#Ethical Hacking Techniques

[maharghaideovate]

Introduction of Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking into IGNOU Online MCA

Cybersecurity and ethical hacking have become vital components of tech education. This article examines how IGNOU’s Online MCA program introduces these crucial subjects into its curriculum, preparing students to tackle modern security challenges. It delves into the course structure, practical applications, and the significance of these skills in today’s tech-driven world.

[4seohelp]

Learn Ethical Hacking Techniques with A Comprehensive Course

Technology has considerably evolved in the last few years than in the previous two decades. The threat of cybercrime is also rising with advancing technology. Considering the increasing cyber-attacks in organizations worldwide, the demand for ethical hackers has increased. Cybercrime poses a national security threat for nations across the globe, which is why reputed organizations and government…

[dgtcreative2024]

Efficiency in The Japanese Way(Strategies to be awesome of yourself)

we should plunge into those reliable methods that will make a huge difference for you number one is track down the reason for a focal Japanese idea, significance justification for being which inch at what you love, what the world necessities. What you are great at and what you can be paid for, finding your person includes profound reflection on these vital angles to track down their crossing point, prompting significant individual and expert satisfaction.

[zahri-melitor]

I need to not let jokes irritate me, but for the record:

Tim's morality doesn't come 'from a list on the fridge from Batman' or 'not wanting to be gun Batman'.

Tim, at his core, decided that he could not be a bystander when things were going wrong, and chose to step up and help. When faced with the decision of "someone has to do this difficult thing" he said "I'm someone", after trying to get someone with more training and expertise to take the role. And when he was older and there were others who could take the support role he had found for himself, he chose again to stay with his allies and follow the mission and protect Gotham, because the job was not complete.

"[Dick] taught me to never back away from any possibility that might lead to the truth."

When Tim thought he'd killed a criminal in the course of arresting them? He beat himself up with guilt and trained harder and in even more investigative and fighting techniques to stop it happening again.

But the clone lab/Lazarus water/blowing up Ra's bases/Captain Boomerang! Yes, those are things that Tim did at his lowest, when he was hurting from an enormous amount of loss. And he: chose to stop attempting the cloning and apologised to Conner for it on Kon's return; poured out the Lazarus water; look was admittedly pretty dodgy here but it's not like it's the first time Bat characters have destroyed Lazarus Pits on purpose; and chose to save Boomerang. He did not go through with things when people close to him reached out and acknowledged his pain.

What, other people blew up Lazarus pits? Yeah for a while there Bruce was funding Bane to run around the world destroying them and handing over details of known ones...look it's a whole involved thing due to fallout from Legacy and a conspiracy to convince Bane that he was Bruce's half brother, don't worry about it.

Bruce and Dick have both had to be restrained from killing, on occasion, when caught in rage and despair. There have been deaths that they didn't intervene in, and guilt they ALSO carry over this. Babs' moral code includes working with criminals, stealing money from corrupt officials and international conglomerates and hacking processing power from the Pentagon. Cass, after swearing to never kill again, broke Shiva's neck and hung her over a Lazarus pit to fall in because that didn't QUITE meet her definition of killing. It's not about 'are your ethics pure at all times'. It's about the choices they've made, even after a mistake.

Tim fears he's become too like Bruce at his most rigid and analytical on occasion (16th birthday paranoia; developing protocols when he was older which he insisted he wouldn't when he was younger; 'testing' himself with Boomerang). His reaction has been that it was even MORE important to him to ensure that he's acting in an ethical manner, and he's consistently passed that test.

He's not fated to be evil. There are afaik three (3) future/alternate universe storylines where Tim 'goes evil'. One is DCAU, where he was made Joker Jr because the Diniverse doesn't HAVE a Jason, Tim there is a composite (plus you know, he was tortured to that point). The second is Earth-3, which is, I remind you, the 'good and evil are reversed' universe. The third is Titans of Tomorrow. Future Evil Tim gets occasional storylines because it's a compelling mirror to hold up to Tim's ACTUAL morality.

Plus, if there is one single person who could be said to determine Tim's ethics and appears at the centre of his moral code, it's OBVIOUSLY Dick, not Bruce *waves at Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive and Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul*

[skwpr]

WHAT IS POMODORO AND WHAT DO YOU EAT IT WITH?

First… what is the Pomodoro method?!

The Pomodoro (Italian for tomato) technique was created by Francesco Cirillo in the 80s. Cirillo is an author and owner of a consulting company. He created this time managing technique that breaks down your study time into manageable intervals with breaks between each study session. With the countless distractions we have today, there’s no wonder it is still one of the most popular and helpful techniques for increasing productivity!

1. You need to plan your tasks

This will help you gauge how many sessions you will need. Will you be reading? Watching a lecture and taking notes? When planning what I will study, I know that watching a lecture and taking notes will take me sooo much longer than doing a reading or flashcards (less strenuous things). I also know that my core science courses will typically take much more studying time than one of my electives.

Determine what is most time-consuming and plan accordingly. The Pomodoro method is perfect for concentrating on any task, but you want to have in mind the classes that require more focus and time than others.

2. Set a 25-minute timer

25 minutes is only a recommendation and you can increase the time or lower it depending on how long you believe you can stay focused without interruptions. I mean, I don’t recommend you set a 5-minute timer to study and then a 5-minute break. But a session somewhere between 20-30 minutes is great (and how long I set my timer while studying)!

One other thing that Cirillo notes is that this time cannot be broken. You must work the entire 25 minutes without any distractions! One of my favorite ways to cancel out distractions is to:

-Put my phone in another room, or in my closet

-Or use the Forest app, which is a timer app that restricts you from leaving the app while completing work/other tasks. This guarantees I stay on task the whole time I am working!

3. Set a 5-minute timer for a break

Between each 25-minute study session, you need a break. You deserve it! So Cirillo recommends only a 5-minute break in between each study session. Do something that doesn’t bring you stress.

