"Inside the Mind of a Hacker"
Researchers from the University at Buffalo School of Management did a study to find out which personality traits led people to become black, white or gray hat hackers. The researchers surveyed 439 college sophomores and juniors in computer science and management to learn about their personality traits. Scales were then developed to determine the three different types of hacking hats and measure how each person perceives the consequences and opportunities associated with participating in criminal activities. The findings of the study suggest that security compliance will remain a challenge for businesses and organizations. This article continues to discuss the differences between black, white, and gray hat hackers, as well as how the study was done by researchers, what the research findings suggest, and what organizations can do to reduce or prevent security breaches.