Basics of Cybersecurity
Welcome! I am so excited to dive into the world of cybersecurity with you. Before we build our roadmap, tell me a little bit about what sparked your interest in cybersecurity and if you already have any technical background.
I'm just curious about how hackers think
Thinking Like a Hacker
To understand how hackers think, we have to start with how security professionals defend. Cybersecurity is essentially a continuous game of digital chess, and every defensive move is guided by a core philosophy known as the .
| Pillar | What it Means | Real-World Example |
|---|---|---|
| Confidentiality | Keeping data secret. Only authorized people can see it. | Encryption locking your chat messages. |
| Integrity | Keeping data trustworthy. Preventing unauthorized changes. | Your bank balance not being altered in transit. |
| Availability | Keeping data accessible. Systems work when you need them. | Netflix servers staying online during a major release. |
When a hacker looks at a target, they are not just looking for a random way in. They are actively looking for a weak spot to shatter one of these three pillars. For instance, if they want to steal your personal medical records, they are targeting Confidentiality. If they want to change the grade on a transcript, they are targeting Integrity. If they want to shut down a hospital's booking system with ransomware, they are targeting Availability.
A triad of three identical, physically interlocking gears representing the balanced principles of Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability.
Now that we have the ultimate defensive map, we can start looking at how hackers find the cracks in these pillars. Ready to explore the basic terminology hackers use to plan their moves?