Tip: Make sure you do NOT work throughout the break at all. This break is meant to be a relaxing period to take your mind off of your work.

4. Repeat the process 3 times

This studying technique includes four sessions. So do this same process 3 more times. Work diligently and remember to stay focused.

5. After your 4th session, extend the break time to 20-30 minutes long

Once you have finished your fourth session, take a longer break! This is a huge accomplishment and after you have completed it, you will (and should) be so proud. The longer break allows you to take your mind off of your work and reset so you can get back into it.

Why It Benefits You...

IT WORKS FOR ANY TASK

Don’t think I only use this productivity hack for studying! This can be used while cleaning, organizing, reading, and so many other things! Remember, you can tweak the time frames depending on the task and depending on how much time you have to complete it. This is an amazing life hack that I believe everyone should be implementing to help with time management.

IMPROVES CONCENTRATION

Like I noted earlier, this is a distraction-free strategy! It’s on you to remove the distractions from your sessions, and when you do, you will see significant improvements in your work ethic. This technique was created to allow complete concentration on the task at hand. It will improve your focus, productivity, and concentration.

BEATS PROCRASTINATION

The Pomodoro technique breaks the time down into consumable segments. Would you feel more confident with saying you will study for 2 hours or 4 sessions of 25 minutes? I’m confident I would choose the latter every single time. This technique gives our brains manageable chunks of time to study so we result in more work getting done in the end. So just start working!

REMEMBER TO UTILIZE YOUR BREAKS

by Ania Henderson

[hebuiltfive]

Thundertober Day Two: Espionage

This is a long one (sorry!) but the next two days are shorter so that kind of makes up for it. Minor Pen&Ink in this, but it's mainly spy!Penny.

AO3 here Day: One

Warnings for: bad language Tracy Industries has always had a target on their backs. But this time, the attack hits a little closer to home. Tagging: @thunder-tober @skymaiden32

Tracy Industries was a pillar in the world of aerospace, construction and finance. It held a desirable reputation and was run by a family of charming philanthropists who seemed to consistently beat the odds that were forever stacking against them. They were renowned in their techniques and had contract offers left, right and centre. With all of this factors combined, the target on their backs grew increasingly larger.

As a company they had witnessed, and prevailed, through many, many attempts of sabotage before, whether that was from other companies trying to convince major shareholders to sell their shares, or from jealous rivals trying to wreak havoc by circulating false whisper numbers around Wall Street in an attempt to sow doubt within and around Tracy Industries. In fact, in the first few months following his father’s tragic and untimely death, that had been one of Scott’s first challenges. The eldest Tracy had dealt with an insurmountable amount of attempts in the years that had followed, and he had managed to fight each attempt valiantly, managing to keep Tracy Industries afloat one way or another.

This recent hack, however, had been a much larger threat that could have ended in a devastating blow.

At first, they had assumed the security breach was credited to the Hood, but after being reassured by Colonel Casey that their nemesis was still securely locked away, they began to search deeper. Their result was unpleasant. Angry and dramatic vows of revenge followed, though they would never be acted upon. 

The breach couldn’t have been described as anything other than a direct attack and it was far deadlier to the company than any other previous sabotage had been. This breach threatened to expose more than just a few financial details, or ways in which to win bigger contracts back from Tracy Industries. 

As the main exporter and provider for International Rescue, this breach threatened to expose the blueprints Tracy Industries had kept in their files for the organisation’s crafts and machines. 

Much to all of their reliefs, the blueprints for the actual Thunderbirds themselves were kept safely locked away on the island, but that still left some of their other life-saving equipment being at risk of leaking. The thought of other, perhaps less ethical companies, getting their hands on any of their design blueprints was bad enough. With the added fear of them selling them to the highest bidder, regardless of who that buyer might have been, was terrifying, and that panic alone had them all cursing themselves over the lack of security surrounding those files.

Regardless of John’s reassurance that the security system fitted by both himself and Brains was impenetrable, keeping some of their top secret files over on Tracy Industries’s databanks, just for the convenience, was incredibly stupid, and it was something they had planned to rectify in the following months. The move was one made from pure carelessness on their part.

To add insult to injury, Scott had then received a personal invitation to a party hosted by the very man that they strongly suspected as being the one behind the attack. He had almost declined. The thought of partying with a man who had committed such a violation to their company, whether they were rivals or not, had his stomach churning. He would have much rather turned the guy in for corporate espionage and be done with it… Until he realised that what they had, mere traces of evidence, was not evidence enough. 

They’d have to dig deeper.

Enter Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward, long time friend of the Tracy family and associate of both International Rescue and Tracy Industries.

The party’s location was being held at Randall Gardener’s private mansion in Beverly Hills and not at the office of his company, The Acorn Corporation. They had been aware of that fact from the moment they’d received the invitation and had planned accordingly. 

Gardener’s home office would be Penelope’s target. Brains had developed a special drive to expertly download all of Gardener’s files in record time. The device hid within one of the solid silver bangles she had dangling from her wrists. Though she rather worked alone on these sorts of missions, she couldn’t deny how conspicuous she’d look if she was the only one representing Tracy Industries and so she had relented when Scott suggested one of them attended with her.

Kayo was out on another mission with the GDF and so Penelope’s first choice was blown out of the water before she could even consider the Chief of Security’s company. Virgil offered his services, only to be quite literally batted away by Gordon. 

Once it was revealed that she would require a Tracy to hang off her arm for the night, Gordon had practically begged to be the one to go with her. Penelope wasn’t keen on the idea. At first he had so vehemently claimed to want to catch the ‘dirty bastard’ red-handed at his own dinner party, that Penelope wasn’t sure Gordon was the best option. Volatile, bitter and hurt were not what she was used to seeing with Gordon and, if she was honest, the sight worried her terribly. She had been inclined to take up Virgil’s offer instead but after a week of stewing, Gordon had seemingly calmed down enough for Penelope to feel comfortable with having him along. 

