"Thwarting Hacks by Thinking As the Humans Behind Them"

A study conducted at Michigan State University highlights the importance of paying closer attention to the potential motives behind cyberattacks to improve the prediction, identification, and prevention of cyberattacks. While it is essential to follow security practices such as installing antivirus software and periodically updating computer software to reduce the risk of a cyberattack, security professionals are encouraged to delve deeper into the human aspect of cybercriminals to develop stronger defenses. Thomas Holt, study author and MSU professor of criminal justice, supports the modeling of hackers' decision-making processes to help defenders think like hackers and bolster the security of their systems. Holt worked with Rutger Leukfeldt and Steve Van De Weijer from the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement to analyze over 100,000 incidents of web defacement hacks regarding the motives behind these attacks and the differences in how they are performed. This article continues to discuss key findings of the study on the importance of understanding the humans behind hacking incidents.

MSUToday reports "Thwarting Hacks by Thinking As the Humans Behind Them"