How Hacking Has Evolved Through the Years

• Hacking and related cybercrime are among the most serious issues to deal with. The impact of hacking and cyber-attacks is not only limited to business organizations and corporate entities.
• Malicious activities like hacks and breaches are affecting a common man’s life as well. It might not look as big as terrorism and global economic decline, but it is an issue to address with urgency.
• All this has made Cyber Security Verification and security compliance mandatory things to have for all businesses.
• Something that started as an act to show off skills has now turned into a prevailing criminal activity. Let us explore more about it through this blog.

What is the definition of Hacking?

Hacking is a term referred to unauthorized intrusion into someone’s IT systems, devices, or networks. This does not end at intrusion only. After penetrating the victim’s systems or networks, hackers try to manipulate, steal, or corrupt data, files, or functions. There are various potential motives behind hacking activities. Most often, these motives are rooted in financial gains or even some kind of vengeance or agenda i.e., hacktivism. Cyber Security Verification and validation with the help of expert cyber security services are the best ways to protect your IT infrastructure from hacking.

• Manipulation of the technical systems started well in the late 1870s. It was an incident where a group of teenage boys hired by Bell Telephone (a well-known communications company then) abruptly disconnect and misdirect calls just to mess around. However, the term ‘hacking’ came to light decades after this incident.
• It was the era of the 1960s when we used words like ‘hack’ or ‘hacking’ to name such an activity. The word hack at that time meant to alter the functionality of something to solve a problem. In 1961, members of MIT’s Tech Model Railroad Club hacked their high-tech train sets to improve their performance.
• Later these hacks were applied to computer systems to innovate, explore, and create new paradigms. They used the IBM 704s at MIT to expand the tasks that computers could accomplish. It was a powerful, elusive, and expensive machine that operated at its full potential.

• Evidently, hacking started as a recreational activity for exploring, improving, and testing the limits of existing programs. But it quickly started to serve malicious intents of those who possessed the skills to execute such an activity.
• The world started to see the ugly face of hacking when hacks of telephone systems became prevalent in the 1970s. The phone hackers or phreakers created a heavy influence on the world before hacking shifted to computer systems on a large scale.
• The period from the 1980s to the 2000s was a golden age of hacking. Numerous hacks over top businesses, government entities, or even military networks were successfully executed in those days. Bigwigs like Microsoft, eBay, Yahoo!, and Amazon suffered through massive denial-of-service attacks. Moreover, it was a wake-up blow for the security leaders around the world when a 15-year-old boy breached the Department of Defense and International Space Station.
• It was the time when hacking announced itself to the world with a bang. After that, we all are continuously witnessing an exponential increase in the frequency of cyber-attack incidents. Not only the number of attacks is increasing, but the attacks are growing to be more sophisticated and complex.

Modern Hacking Methods

Modern hackers are in possession of top-level skills, advanced technology, and powerful machines to execute their malicious intentions. The following are the major attack vectors hackers use today:

1. Phishing

It is among the most common hacking techniques used these days. Hackers usually send emails having malicious links to many accounts. These emails are disguised as legitimate emails from reputed service-based companies like Amazon, Netflix, etc. The purpose of phishing is to trick you into clicking on the malicious link and get access to some of your pertinent information.

2. Ransomware

Ransomware is certainly the most dreaded attack vector for all kinds of businesses these days. Hackers seize or hold your data and ask you to comply with their demands to get it back. Usually, they demand money to release access. But there have been ransomware instances where hackers put up some weird demands like doing some social activities or so.

3. Denial of Service

DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks are used by hackers to launch vengeful and brutal attacks to crash a network. Attackers flood the target network with huge loads of data packets and requests. This eventually results in a real-time crash of the systems of the server.

Before You Go!

• We saw how hacking started as a non-malicious recreational activity to stretch the potential of computer systems and programs. But it is now one of the biggest headaches businesses have to deal with.
• Although businesses can counter hacking activities by adopting measures such as Cyber Security Verification and meeting compliance requirements.
• You can get in touch with RSK Cyber Security for more information on how to deal with hacking and other related malicious activities. It is one of the best Cyber Security Services Dubai due to its experience and expertise.