Throughout the evening, John would monitor them from Thunderbird Five and EOS would translate guidance through specially crafted earpieces, though this would only be when necessary to avoid distractions. 

With all the technical aspects prepared and ready, Penelope began to focus on her favourite part of any mission: her closet.

Penelope’s colour was pink. It always had been. It probably always would be. Her love of the colour came from societal’s childhood expectation of her; to adore the pretty and the sparkly, but her appreciation of the colour had grown in her later youth. By the time she had reached adulthood, Penelope knew how to use the colour pink to her advantage.

Just like tonight.

The gown she had chosen to wear was pink and sparkly. The hue matched her golden hair that was clipped in a way so her styled waves fell over one shoulder. Her manicure she’d had done earlier that day had her nails matching the colour of her floor-length dress, and her choice of necklace - diamonds inset into platinum - accentuated the modestly swooping neckline. Her outfit, as always, was a reflection of what they wanted to see. Pretty, poised and elegant. All the pieces helped her play the game all the more easily. 

After all, who would think to question the young socialite in her diamonds and sequins if questions were to arise?

Not that she was expecting questions. There was a reason Penelope had a stellar reputation within intelligence circles.  She was quick on her feet, agile enough in her social abilities to dodge unwanted questions and stealthy enough to leave no lead back to her doorstep. She liked to think she’d done her father proud.

Getting into the venue was easy. There were no checks on the door and there was barely any security on the property that could be seen. She didn’t want to jinx their mission but Penelope couldn’t help but think that perhaps this task of their’s was going to be easier than she had could have first anticipated.

It was a shame she would be proven wrong.

Sandwiching the main event of a fanciful dinner, networking was common during events such as these. This party was no different. The first half an hour, Penelope walked the room with Gordon, glasses of a sparkling wine filling their glasses before the party was called into a large, ornate dining room. Gordon was seated opposite her and both he and Penelope made patient small talk with those sitting closest to them. Once the many courses had been served and eaten, more networking commenced in the Grand Hall of Gardener’s mansion. Seamlessly, they played their parts and continued to blend in with the rest of the party as they mingled.

“God, I hate this part.” Gordon had whispered to her after they’d said farewell to a greying gentleman. He’d offered Gordon his business card in the ‘hopes it finds your older brother well’.  The fake smile he plastered on his features told Penelope everything she needed to know about how he felt about that situation.

“I thought you hadn’t ever been to one of these before.”

“I haven’t. Well, not officially. Usually I was with Scott. I wouldn’t mind it but… being the sole member of the family here means that I’m having to receive all the weird conversations.” He sighed. “When is the sleuthing going to begin?”

Penelope did her best to hide her fond smile, gesturing over to their host for the evening who was standing beside a nearby table. “Distract Gardener. I’ll go looking for the office.”

Gordon glanced at her with his eyes wide. “You mean I don’t get to do the cool spy stuff with you?”

“Gordon, you don’t know how to do the cool spy stuff.”

He looked at her, a little stumped by her frankness but, unable to think of a decent response, he merely grumbled, “I could have learnt on the job.”

“I’m sure you could have.”

“How long do you need?”

“Thirty minutes.”

“And if I can’t keep him that long?”

“EOS can warn me.”

Gordon offered her a nod. He eyed his target, clearly not looking forward to having to be the front of the conversation once again if his apprehensive bounce was anything to go by. “Good luck,” was whispered before Gordon melted into the crowd of attendees.

To appear as casual as possible, and to avoid as much attention as possible, Penelope waited a few minutes before making her exit, only leaving once she heard Gordon’s joyful greeting boom across the event hall as the distraction she was hoping for.

“Randall! Long time, no see, buddy! How are things?”

---------------------------------------------------------------

The office was far enough away from the rest of the party for Penelope not to have to worry about drunken party-goers getting in her way. She remained wary of possible security, though she came across no guards on her journey and, whilst she thought it odd, she wasn’t about to complain. It was making her job a whole lot easier. 

With the door already unlocked, her compact lock picking kit became redundant. Making sure the door behind her closed as quietly as possible, Penelope entered the office, making her way to the main computer unit at the far end of the room. 

Gardener’s office was state-of-the-art. Various gadgets sat on shelves, experiments he was conducting from home being strewn out over various worktables, and floor-to-ceiling windows which seemed to draw Penelope in, captivating all her attention for a moment despite her attempts to resist the distraction. From the mansion’s position in the Hills, the sparkling city of Los Angeles far below looked stunning. It was far too picturesque to ignore.

She only snapped out of that trance when she thought she heard footsteps outside the door.

“EOS, how long do I have?”

The AI’s childlike voice felt bizarre in replacement of the usual Cockney accent of her chauffeur. “Gordon is successfully distracting Mr. Gardener. I estimate he will continue to provide sufficient distraction for a while longer yet, Lady Penelope.”

Regardless of this reassuring update from EOS, Penelope set to work immediately. She knelt down behind the desk to avoid anyone being able to easily see her from the corridor, just in case that office door ended up opening somehow during her work. Bangles jangled as she retrieved the drive from where it had been inset into her jewellery and plugged it into the main terminal.

The screensaver image of the Acorn Corporation logo that had been lighting up the desk flickered away to reveal two windows. In one, the files of Gardener’s computer system. In the other, those same files being copied from device to device. Now all Penelope had to do was wait.

Brains had assured her the gadget was quick and she had never had a reason to doubt him before. Yet, watching the seconds tick by, the percentage staggering upwards ever-so-slowly, Penelope began to wonder whether, for once, Brains had been wrong in his design. It began to feel like she had been waiting forever.

“EOS, how much longer?” Penelope whispered, wary of the fact that she had no idea who could have been lurking outside that office door now. For all she knew, the device she’d plugged in could have triggered a hidden, silent alarm. It wouldn’t have been the first time she’d been caught out by a sneaky security trick.

The lack of a response from EOS had Penelope begin to feel uneasy.

