New Blog Series: Hacking vs. Spamming

When I started this post, I was thinking about the talent pool of hackers and the classic ideology that if they could just use their powers for good instead of wreaking havoc, technology would be so much more advanced. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that spammers are actually more of a nuisance on a daily basis for most people. And the more I read about the issue, the more I discover that companies are actually gaining ground in converting hackers to the good side.

Hackers have long had notorious reputations, but do they all deserve it? In my opinion, spammers have become the real problem. Sure, hearing stories about hackers compromising secure information and personal accounts is enough to strike fear into the Internet devouring masses. The prospect of identity theft is a pretty terrifying concept. But unlike an isolated hacker occurrence that we may or may not ever experience, most of us already deal with spam and Internet scams on a daily basis. Millions of articles are floating around out there with advice on how to protect against identity theft and preventing falling victim to a hacker, but anyone with an email address, social media profile, website or blog can be the object of spam.

Some of this stems from the fact that hackers could be spammers, but spammers don’t require hacking skills in most cases. Anyone with an Internet access can be a spammer. Hacking requires both skill and motive. It’s the typical situation of having talent and ability but not necessarily motivation to use it for the benefit of others. As technology gets more sophisticated and widespread, new concerns about both hacking and spamming also arise. The key is to stay ahead of the game and protect your accounts accordingly.

In this blog series, I’ll be breaking down why not all hackers are bad, new industries potentially affected by hacking, new places spam is popping up and solutions for reducing and eliminating spam from your accounts. 

Have you had any experiences with a hacker? Spam out of control? Let us know your thoughts and connect with us on Twitter and Facebook!

About the Author: Jandee Ferland is the Social Network Engineer at IC. She is an avid fan of any technology that makes life a little easier and can often be found checking out new apps, posting on Twitter (@ICtweet), or learning how to podcast.