What is a Hacker?

Just a reminder that we’ll be conducting our webinar about network security this week so make sure you join us Halloween morning at 11 am Eastern.  If you can’t make it we’ll be recording the content for anyone interested.  Just email us at sales@cywest.com for a link.  When you’re talking network security, one of the things people often fear is a hacker accessing their info.

A hacker, in my opinion, is not something to fear.  Hackers are, by actual definition, amateurs.  They’re people who live and breathe computers and actively try to get into things simply to see if they can, and to figure out how those systems work.  Sure, a hacker can get paid for their services and break into a company’s network to steal their secrets but that’s the difference.  That person isn’t a hacker.  That person is a thief – no different than any other criminal just because it’s a digital crime - and THOSE are the people you need to guard your network from.

Asking your company’s management to invest in resources to stop hackers does not make a compelling argument.  Asking for the means to stop thieves and other digital attempts to steal your company’s intellectual property or trade secrets is what you’re actually requesting.  Don’t mute that argument by using tech jargon that lessens the importance of the conversation.