Her eyes caught the screen in time to see the ninety-eight per cent mark tick over to the ninety-nine. Anticipation built up. It had almost completed. One more per cent and then she could find Gordon and get out of there.

Except the ninety-nine per cent never reached one hundred.

The entire system seemed to just… switch itself off.

Penelope, trying her hardest to not start panicking over what could simply have just been a minor mishap, began flicking buttons. 

It was pointless.

“EOS? EOS, can you hear me? What’s happened?

Faint static told Penelope that the line was still connected, if a little disturbed by interference.

“… I’m sorry, Lady Penelope.” EOS’s pause before she finally responded was so full of emotion, of guilt in particular, that Penelope could no longer deny that feeling of building dread that was creeping up from the pits of her stomach.

“You’re sorry—? What for?”

EOS remained silent again.

“What do you mean? Did you do this? EOS?”

“I was told it was for the best.” The AI defended herself before finally cutting the line off.

“By who?” Penelope tried despite the lack of static in her ear.

“By me.” 

The voice had come from behind her, from the door which had now been swung open, from a voice she knew all too well and had trouble believing.

“… John?”

She wouldn’t believe it. She couldn’t. He was supposed to be on Thunderbird Five! He wasn’t supposed to be here. Her head span as Penelope jumped up from her position behind the desk.

“I’m sorry, Penelope,” John continued, stepping into the room properly, “but I couldn’t let you download those files.” 

To his credit, John did appear to truly feel guilty over his words and his apparent actions.

“Why?”

John’s silence in regards to that question hurt her the most. Ignoring all the fears that were now whirling around her head, she attempted another question.

“Where’s Gordon?”

“Safe.”

“Can I trust you with that?”

There was a venomous quality to Penelope’s query which she didn’t regret one bit. Trust, it seemed, was not something she could currently equate to John. Was it ever something she could have attributed to him? Was it ever something she could honestly and safely expect from him again?

“He’s my brother.”

“Why didn’t you want me to download those files?”

Two guards, dressed to the nines which suggested they’d been blending in with the rest of the party just as Penelope and Gordon had been, entered behind John. Penelope eyed them and then the escape route that was just out of reach.

“Don’t.” John warned, sounding increasingly tired.

“You know me too well.”

“That’s the problem.” He sighed, as though that was her problem. Before Penelope could argue against that, John tapped his ear. “EOS?”

EOS’s voice filtered through Penelope’s earpiece once again. It had Penelope questioning if the AI had actually left earlier. 

“Message relayed.”

“Message?” Penelope asked, more frantically than she’d planned. “What message? To who?”

“To Gordon. To tell him that you’ve left, following a clue that you wanted to go in search of without him.”

“He won’t buy it.”

“I don’t care if he buys it. I just care that he’s out of the way long enough to not get caught up in this any further.”

“And what is this, John?”

Red rings circled his eyes and bags had long set in. His complexion was paler than normal, even by John’s standards, and Penelope found herself searching her memory to remember a time she’d ever seen him look so troubled. She wasn’t sure she ever had.

John spoke no words. He signalled to the two guards to take one of Penelope’s arms each before leading them all out of the office and down the hallway. Penelope didn’t try to fight them, instead opting for trying to get information.

“Who put you up to this?” She asked John, not expecting a reply and being pleasantly surprised when he offered her one.

“What makes you think someone put me up to anything?”

“This is your family’s business.”

“So?”

“So, why not let me look at those files?”

They turned a corner which led to a set of stone steps, which in turn led down to God knew where. John slowly stepped down them, as though each step was a step towards Hell itself. Penelope prayed it wasn’t.

“You wouldn’t have liked what you saw.”

“Which is what, John?”

The stairway curved around in a spiral, heading deeper and deeper below ground. That panic began to build in her stomach. It would have been easier to fight off if she knew she could trust John, but she couldn’t anymore apparently.

“We can’t help you if you don’t tell us what is happening—”

The fury of John Tracy was something Penelope had never witnessed in person before. Icy chills went down her spine as he span around to face her. His face was shrouded in shadows from the minimal light making it almost impossible to see his real emotions play out on his face.

“Shut up.” He spat in the most un-John-like way Penny hoped she’d ever have to hear. John sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose as he reined in that panic. “I didn’t mean— Just, please, if you know what’s good for you, Penny, then just stop talking.”

In a way, that was answer enough for her. Add all the little factors she had and Penelope found herself jumping to the worst conclusion: John was responsible for the Tracy Industries hack, or at least had a major hand in it. Why was still a major question that he clearly wasn’t willing to answer, neither was the how. 

A trickle of light glinted off his eyes, betraying the fact that he had tears in them, but Penelope found herself with little pity to give.

“Your brothers are going to be very disappointed in you, John.”

“I know.” He replied, head hanging lowly as he turned to continue leading them down that darkened hall way. “I fucking know.”

[blondiealpha]

"

Influence Campaigns

Learn about how hybrid threats use Influence Campaigns to alter public opinion on a massive scale.

What we’ll be learning

When we think of attacks in the context of cybersecurity, we usually think of things like malware, data breaches, or targeted hacks going after a single organization, but this isn’t necessarily the case.

In this article, we will be learning about influence campaigns, which seek to shift public opinion on social issues, often on a massive scale. We will also learn about how influence campaigns work, who conducts them and why, and how they can be combined with more traditional hacking by Hybrid Threats.

What are influence campaigns?

Influence campaigns are large-scale campaigns that seek to shift public opinion. Such campaigns are usually carried out in bad faith and often seek to push a false narrative. These campaigns are often carried out by groups with high levels of capability, up to and including nation-state actors.

Why are influence campaigns used?

“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” ~ Sun Tzu

Suppose you run a business, and your business has a deep rivalry with a competing business. There are plenty of ways you might try to gain an advantage over your rival business, with varying degrees of ethicality and legality. Hiring someone to hack into their network and sabotage their systems is highly illegal, and your business would likely come under suspicion when the attack is discovered. However, hiring someone to investigate their business and publish a report on shady or unethical business practices is far less illegal, and any attempt by the competitor to blame you for the report would likely be seen as an attempt to distract from the findings of the report.

