What is Hacktivism?
Hacktivism is the mixture of the words “hack” and “activism.” Hacktivism aims to prevent user access, steal valuable information, and expose stolen information. As its name suggests, hacktivism is performed by hacktivists - a group of individuals who conduct cyber-attacks that are motivated by their own morals, beliefs, and political views. While hacktivist activity is considered activism that brings light to some faultiness in government agencies and other industries, we should ask ourselves whether or not [or to what extent,] these actions should be encouraged. Because at the end of the day, some political movements are for the greater good, it just depends on what side you’re on.
Who do the Hacktivists target?
Hacktivists usually target industries, corporations around the world, government agencies, and sometimes particular organizations.
There have been many hacktivist breaches that have occurred in the past, but some of the recent attacks have been brutal for some major companies. One of the biggest hacktivist breaches occurred in October of 2021. In The Washington Post’s, “Hacktivists are back,” it states, “Hackers dumped a colossal haul of data stolen from Twitch.” Drew Harwell, a technology reporter for The Washington Post, continues to report on Twitch’s turmoil of a time - being critical of the breach of fiscal privacy and even more so on Twitch’s stolen source code.
How are hacktivists capable of performing cyber attacks?
You might think that it is hard to break into secure computer systems of well-known companies, however, hacktivists have numerous tactics in order to carry out their cyber attacks. These methods allow them to spread their messages to the world. Here are some common tactics that hacktivists use:
Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS): Hacktivists overload computer systems with traffic, which causes websites to crash and make them difficult to access.
Doxing: Hacktivists use this method to obtain confidential information on an organization or its workers, in order to make it public.
Website Defacement: Hacktivists alter the software or code of a website so that users see messages that share activist plans. These messages get their point across and are often threatening or embarrassing.
Steps to Reduce the Risk of Hacktivism
Hacktivism is a real threat that can ruin the reputation of your company. It is essential for you to take extra precautions in order to ensure that your company has a secure computer system that has the ability to keep your company’s information safe. Here are some methods that you should take into consideration when you are creating your computer systems:
Establish response plans in case a hacktivist breach occurs.
Implement multi-factor authentication for all company accounts.
Purchase security software for your company, and if your company requires extra security, you should consider buying a firewall.
Test the company’s backup and monitoring systems.
Do you need assistance?
Hactivism’s purpose is to inflict the maximum possible damage to corporations, industries, and agencies. But don’t worry! With the correct resources, hacktivism can be preventable. If your company is susceptible to hacktivism and you are in need of cybersecurity measures, you can schedule a free consultation now, on our website! Our team would be happy to address your needs and discuss the best course of action.
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