WHY HACKERS WANT YOUR COMPUTER By John Streff We hear so much about data breaches and cyber attacks these days. Learning that hackers exposed millions of credit card numbers or other pieces of personal information seems to happen more and more. Even large companies with wellfunded security — such as Facebook, Microsoft, and Equifax — suffer at the hands of malicious cyber attackers. Considering how these mega-companies make such high-value targets, you may wonder, “How does this affect me? Why do I need to care about cybersecurity? Why would an attacker want my computer? There is nothing of value on it, and I only use it for email, social media, and occasional online purchases.” What many people forget is that hackers are not only dangerous because of what they can take from you but also because of what they can give you. While it may be true that your personal computer does not store millions of credit card numbers, your PC still has potentially tremendous value to an attacker. You need to care about cybersecurity. So, what can an attacker do with your computer? Let’s look at some major reasons an attacker may want your computer. If you have saved your email password to your computer, so you don’t have to type it every time you log in, attackers may be able to access your email account. They could read your emails. They could even send emails in your name to wreak havoc in your life or damage your reputation. They could obtain the contact information of your friends and family. With access to your email, it would also be possible to reset the passwords of any online accounts that you have set up with that email address using the “Forgot my Password” button on a website’s login page. Access to your email provides wildcard access to most of your Your computer may be more valuable to an attacker than you think. online accounts. Consider what these other online accounts are. Someone with access to your Amazon account could probably make purchases using the credit cards you have saved in your account. Think of the damage an attacker could do to your personal and professional reputation with access to your Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts. A hacked computer is also dangerous because it may allow attackers to access your computer’s webcam and microphone. Attackers could potentially take pictures of you without your knowledge. If the images captured were private, they could blackmail you. For this reason, keeping your webcam covered when not in use is always a good idea. With access to your computer, attackers could also install malware (malicious software) capable of encrypting all your files and making them unusable until you 22 | The Show-Me Banker Magazine
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