Are Hackers a Necessity or a Nuisance?

There’s much discussion about hackers in the cybersecurity world. But how often do you hear about good hackers? A simple Google search will display page one results mostly filled with alarming titles. A hilarious anonymous quote revealed just how much of a plague the world sees these IT wizzes as being. The quote stated, “Yesterday I changed the name of my WIFI to ‘Hack Me If You Can.’ When I checked it today, it was ‘Challenge Accepted.’”

This is funny, but the truth is that much of the world sees hackers as nuisances—or even worse—menacing tech maniacs bent on ruining our days by robbing us blind and more. App developer and entrepreneur Mitch Kapor went so far as to describe that “Hackers are seen as shadowy figures with superhuman powers that threaten civilization.” And he’s not wrong.

However, I want to play the devil’s advocate and present an alternative mode of thought, asking you to consider: Are hackers a nuisance or a necessity? According to one of my clients, hackers are definitely more of a necessity because there is now a divergence—where we are seeing good hackers and bad hackers.

The Different Hats of Hackers

Hats are used for differentiating between, with the three main types being black hats, white hats, and gray hats (but there are a few more colors, too). In a nutshell, black hat hackers are considered unethical—the down and dirty scammers who hack the system illegally to steal money or break the law somehow.

The white hat hackers are the Captain Americas of the hacker world, using the same brilliance and means as the black hats, but (legally) hacking systems they have been given permission to in order to combat the bad hackers and test the security of the system.

Then, you’ve got the gray hats—a kind of hybrid that skirts along the edge of legality, able to hack into systems they haven’t been permitted to access, yet never stealing or doing anything nefarious while doing so.

In light of this, American author, computer security consultant, and famous hacker Kevin Mitnick asked—and answers—the question on all of our minds: “Should we fear hackers?” With his insight, Mitnick explained that it all boils down to intention. In his words, “Intention is at the heart of this discussion.” 

So, to safeguard their companies’ data, more businesses are recruiting the “good kind” of hackers to keep their information protected. Essentially, you have to hire more of the good hackers because the bad ones are out there multiplying—and having a field day with our data.

So, Do Hackers Help or Hinder?

As cyber risks increase, our demand for cybersecurity professionals is also escalating, with Cybercrime Magazine reporting an astounding 350% growth in open cybersecurity positions from 2013 to 2021. Clearly, we are realizing that there may not be one set answer to the question of whether or not hackers are nuisances or necessities.

The real answer is both. Hackers are clever and can quickly become the bane of our existences, AND they can also come riding in on their white horses to crack codes and save the day. They can also be that enigmatic gray man, a wild card that no one really knows where they stand.

As systems, technologies, vehicles, and more get more interconnected through web-based mechanisms, people will be ready and waiting to hack into them. And with corrupt hackers trying to take over companies, bank accounts, and more going forward, we’re going to need more white hats to combat it, finding alternatives to protecting and ensuring security.