This is the strength of influence campaigns. They seek to operate below a threshold to trigger an aggressive response. This applies as much to adversarial nation-states as it does to rival businesses. Openly attacking an adversary is likely to result in consequences, but secretly turning public opinion against them is harder to prove and harder to retaliate against.

One common use of influence campaigns is to interfere with elections, which highlights one of the difficulties of dealing with influence campaigns. It is often difficult to attribute an influence campaign to a given group solidly. Additionally, it can be challenging to admit that we have been manipulated. It is easier to deny the possibility that we have fallen victim to an influence campaign than take an objective look at the situation. One example we know for sure is Cambridge Analytica. This company worked to influence elections in Australia, India, Kenya, Malta, Mexico, the UK, and the US.

Companies can also use influence campaigns for promotional purposes or ward off bad press. Again, the strength of influence campaigns is that they are difficult to prove. It is not impossible to run across a social media account that seems very vocal about praising the virtues of a specific product or brand, but proving that account is operating on the instructions of the company that owns that product or brand is challenging.

How do influence campaigns work?

Social media manipulation

Social media has made it much easier to influence large numbers of people. In addition to being an easily-accessible online space where people interact, they also provide targeted advertising services. These services allow groups running influence campaigns to target those they wish to influence more effectively. Techniques such as Astroturfing, where an influence campaign is disguised as a grass-roots movement, are used to influence public opinion by making it appear that other members of the public are presenting the opinion.

In combination with other tactics

Influence campaigns can be part of more extensive campaigns which use other techniques such as espionage and hacking. Such campaigns usually have an overall goal and use a combination of techniques to work towards it. In these cases, the influence campaign may be less about accomplishing the goal directly and more about providing distraction or cover for other, more aggressive techniques. They may also paint a target organization as an enemy, potentially meaning that the public will see more direct actions against the target as justified or morally correct.

Conclusion

Influence campaigns represent a dangerous new paradigm in cybersecurity. They are secretive and deniable, difficult to attribute, and severely influence public opinion. Influence campaigns are also used in so-called “hybrid warfare,” where traditional warfare techniques are combined with hacking and the previously mentioned influence campaigns.

Being aware of the dangers posed by influence campaigns is crucial for businesses and governments."

Welcome to Euless y'all

[internsipgate]

The Ethics of Hacking: Understanding White Hat vs. Black Hat Hackers

Introduction: Ethical Boundaries in the World of Hacking

In the digital age, hacking has become a term with both negative and positive connotations. Hackers are often categorized based on their intentions, which primarily distinguish between two main groups: White Hat hackers and Black Hat hackers. Understanding the ethical boundaries of hacking is critical, especially as cybersecurity becomes more crucial for protecting sensitive data and infrastructure. This article explores the roles, techniques, and motivations behind White Hat and Black Hat hackers, examining their ethical implications in today’s tech-driven world.https://internshipgate.com

Who Are White Hat Hackers?

Defining White Hat Hackers: The Ethical Cybersecurity Warriors

White Hat hackers are cybersecurity professionals who use their skills to detect and fix vulnerabilities in networks, systems, and applications. These ethical hackers work to strengthen security measures, ensuring that malicious hackers cannot exploit weaknesses. They often collaborate with organizations, governments, and security agencies to maintain digital safety.

Key characteristics of White Hat hackers include:

Authorization: White Hat hackers operate with explicit permission from organizations or system owners to test their defenses.

Intentions: Their goal is to protect, not harm. They are motivated by the desire to improve security systems and help others.

Methodology: White Hat hackers use penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and ethical hacking techniques that adhere to legal and ethical standards.

The Role of White Hat Hackers in Cybersecurity

White Hat hackers are vital in maintaining the security of modern digital infrastructure. Their work helps identify system weaknesses before malicious hackers can exploit them, making them essential allies in the fight against cybercrime.

Who Are Black Hat Hackers?

Black Hat Hackers: The Dark Side of Cyber Intrusion

Black Hat hackers, in contrast, operate outside the bounds of legality and ethical standards. These individuals engage in malicious activities such as stealing data, spreading malware, and damaging systems for personal gain or to inflict harm.

Common traits of Black Hat hackers:

Unauthorized Access: Black Hat hackers gain access to systems without permission, often exploiting vulnerabilities for illegal purposes.

Malicious Intent: Their actions are driven by greed, personal vendettas, or a desire to cause disruption.

Tactics: Black Hat hackers use techniques like phishing, malware, ransomware, and DDoS attacks to compromise systems and extract sensitive data.

Impact of Black Hat Hackers on the Digital World

The damage caused by Black Hat hackers is significant, ranging from financial losses to the destruction of critical infrastructure. Their activities have spurred the development of more sophisticated security systems and the recruitment of skilled White Hat hackers to combat these threats.

Gray Hat Hackers: The Ambiguity in Between

Understanding Gray Hat Hackers

While the dichotomy of White Hat and Black Hat hackers is well-known, there is also a third category: Gray Hat hackers. These individuals often operate in the ethical gray zone, performing unauthorized activities but without malicious intent.

Key attributes of Gray Hat hackers:

Semi-Legal Actions: Gray Hat hackers may break into systems without permission but do so to highlight vulnerabilities, sometimes informing the affected parties afterward.

Unpredictable Ethics: Their motivations are complex and may not always align with traditional ethical standards. Some Gray Hat hackers see themselves as vigilantes, believing their actions benefit the greater good.

Gray Hat Hackers: Beneficial or Harmful?

While Gray Hat hackers may not aim to cause harm, their activities can still be illegal and dangerous. By exploiting vulnerabilities without permission, they can inadvertently open doors for malicious attackers to follow.

The Ethical Debate: When Does Hacking Become Acceptable?

