The term "hacker" often conjures up images of criminals in hunched over computers in a dark room, but in the 1950s, hackers were simply computer enthusiasts who enjoyed pushing boundaries. However, the rise of personal computers in the 1980s led to a shift.

As technology advances, so do hackers and their skill at infiltrating networks and systems. Small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can be particularly vulnerable because they often don't have a dedicated security team or ample resources to protect themselves.

Malicious hackers are motivated by different things. Some do it for fun, some want money, and others just want to end your business. Getting to know how they behave and what drives them informs how you must defend your organization against them.
Script kiddies
In terms of skill, script kiddies (or skids, for short) are at the bottom of the hacker totem pole.

You wouldn’t think that cybercriminals would carry out their nefarious schemes in plain sight — except that they do and you’ve probably already fallen victim to them. Learn all about a scheme called distributed spam distraction (DSD) and how malicious actors are using it to steal valuable information from their victims.

Medical facilities depend on healthcare systems, whether through data entry software, prescription management, or electronic medical records. Sadly, many healthcare providers don't know how easy it is for cybercriminals to break into their networks and steal their data.

Why do hackers attack? Is it for money, notoriety, or political reasons? As a business owner, you should always try and find out the motive behind an attack to help you determine whether or not you’re a target and what data you need to protect. Let’s take a closer look at four different types of hackers and their motives.

In a recent report published by Forbes, a major U.S. government contractor and Israel-based vendor called Cellebrite revealed their capacity to unlock every iPhone on the planet. This new addition to their services was specifically generated for law enforcement and forensic specialists.

Does filling in web forms sap all your browsing energy? Do you find it especially taxing to shop or register online using a mobile device? Google’s Chrome alleviated this dilemma when it introduced the Autofill feature in 2011, which made filling in forms much faster and making credit card purchases online more convenient.

One of the biggest fears security experts have may be coming true: self-replicating ransomware. Viruses that have the ability to copy and spread themselves to new systems are nothing new, but until now ransomware attacks have been targeted campaigns.

Why do hackers attack? Is it for money, notoriety, or political reasons? Many business owners never ask these questions, and instead only think about the means of how a cyber attack takes place. But knowing the motive behind a hacker’s attack can help you understand whether or not you’re a target and what data you need to protect.