This year, College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Cyber Defense Center (CDC) will be sending out a monthly newsletter about Cybersecurity. It will have some interesting tips and important information to help you protect yourself online. CWI’s Cyber Defense Center, in conjunction with CWI’s Information Technology (IT) department, focuses on cybersecurity education for the college and for our surrounding community.
Hackers…Who are They?
White Hat (Ethical & Legal Hackers)
- Ethical Hackers
- Security Analysts
- Cybersecurity Consultants
Black Hat (Malicious & Illegal Hackers)
- Crackers — Break into systems with Malicious Intent
- Cybercriminals — Seek Financial Gain Through Illegal Activities
- Hacktivists — Political or Social Activism
Gray Hat (Ambiguous, They May Exploit Vulnerabilities Without Permission, but Do Not Necessarily have Malicious Intent)
- Freelance Hackers — Hack for leisure or for Contractual Positions
- Bug Bounty Hunters — Find the Bugs in Systems
Script Kiddies (For Fun, Mischief, or to Gain Notoriety)
- Amateur Hackers
- Wannabe Hackers
Nation-State (Espionage, Cyber Warfare, or Political Gain)
- Cyber Warriors — Employed by Governments to Engage in Cyber Espionage, Cyber Warfare, or Cyber Defense
- State-Sponsored Hackers — Government Hackers
Red Team (Improve Security by Identifying Weaknesses through Simulated Attacks)
- Penetration Testers — Usually hired to test the vulnerabilities of an organization
Blue Team (Defend Against Cyber Attacks and Improve Security Measures)
- Security Professionals — Responsible for defending an organization’s information systems against real and simulated attacks
Hackers have diverse motivations and methods, as well as varying ethical and legal implications of their actions. Being wary of anything that looks suspicious is just one way to protect yourself against malicious hackers.
For more information about CWI’s organizational security please contact Michael Wilson at michaelwilson1@cwi.edu
For more information about cyber awareness or cybersecurity, you can either contact Michael Wilson or Sara Hoyt at sarahoyt@cwi.edu or cyberdefense@cwi.edu. Or visit the Cyber Defense Center website at https://cwi.edu/community/cyber-defense-center
To report a possible cybersecurity issue, please submit a help desk ticket to IT.