The ethical debate surrounding hacking revolves around the intent and outcomes of the hacker’s actions. White Hat hackers operate within ethical frameworks, while Black Hat hackers violate laws and norms. The challenge with Gray Hat hackers lies in determining whether their actions, although often without malicious intent, should be condoned or condemned.

Key Ethical Questions:

Is unauthorized access ever justifiable?

Do the benefits of exposing vulnerabilities outweigh the risks?

Should Gray Hat hackers face the same legal consequences as Black Hat hackers?

The answers to these questions are complex, but they underline the importance of a clear ethical code for cybersecurity professionals and hackers alike.

Legal Consequences of Hacking: White Hat vs. Black Hat

Legal Protections for White Hat Hackers

White Hat hackers, when operating under contracts or legal agreements, are typically protected by law. Their activities are not only ethical but also sanctioned, as they work with the consent of organizations to improve their security.

Legal Risks for Black Hat Hackers

Black Hat hackers, on the other hand, face severe legal consequences for their actions. Unauthorized access, data theft, and cyberattacks are illegal in most jurisdictions, with penalties ranging from hefty fines to long-term imprisonment.

Legal differences between White Hat and Black Hat hacking:

White Hat Hackers: Operate within the boundaries of the law, often employed by cybersecurity firms or government agencies.

Black Hat Hackers: Engage in illegal activities that violate data privacy, cyber laws, and intellectual property rights.

The Importance of Ethical Hacking in Today’s World

As digital infrastructure becomes more integral to every facet of modern life, the importance of ethical hacking cannot be overstated. White Hat hackers play a critical role in safeguarding the internet, preventing data breaches, and protecting personal and organizational assets from cyber threats. Governments and private enterprises increasingly rely on ethical hackers to bolster their security measures, making them indispensable in the fight against cybercrime.

Why Companies Should Hire White Hat Hackers

Companies that neglect to secure their digital environments are at higher risk of cyberattacks. By employing White Hat hackers, organizations can proactively protect their systems from vulnerabilities, ensuring that they remain one step ahead of malicious actors.

Benefits of hiring White Hat hackers:

Proactive Security: Detecting and addressing vulnerabilities before they are exploited.

Cost-Effective: Preventing attacks can save organizations from financial losses due to breaches.

Legal Compliance: Ensures that security measures meet regulatory standards, reducing the risk of fines and legal issues.

Conclusion: The Ethical Future of Hacking

The evolving landscape of cybersecurity presents both challenges and opportunities for ethical hackers. As technology advances, the need for skilled White Hat hackers grows, while the threat posed by Black Hat hackers continues to loom large. By understanding the ethical implications of hacking, we can better protect our digital spaces and promote a safer, more secure internet for everyone.

[luxe-pauvre]

The goal-reaching techniques of our age amount to highly rationalised tricks that try to fool our lacklustre emotions into coming onboard, or bypass our feelings altogether. We are very eager to learn how we form good habits. And how we can cheat motivation. Such is the modern obsession with top-down techniques, which have a tendency to read well and inspire effectively on the page, but then come up short in the real world. Let’s not treat willpower as a troublesome and evasive beast that needs to be beaten into submission. If Schopenhauer is right, it’s bigger than all of us. Might there be a bottom-up approach instead? One that builds from the bed of our emotions to point this powerful Will in a helpful direction, rather than a hoped-for trickle-down from a set of direct and conscious techniques? Deliberate tactics, whether to form habits or guarantee the seduction of an intended mate, sell themselves as life-hacks, as if they make a strenuous thing easier. But on the briefest examination, they unpack not into a few effective principles but a difficult tangle of procedures for this or that. There is something topsy-turvy in the amount of deliberate work recommended to encourage a single new habit. ‘Commit to Thirty Days’ demands one site, offering familiar enough advice: ‘Make it Daily’. The lingering work ethic of our Protestant forebears still haunts us. The elegant solution, by contrast, is always to change something small to create the largest effect. Also, if the Will’s power is unconscious, why do we persist in trying to engage it consciously? What if we engage with our aims and hopes from this opposite direction? What would we like our emotional resources to achieve if they could be put to use? When we wish to succeed in some plan across time, we need to sacrifice certain short-term pleasures for longer-term benefits. Such is our challenge. Perhaps we must face a fear now because we know the benefits will be worthwhile. We must exercise or choose to study rather than socialise, because it will serve us better in the future. We must in essence learn to shore up our reserves, and persevere in the face of temptation. To rely on sustained conscious effort is to fight a losing battle: it invariably leads to diminishing returns, as we struggle to maintain the fight. It’s precisely the worst means of encouraging tenacity.

Derren Brown, A Book of Secrets: Finding Solace in a Stubborn World

[sanjanabia]

Unmasking the Invisible: Ethical Hackers and the Art of Vulnerability Hunting

In today's digital age, our reliance on technology has created a vast and interconnected landscape. While this interconnectedness offers undeniable benefits, it also introduces vulnerabilities – chinks in the armor that can be exploited by malicious actors. Imagine a grand castle, its walls seemingly impenetrable. But what if there were hidden weaknesses, unseen passages known only to a select few? This is where ethical hackers, the unsung heroes of cybersecurity, come in. They are the vulnerability hunters, the digital detectives on a relentless quest to identify and expose these weaknesses before they can be used for malicious purposes.

This blog delves into the fascinating world of vulnerability hunting, exploring the role of ethical hackers in safeguarding our digital assets. We'll uncover the techniques they employ, the challenges they face, and the importance of cyber security training Mumbai for fostering a skilled workforce of ethical hackers.

The Invisible Threat: Unveiling Vulnerabilities

Imagine a digital thief attempting to break into a bank vault. They wouldn't simply smash through the front door; they'd meticulously search for weaknesses – a faulty security system, a hidden ventilation shaft. Similarly, vulnerabilities in software, hardware, and network configurations act as those hidden access points for malicious hackers. These vulnerabilities can be:

Software Bugs: Errors in the code that can be exploited to gain unauthorized access or cause unexpected behavior.

