Internet - Webmaster - Website

With so much valuable data held on computer systems and servers across the world, network security is an issue of ever growing importance. The war against hackers of all descriptions is unending, and defences against their continuous attacks need to be constantly updated by security network professionals, whose job it is to guard this data.

The worry today is that once an unauthorised person gains access to sensitive data, that information can be sent to outside computers systems/persons with shocking speed. Such a breach of security could potentially have devastating effects on governments, economies and people everywhere.

But of course, breaking into highly sophisticated government, financial and commercial systems is difficult - as the associated network security is of a high quality - and the penalties noteworthy. But an organisation’s security systems are only as good as the people you hire to create them and keep them updated. Unfortunately for some organisations, there are some very talented network security hackers out there, who choose to use their skills for malevolent purposes.

Hackers are given various names depending on what they use their hacking knowledge for. A White Hat hacker is someone who uses his or her skills for non-aggressive purposes - i.e. to test the network security of their own company’s system.

A Grey Hat hacker is an individual who uses their computer talents for ambiguous reasons - using hacking techniques for borderline illegality. While they may not necessarily have an illegal act in mind, the process of hacking past a system’s network security might bring up some legal issues - or downright law breaking. With this in mind, the Grey Hat hacker will keep their identity secret at all costs.

The most dangerous of all ‘Hat’ types is the Black Hat hacker. This is an individual or group of individuals who hack past a security network with totally malicious intentions. They could be people who simply enjoy the challenge of hacking a system and destroying the data or functionality of that system; cyber vandalism. Alternatively, they may have political reasons - i.e. attacking a website of a company that conducts morally questionable economic activities.

At the higher end they may wish to attack a government system for some ideological reason. Extreme Black Hats may operate in such a way as to conduct a form of terrorism against a state or its government.

Some forms of Black Hat hacker may also be referred to as Cyber Terrorists - although there is a substantial amount of confusion regarding this term. There may well have never been a notable terrorist attack related to breaking network security systems - although this doesn’t mean there couldn’t be one.

Network security is something that all organisations with data systems need to take seriously - be they governments, banks or companies. With rising levels of identity theft, financial information robbery and security breaches regarding people’s names and addresses (particularly individuals who may be targets of malevolent groups), network security is likely to be at the centre of a conflict that goes on for a long time.

Anna Stenning is an expert on network security issues having advised on the subject for many years.