HACKERS FOR HIRE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Nine tactics to stay ten steps ahead of hackers

- THERESA CLARK

IT'S DIFFICULT to know how to protect yourself against threats you can't see but when it comes to cybercrime, you can only truly guard against hacks that you can prevent.

The global proliferation of hacking tools has threat actors operating at full tilt, according to MIT Technology Review. They report that “2021 [broke) the record for zero-day hacking attacks," adding that “A zero-day exploit-a way to launch a cyberattack via a previously unknown vulnerability-can carry [hefty] price tags on the open market ... It's easier than ever to buy zero-days from the growing exploit industry."

2021 broke the record for zero-day hacking attacks-and that's just one type of attack. With million-dollar paycheques on the table, hackers for hire are hungrily searching out new ways to compromise your computer. Here's what you can do in defence.

What is hacking?

"Hacking is the activity of identifying weaknesses in a computer system or a network to exploit the security to gain access to personal data or business data. System hacking means using computers to commit fraudulent acts such as fraud, privacy invasion, stealing corporate/personal data, etc.," according to IT training website Guru 99.