Misconfigurations: Improper settings in network devices or software applications that create security gaps.

Zero-Day Attacks: Previously unknown vulnerabilities that attackers exploit before software vendors have a chance to issue a patch.

These vulnerabilities are often invisible to the untrained eye. This is where ethical hackers, also known as white hats, step in. They act as the security guardians, wielding specialized tools and techniques to hunt for these hidden weaknesses.

The Art of the Hunt: Techniques of a Vulnerability Hunter

Ethical hackers employ a diverse arsenal of techniques in their pursuit of vulnerabilities. Here are some of the most common methods which you can learn in cyber security training mumbai :

Network Scanning: Ethical hackers use specialized tools to scan networks and identify devices, open ports, and potential security weaknesses.

Penetration Testing: This involves simulating a cyberattack to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors. Ethical hackers attempt to gain unauthorized access to systems using various techniques, mimicking the methods black hats might employ.

Social Engineering Testing: This involves testing the organization's security awareness by attempting to trick employees into revealing sensitive information or clicking on malicious links.

Code Review: Ethical hackers meticulously examine the code of software applications to identify potential vulnerabilities and bugs.

These techniques require a deep understanding of cybersecurity principles, programming languages, and hacking methodologies. Cyber security training Mumbai can equip individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to become proficient vulnerability hunters.

The Challenges of the Hunt: A Constant Cat-and-Mouse Game

The world of vulnerability hunting is a constant cat-and-mouse game. As technology evolves, so do the vulnerabilities that ethical hackers need to identify. Here are some of the key challenges they face:

The Ever-Expanding Attack Surface: With the increasing use of cloud computing, mobile devices, and the Internet of Things (IoT), the attack surface – the potential points of entry for attackers – is constantly expanding. This makes it more challenging for ethical hackers to identify all potential vulnerabilities.

Zero-Day Attacks: The constant threat of zero-day attacks, where attackers exploit previously unknown vulnerabilities, keeps ethical hackers on their toes. They need to be constantly researching and developing new methods to identify these vulnerabilities before they can be used in real-world attacks.

Staying Ahead of Black Hats: Malicious hackers are constantly innovating and developing new attack techniques. Ethical hackers need to stay up-to-date on the latest hacking trends and methodologies to ensure they can identify vulnerabilities before they are exploited.

The Value of the Hunt: Why Vulnerability Hunting Matters

Vulnerability hunting plays a critical role in safeguarding our digital infrastructure. By proactively identifying and patching vulnerabilities, ethical hackers can significantly reduce the risk of successful cyberattacks. Here are some of the key benefits of vulnerability hunting:

Reduced Risk of Cyberattacks: By identifying and patching vulnerabilities, ethical hackers make it more difficult for malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to systems and data.

Improved Security Posture: The process of vulnerability hunting helps organizations identify and address weaknesses in their overall security posture, leading to a more robust defense.

Enhanced Compliance: Many regulations require organizations to conduct regular vulnerability assessments. Ethical hacking helps organizations meet these compliance requirements.

Cyber security training Mumbai can equip individuals with the skills to become ethical hackers, contributing to a safer digital landscape. These courses can provide valuable knowledge on vulnerability hunting methodologies, penetration testing techniques, and ethical hacking best practices.

[maharghaideovate]

Introduction of Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking into IGNOU Online MCA

In a day when breaches in digital security and cyberattacks are getting rampant, skilled cybersecurity professionals have never been in greater demand. It is this dire need that has prompted IGNOU Online MCA or Indira Gandhi National Open University to introduce courses in cybersecurity and ethical hacking into its Online MCA or Master of Computer Applications course. These additions are specifically designed to provide students with relevant knowledge and competencies in providing security to digital assets and systems within a dynamically changing threat environment. This blog discusses the new courses' relevance, the topics they will cover, and how these connect to the needs of the modern work market.

The Increasing Need for Cybersecurity ExpertsThe intricacy of cybercriminals' strategies rises with the advancement of technology. Data breaches, ransomware attacks, and phishing schemes targeting people and businesses are a few of the hazards that exist right now. The fact that must be noted is that these incidences of growing attacks remarkably reflect the increasing demand for cybersecurity experts who will be able to save sensitive information and ensure that the digital systems are up and running.

IGNOU Online MCA to Cybersecurity ChallengesCybersecurity has become the main demand in the job market. Because of this, IGNOU has come forward to include courses in cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking in the MCA program. Such a course shall fetch the learner comprehensive knowledge in Security Principles and hands-on experience in combating cyber threats. Following is an outline of these newly incorporated courses added in the curriculum:

1. Fundamentals of CybersecurityFundamentals of Cybersecurity Course: This course takes the student through an overview of the very basics that lie inherently behind cybersecurity. Students will encounter a range of online dangers, such as phishing, spyware, and malware. The objectives of this course are to teach fundamental risk management, network security, and cryptography.

The important points that are to be noted include:

· The types of cyber threats and attack vectors

· The basics of cryptography and encryption

· Network security protocols and best practices

2. Ethical Hacking and Penetration TestingThe methods that an ethical hacker would employ to identify system vulnerabilities before an attacker does are covered in this course on ethical hacking and penetration testing. Students have practical experience using a variety of tools to execute simulated cyberattacks, as well as learning how to conduct penetration tests and vulnerability assessments.

Content Overview:

· Techniques and utilities of pen testing

· Vulnerability assessment and management

· Concepts of ethical hacking and legal issues

3. Cutting-Edge Threat Identification and ReactionAdvanced approaches for identifying and countering cyberattacks, intrusion detection systems, security information and event management systems, incident response plans, and useful skills for threat management and security incident mitigation are all covered in the course. Key topics presented and discussed include:

· Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems

· Security Information and Event Management

· Incident Response Planning and Execution

· Forensic and Data Recovery Techniques

How These Courses Enhance EmployabilityIGNOU Online MCA courses are, henceforth rewarding in the following ways for students getting employed in the fields of cybersecurity and ethical hacking:

Practical Skills: This kind of practical training within courses guarantees course completion with hands-on experience in using industry-standard tools and techniques that make students work-ready by the time they graduate.

