The bad guys are out to steal your data, identity, money, and anything else they can lay their digital hands on. Here's a rundown of today's major adversaries.

John Edwards, Technology Journalist & Author

September 9, 2022

1 Min Read
hacker hands in blue light of a computer
Andrey Khokhlov via Alamy Stock

Like it or not, cyberspace is loaded with as many bad actors as a discount, all-you-can-eat dinner theatre.

Motivation is a key element to keep in mind when considering bad actors, says Scott Riccon, principal consultant with global technology research and advisory firm ISG. "Financial, political, hacktivism, or personal interest can motivate bad actors' behavior and the targets they engage," he explains. Also important is sponsorship: the entities who fund, protect, and direct attacker activities. "Protecting against an individual is much easier than protecting against a group sponsored by a nation-state with significantly more resources than a single organization can typically bring to defend itself," Riccon observes.

Cyberspace is rife with bad actors. Four, in particular, are creating a massive amount of mayhem.

Read the Full Article on Network Computing

About the Author(s)

John Edwards

Technology Journalist & Author

John Edwards is a veteran business technology journalist. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and numerous business and technology publications, including Computerworld, CFO Magazine, IBM Data Management Magazine, RFID Journal, and Electronic Design. He has also written columns for The Economist's Business Intelligence Unit and PricewaterhouseCoopers' Communications Direct. John has authored several books on business technology topics. His work began appearing online as early as 1983. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, he wrote daily news and feature articles for both the CompuServe and Prodigy online services. His "Behind the Screens" commentaries made him the world's first known professional blogger.

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