This blog was originally posted on Science Buddies' Blog by Amy Cowen August 22, 2016.
Hackers who use their computer programming, technology, and cyber skills to help companies protect against cyber attacks are in great demand! To address the growing need for cybersecurity specialists, Symantec and Science Buddies are helping students learn more about careers in cybersecurity. There are thousands of openings around the world for individuals who can think like a hacker to help beat hackers at their own game.
Above: graphic excerpted from Symantec's 2016 Internet Security Threat Report.
A Growing Problem
The number of cyber attacks each year continues to be on the rise, and the types of cyber attacks continue to proliferate. Symantec reports they "discovered more than 430 million new unique pieces of malware in 2015, up 36 percent from the year before." Ransomware, watering hole attacks, Black Swan events, the Butterfly Effect, and spear phishing are just a few of the kinds of cyber attacks Symantec mentions in its 2016 Internet Security Threat Report. These attacks often target zero-day vulnerabilities—vulnerabilities in software that developers and administrations don't know exist until they are used as the basis for a cyber attack.
For both individuals and businesses, the numbers are frightening, and the risks are real. As a result of nine known "mega-breaches," Symantec says more than half a billion personal information records were accessed or stolen by hackers in 2015. Reportedly, 39% of the documented cybersecurity breaches in 2015 involved health services.
Above: graphic excerpted from Symantec's Half a Billion Personal Records Stolen or Lost infographic.
Individual computer users have to be careful and smart about their online practices. But as more and more personal information is stored online and more and more people rely on online services, safeguarding against hacking and preventing data theft or service disruption is mission critical for companies. To succeed, today's businesses must conscientiously and consistently be on the lookout for cyber attacks and, when possible, stay a step ahead. Companies can't simply wait for a cyber attack to happen. They must be actively working to safeguard systems, looking for weak spots and vulnerabilities, and protecting against the possibility of cyber attacks.
So, how do you fight a hacker?
The best answer may be... with another hacker.
Read more from Science Buddies here.