Meeting Industrial Requirements: These courses are specifically designed to meet the current needs of the industry, in terms of what exactly the employers in cybersecurity need in terms of skills and knowledge.

Certification Preparation Offered: A number of these courses may avail the students directly for industry-level certifications but are not limited to, CEH, CompTIA Security+, and CISSP. This, in a way, prepares them better for prospective careers.

ConclusionIncorporating courses into the online MCA of IGNOU regarding cybersecurity and ethical hacking will prove very opportune and tactical curriculum enhancement. Such programs would equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a career in cybersecurity, thus responding to the emergent demand for professionals who can safeguard the digital economy. Skill development with a focus on appropriate industry-relevant content,IGNOU Online MCA Course is making sure to position its students for the best possible preparation in lucrative cybersecurity careers by meaningfully contributing to fighting cyber threats.

[will-o-the-witch]

Do you think the origin of a practice or belief is important?

I'm not talking about cultural appropriation but like, something that seems benevolent that came from a place of hate and malice. Do you think that it's wrong to continue once you learn what it came from? If so, what kind of wrong(morally, ethically, objectively, personally, etc)?

Just curious about your thoughts /gen

Interesting question! Right now it's very very broad, and I think a wide range of very different hypotheticals could fall under it. In general though, spiritual practices are organized methods and tools which are only as [blank] as however they're used. It's always important to think critically and analyze how the origins, if at all, are reflected in the practice as you're using it, but the answer to that will vary wildly. Maybe you're personally against hexes but someone used hexes to hack out techniques which are extremely solid for general use. Or maybe the entire system is founded on a core belief you seriously object to, and trying to remove that belief from the system makes the entire thing crumble like a house of cards. Ultimately, it's kind of a personal decision based on your own ethical beliefs. How do the parts you object to affect your present, personal use of it? How does it weigh against the "good" parts? What balances are you personally comfortable with and where do you draw the line? There's no specific threshold which decides if you're a "good person" or not.

[cscclibrary]

We've recently acquired dozens of STEM titles, with an emphasis on study guides and computer programming. Here's a sample of our latest additions!

Mathematics

Testimonios: Stories of Latinx and Hispanic Mathematicians

Mathematics for ESL Learners

Painless Pre-Algebra

The Manga Guide to Linear Algebra

Painless Geometry

Trigonometry: A Complete Introduction

Must Know High School Trigonometry

Trigonometry: With Calculator-Based Solutions

Painless Calculus

Painless Statistics

General Science

Scientific Writing = Thinking in Words

Too Big for a Single Mind: How the Greatest Generation of Physicists Uncovered the Quantum World

Physics: An Illustrated Guide for All Ages

El Libro de la Fisica

Biology: An Illustrated Guide for All Ages

Painless Biology

Chemistry: An Illustrated Guide for All Ages

Painless Earth Science

Computer Science

The Pattern on the Stone: The Simple Ideas That Make Computers Work

Introducing Microsoft Access Using Macro Programming Techniques: An Introduction to Desktop Database Development by Example

AutoCAD for Dummies

Network Security: Private Communication in a Public World

Gray Hat Hacking: The Ethical Hacker's Handbook

Practical Linux DevOps: Building a Linux Lab for Modern Software Development

Java 17 for Absolute Beginners: Learn the Fundamentals of Java Programming

You can use the "What's New" section of our catalog to browse all of our latest items! Current Columbus State students and employees can check out items using a photo ID.

[demi-shoggoth]

So I'm giving a talk for Open House this week. Which is unusual, because at Open House, it's usually about more casual conversations with parents and teachers. But I teach AP Bio, and I have lots of ideas. So after a fun, weird, witchy April 30th ( Walpurgisnacht), I wrote a fun weird witchy presentation for my AP Bio kids, and I'm going to review and revise it to show to their parents.

It's called " How I Hacked My DNA and You Can Too".

It starts with a conversation about biohacking and the Netflix documentary Unnatural Selection. In the first episode, a guy named Josiah Zayner is basically a prophet of CRISPR, a DNA editing technique that can work in living cells in a whole organism. But because he's unhappy with his appearance, he wants to mitate himself to be more muscular, a real life super serum.

They're trans now. Jo Zayner, she/they. And are doing much safer and more ethical work, like making biopolymers that act as temporary breast implants and improving open source vaccines.

I'll tal a little bit about how the organs and tissues in the human body are still made of individual cells, and that the body works through communication between cells. I'll talk about how Homo sapiens is the last human standing because we had diversified our diets. I'll talk about how the large intestine is more bacteria than human, an entire ecosystem, and how that ecosystem is in constant contact with the body through chemicals it releases.

And then I'm going to tell them little tiny ways to improve their functioning.

Eat more fermented foods to add bacteria to the gut. Even if they don't survive, they'll help teach the immune system what is and isn't a threat, so you'll get sick and stressed less. Dietary supplements like zinc and B12 can be used to institute more permanent changes, from building pathways between neurons to influencing which genes are turned on and off. Not, taking a huge multivitamin every day, but maybe taking a more tailored supplement once a week. And, because I'm trans, talking about how some foods will subtly influence hormones. The "soyboy" insult is a reflection of how little things, like linseed oil, will actually change your hormone levels.

And then I'll open the floor to questions, and I'll talk with whoever stuck around to the end. The door will be open, so people can come and go and see and do other things. Which is important, diversity and choices.

And I'll have a good time being a scientist, even though I dropped out of grad school

[codinius]

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Learn about the latest techniques, tools, and methodologies used in the industry.

Enhance your understanding of network security, ethical hacking, and cyber defense strategies.

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[feline17ff]

Ethical hacking course, free for today! Enroll before it turns 30USD again :)