about hackers. If we present our information in a theatrical way, we will draw the public’s attention to what we do and how we can benefit society,” said Tempelhof.
The world needs hackers
Because cybercrime is increasing at such a rapid rate, we are seeing the development of Cybercrime-as-a-service (CaaS). A recent article on itbrief.com.au pointed this out superbly.
The article points out that as cybercriminals have grown more sophisticated, hacking into systems can be as simple as downloading the right software from the dark web, then deploying it to the target.
Now, new developments in cybercrime mean that those with ambitions to create havoc online can do so with only the most rudimentary knowledge by taking advantage of Cybercrime-as-a-Service (CaaS).
The article adds that no longer the exclusive purview of criminals, cybercrime is now peddled freely on the surface web.
A search yields results
The article points out that a simple internet search yields many results, which means amateur cybercriminals (or anyone with a grudge), can execute spam attacks, steal people’s identities, and more.
This becomes more worrisome in the digital age, when people are increasingly comfortable storing their personal data, such as credit card details and medical records, in the cloud.
The article adds that combined cloud computing, connected devices, and the Internet of Things (IoT) create a treasure trove of information and potential weak points that cybercriminals can exploit.
The rewards for this illegal activity can be significant.
Recent study’s
The itbrief.com.au points out that a recent study found that cybercrime can pay from tens of thousands of dollars to millions of dollars every year.
And one of the key ways cybercriminals can earn money is to sell tools that can be used to hack others.
The article adds that it’s long been known that the dark web houses various hacking tools for sale, along with user manuals that provide a step-by-step guide to help even the newest of ambitious criminals get up and running quickly.
Some of these CaaS providers even provide helpdesk services, further highlighting the level of organization and professionalism in these communities.
“Albert Einstein once said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. We cannot have the same negative view of hackers when they can offer immeasurable benefits. HaaS will become massive in the future…watch this space,” said GTconsult Co-Founder and CEO Bradley Geldenhuys.