4 Times When Ethical Hackers Saved The Day

“Cybercrime is the biggest man-made risk that the economy of a nation faces” Lt. General Rajesh Pant
Historically speaking, both finance and technology-based organisations have been the victim of cybercriminals. However, there has been a shift since 2021. For the first time, a different industry - manufacturing - topped the list defeating leading contenders (Source: X-Force Threat Intelligence Index | IBM). With technological development, the advent of IoT devices, and an on-cloud work environment, the risks associated with cyber-attacks have increased manifold. In fact, India’s aim of being a 5 trillion dollar economy faces a significant threat from the increasing cyber-attacks and data breaches (Source: government.economictimes.indiatimes.com). But not everything is doomed. A group of cyber security professionals - ethical hackers, pentester, and risk assessment officers - are working tirelessly to save these organisations from cyber criminals.
Interestingly, this blog unveils a list of real-world instances where these cybersecurity heroes have come to the rescue, thwarting cyber attacks and saving the day.

White Hat vs. Black Hat Hackers

For those new to the ethical hacking scene, there should be clarity of types of hackers- white hat hacker and black hat hacker.
White hat hackers are cybersecurity professionals who simulate hacking attacks to save an organisation from cyber attacks. They launch the attack to run vulnerability scans into the target’s system to find out security gaps and suggest remedial measures. White hat hackers, as the name says, are ethical hackers.
The black hat counterparts are illicit actors who are only driven by vested interests. Their principal agenda is to steal your confidential data and abuse it for their personal gains.
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Hacking Incidents And How Ethical Hackers Helped

1. Target Breach

Retail behemoth Target fell victim to a massive data breach in 2013. The breach exposed immense volume of sensitive customer data and raised numerous concerns regarding online transaction safety. Needless to mention, the aftermath of the breach was colossal. The attack cost Target in millions. And if that was not enough, Target had to encounter nearly 150 lawsuits from distressed customers.
Ethical hackers were called upon to investigate and identify the source of the breach.


How did ethical hackers help?

Ethical hackers ran a meticulous analysis and investigation of the network after the breach. The probe helped to identify the hackers behind the breach and also provided an estimate of the extent of the breach. Most importantly, the report helped Target in fixing its security gaps and also provided preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future.


2. The WannaCry Ransomware Attack: Halting Global Chaos

Talk about the most devastating ransomware attacks in history and the WannaCry outbreak in 2017 is sure to top the list. This cyber attack infected thousands of computers worldwide, causing widespread chaos and disruption across various industries globally. Major industries affected by the ransomware attack were healthcare, finance, and government sectors.


How did ethical hackers help?

Ethical hackers sprang into action to contain the WannaCry attack and prevent further damage. They deployed ethical hacking tools to reverse-engineer the ransomware that helped them to discover a kill switch. The kill switch effectively halted the spread of the malware.
The WannaCry attack was extremely high-end and had cybersecurity experts around the globe collaborative to address the outbreak. Kudos for their prompt response and collaboration- their remedial measures saved countless organizations from falling victim to the attack.
This is one of the major incidents that highlighted the critical role that ethical hackers play in combating and mitigating large-scale cyber threats.


3. The Equifax Data Breach

In 2017, Equifax, one of the largest credit reporting agencies, suffered a significant data breach that exposed the sensitive personal information of over 147 million people. This breach not only raised concerns about the security of personal data but also highlighted the importance of proactive cybersecurity measures.

How did ethical hackers help?

A team of ethical hackers investigated the Equifax data breach to identify vulnerabilities that led to the incident. Their analysis and findings revealed shortcomings in Equifax's security practices, prompting the company to implement robust measures to protect personal information. They not only helped to secure the affected individuals but also prompted widespread awareness about the importance of data protection and cybersecurity.


4. CoWin Data Breach

CoWIN data breach is an alleged data breach (2022) on the CoWIN portal - the Indian government's digital platform for registering COVID-19 vaccine doses. The breach reportedly exposed the personal data of millions of Indian citizens, including their names, Aadhaar numbers, and vaccination status.

How did ethical hackers help?

The CERT-In and white hat cyber security experts ran a thorough investigation that led them to the lead perpetrating hacking group behind the attack. They have also suggested a bunch of security measures to prevent future breaches, such as 2FA, data encryption, and vulnerability scanning.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity is critical for businesses and governments around the world. In recent years, we have seen a number of high-profile data breaches and cyberattacks, causing significant damage and financial losses.
White hat hackers play a vital role in protecting our data against cyber threats. With cyber threats on the rise, organisations are increasingly hiring these professionals to secure their networks and protect their critical data. Ethical hacking is one of the high-paid domains today, with the average salary ranging from INR 8 to 10 LPA.
Ethical hacking is a lucrative career, And Dataspace Academy can help you build a rewarding profile in this domain. You can commence with our beginner-friendly cyber security training certification before moving on to the global certifications.