Hackers choose targets by looking for valuable data (financial, personal, intellectual property) in systems with weak security, such as outdated software, poor passwords, or lack of multi-factor authentication, often using reconnaissance to find vulnerabilities. Motivations like financial gain, espionage, or disruption drive targeting, leading them to cash-rich companies, high-profile individuals, or organizations with critical data like healthcare. They exploit predictable human behavior via social engineering (phishing) and often browse dark web forums for data and techniques.
Ultimately, it will depend on what the hacker's eventual goal is - if it's mass internet compromise or if it's targeting a specific organisation to make some money. If there's a lot of financial activity taking place or if the companies involved are very well known, they can then be targeted as well.
Hackers often go after financial institutions to gain access to personal financial information. Additionally, they may try to gain access to accounts such as credit cards or investment portfolios. Common attacks in this industry include ransomware, server outages and data breaches.
No surprises here, a lot of hackers are simply motivated by money. Hackers don't just hack businesses and ask for a ransom, they also try hacking into regular user accounts and try to take advantage of things like online banking, online retail or anywhere where financial transactions are involved.
The Target data breach was discovered in December 2013 and exposed the personal and financial information of over 40 million customers. The attackers gained access through compromised credentials belonging to a third-party vendor, resulting in the theft of credit card details, email addresses, and phone numbers.
Cyber Threat Landscape
Shift from “hacking in” “logging in” via stolen credentials. Top targets: Manufacturing, Healthcare, Financial Services (where data value + disruption = leverage). Drivers: AI phishing, deepfake social engineering, RaaS industrialization.
Target is reeling as sales have stalled and its stock price has plunged. The company faced backlash after a rollback of its DEI initiatives prompted a boycott that slowed store traffic nationwide, one of the factors that pushed CEO Brian Cornell to step down.
Why was Kevin Mitnick known as the world's most famous hacker? Kevin's notoriety came from his highly publicized pursuit and arrest by the FBI in 1995 after he successfully penetrated the networks of numerous corporations.
Tell-tale signs your camera has been hacked
More than 90% of successful cyber-attacks start with a phishing email.
Here are a few indications you've been hacked:
Yes, if your phone is compromised, a hacker could gain access to everything — photos, texts, GPS location, microphone, camera, and even saved passwords. This typically requires powerful spyware, such as Pegasus, or a highly targeted phishing or other social engineering attack.
It's fair to say that tracing the whereabouts of hackers is incredibly difficult. With a toolbox that includes VPNs, proxy servers, the Tor network and hijacked devices (botnets) to mask their locations and identities, cybercriminals can protect their location and keep law enforcement guessing.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Most Secure Apple Phone
The newest addition to the list of most secure phone in the world is the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Unplugging it from the network can stop the hacker from accessing other devices. Physically disconnect the device by unplugging the Ethernet cable or turning off the Wi-Fi. This step is crucial because it blocks the attacker's access. Without a connection, they can't spread malware or steal data from your network.
Secure Your Accounts: Upon learning you've been hacked, immediately change passwords for all your online accounts. Start with those associated with sensitive information such as banking, email, and investments. From there, move on to accounts that contain less sensitive information such as social media and e-commerce.
Start by deleting unknown apps, updating your software, and running a security scan. Change passwords to any affected accounts and turn on 2FA. If you believe your phone has been hacked, start by removing any suspicious apps, updating your phone, and getting access back to any hacked accounts.
To check if your phone is hacked, look for signs like rapid battery drain, unexpected data spikes, new apps you didn't install, strange pop-ups, slow performance, or weird noises on calls, then use reputable antivirus software, check your account activity, and dial codes like *#21# to see if calls are being forwarded, taking steps like changing passwords and resetting to factory settings if needed.
Yes, your phone's camera and microphone can be hacked, a process known as camfecting. This is typically done using spyware hidden in malicious apps disguised as legitimate software that you may have been tricked into installing.
China, Russia, the United States, India, North Korea, and Iran are among the countries with the most hackers in the world.
In India, where much of our life depends on the internet, hacking without permission is a punishable offense under the IT Act. But if you are doing it with legal rights, like during security audits or vulnerability assessments. Ethical hacking is not only legal but also essential for protecting digital systems.
1 Hacker | Ankit Fadia's Journey in Cyberse... Ankit Fadia, often called India's No. 1 Hacker, is a prominent yet controversial figure in cybersecurity.
Lack of Clear Target Audience
Failing to define and understand your target audience can lead to ineffective marketing efforts. Ensure you have a clear picture of who your customers are, their preferences, and their buying behaviors.
How often do boycotts and other consumer protests change corporate behavior? Studies find boycott attempts are successful 25-40% of the time. However, boycott attempts only get analyzed after they're getting some traction, and corporations don't always follow through on their promises.