Think of the any Hollywood blockbuster movie you’ve watched about hackers. What do you imagine? You probably picture someone wearing a dark hoodie, sitting in a basement surrounded by twenty screens and typing away at lightning speed hacking into anything and everything in less than 30 seconds, right? That’s generally the stereotype that Hollywood portrays in its movies.
I have to admit that I do love the stereotype – it makes cybersecurity look so cool and exciting. However, the truth is that cybersecurity is far less glamourous than what it seems. Sometimes, it can be downright tedious. So, let’s bust some myths and get to the real truth about cybersecurity.
1. Myth: Hackers wear black hoodies
This is probably my favourite and not completely inaccurate. Some hackers do enjoy wearing hoodies, but that’s more of a personal preference. In most cases, hackers actually work for a company or organization and need to adhere to the company’s dress code. Think of white hat hackers who often follow a formal dress code. But yes, hackers can wear hoodies because they are super comfortable, sometimes they even wear their pjs if they’re working from home, but a hoodie is not a requirement for becoming a hacker.
2. Myth: Hackers type at the speed of light
I honestly wish I could type as fast as the hackers in movies. Not only can they type ridiculously fast, but they also never miss a key! Unfortunately, the typing is not always that great and I’ve seen a few cybersecurity gurus’ type with two fingers. Besides, before you even get to the actual hacking, there’s often a lot of research, problem-solving, and clicking around in reports and dashboards.
3. Myth: Hackers can only hack in dark basements
Some hackers probably do work in dark basements, but most hackers don’t mind the light. Not all houses and buildings have basements which can make it really complicated if that’s a requirement to reach your career goal. It does look cool though, especially with all the monitors and LED ambience.
4. Myth: Hacking requires 20 thousand screens
I’m sure many of us enjoy a few good screens (or monitors), but the number of screens in the movies just aren’t realistic. I would love a wall completely covered in screens personally, but the number of screens that cybersecurity professionals or hackers have it often limited to the space you have available and/or company requirements. The LED lighting though… the more the better!
5. Myth: One person can hack the world
You know the part when criminals are looking for that one and only hacker who can break into anything and everything in less than 60 seconds? That’s genuinely not true and solely added for hype and excitement. Real cyberattacks often take groups of people and include months, sometimes years, of planning and preparation through trial and error. Those data breaches that you see in the news probably started months before the actual attack occurred.
6. Myth: Hackers love fancy gadgets
Sometimes, Hollywood shows hackers having futuristic gear that hasn’t even been developed yet. Real professionals usually just need a laptop or computer, Wi-Fi, and a few easily available tools to get going. Yes, there are some really cool gadgets available, but usually not the ones that you see in movies.
7. Myth: Hackers never sleep
Or eat, or drink, or shower, or have any life outside of hacking. This one is just odd. At the end of the day, hackers are people, not robots, so the basic human requirements to function still apply.
8. Myth: Hackers can guess your password
So, hackers can guess your password, but it’s usually based on information that you’ve shared, using weak or common passwords, and not changing your passwords after a data breach. Hackers use tools that help them obtain your password and these tools run super-fast depending on how weak your password is. Remember, the stronger the better.
9. Myth: Instant “Access Granted” screens
Hollywood loves to show a hacker typing a few things and then immediately show the astounding “ACCESS GRANTED” screen, and then you’re in awe of their skills. In the real world, hackers have to do a lot of research to get information to start planning their attacks. They would probably love if they could suddenly have an enlightening moment where everything comes together like the Matrix, but that’s highly unlikely.
Reality check: Cybersecurity is about people
The biggest truth that Hollywood seems to miss is that cybersecurity is about people. Yes, we all love some action and excitement, but true cybersecurity is about protecting people by increasing their awareness. It’s about ensuring that people know how to identify phishing emails, spot scams, use strong passwords, and not overshare on social media.
To be completely honest, if Hollywood made a movie about real cybersecurity, there will be a lot of reading, Google searches, error messages, software updates, and telling people to stop clicking the phishing links. Be secure!
