The Dark Side of Cybersecurity: Unmasking Black Hat Hackers

The CIA and NSA recruit and redeem Black Hat Hackers

 Black Hat hackers are the underworld’s digital burglars, breaking into computer networks with a sinister grin. They're the ones who unleash destructive malware, holding your computer hostage or swiping your passwords, credit card numbers, and other personal treasures.

     These cyber villains are a notorious bunch, leaving their mark in the annals of infamy. Take Julian Assange, for example. He's the infamous mastermind behind WikiLeaks, but long before that, he was a teenage hacker known as 'Mendax'. He started cracking codes at 16, diving headfirst into a life of digital crime. And why not? It’s a lucrative gig for those without a conscience. One study shows that even your average mid-tier hacker can rake in a cool $900,000 a year—twice what the President of the United States makes.

     A few years back, a study revealed that over 300 Internet crimes were happening every hour—victims getting hit every ten seconds like clockwork. We're talking three million online crimes reported, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Black Hat hackers are relentless, striking every 39 seconds. The University of Maryland crunched the numbers and found that these digital predators attack computers 2,244 times a day, all because of weak usernames and passwords. The FBI’s report on Internet crime complaints hit 300,000 in 2010, and the numbers have been climbing ever since.

     Even with one of their top dogs behind bars, the hacker group known as ANONYMOUS has law enforcement on edge. They've vowed to ramp up their hacking activities. This group is something else, and not in a good way. They're a loose collection of hackers scattered around the globe, waging a new kind of guerrilla warfare. They grab headlines and breach the most secretive government operations. It's this audacity that eventually led to many of their arrests, but they’re far from done.

     Interestingly, Hollywood has made movies surrounding the lives and actions of Black Hat hackers like those in ANONYMOUS. Here’s 10 of the best:

• 1. The Matrix (1999)
• 2. Hackers (1995)
• 3. War Games (1983)
• 4.TRON (1982)
• 5. Sneakers (1992)
• 6. 23 (1998)
• 7. Ghost in the Shell (1995)
• 8. Mr. Robot (2015–)
• 9. Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol (2011)
• 10. The Net (1995)

      

     In my spy thriller novel, "Mission of Vengeance," there's a mole the CIA planted deep within the NSA, codenamed 'Stacie.' She's got access to the NSA's supercomputer and uses her Black Hat skills to target America's enemies. One of her biggest coups was hacking into the personal computer of the American Ambassador to the Dominican Republic. What she found was explosive—the Ambassador was compromised by a sinister alliance of former Russian KGB agents and a ruthless Colombian drug cartel. Stacie's discovery sent shockwaves through the intelligence community, proving that sometimes, the most dangerous threats come from within.  

     Not surprising, the NSA recruits Black Hat hackers by identifying individuals with exceptional skills in breaching computer systems. They often find these hackers through surveillance, cybersecurity conferences, and online forums where hackers showcase their talents.

     Once identified, the NSA approaches them with a proposition: instead of facing legal consequences, they can use their skills for good as White Hat hackers. The NSA offers them training, resources, and a chance to work on high-stakes cybersecurity projects to protect national security. This transformation from Black Hat to White Hat is incentivized by the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology, substantial salaries, and the chance to contribute positively to national defense.

     And the CIA does the same! Here's a scene from one of my ‘Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster’ series, where the CIA finds Black Hat hackers to work for them:

     CIA spymaster Corey Pearson thought about how they recruited Black Hat hackers like 'Stacie' and turned them into White Hat hackers working for America. He remembered a Las Vegas hacker convention where he approached one standout hacker after a game called 'Flag Village.'

     At the convention, Corey witnessed dozens of hackers emerging from a make-believe village to attack and defend each other's computers by solving complex codes. Success added a flag, while failure took one away. By the end, the hacker Corey approached had amassed a forest of flags, while most of the others retreated back into 'Flag Village,' unwilling to continue the fight.

     What really blew Corey away was when this same hacker won a second contest by figuring out how to break into an airplane’s navigational system using its own Wi-Fi signal and entertainment system. Corey knew he had found someone with exceptional talent, perfect for turning from a Black Hat to a White Hat. 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and authors the ‘Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster’ series. Check out his latest spy thriller, ‘Mission of Vengeance’.