Skip to Content
  • Canvas
  • Baker Mail
  • My Baker
Baker College
  • (855) 487-7888
  • Apply
  • Visit
  • Request Info
Apply Visit Request Info
  • Degrees
    • Bachelor’s
      • Bachelor Degrees
      • Areas of study
        • Health Science
          • Health Science Bachelor’s
            • Healthcare Administration
            • Radiation Therapy
            • See All Health Science Degrees
        • Business
          • Business bachelor’s
            • Accounting
            • Business Administration
            • Finance
            • Human Resource Management
            • Logistics
            • Management
            • Marketing
            • See All Business Degrees
        • IT & Engineering
          • IT & Engineering Bachelor’s
            • Computer Science (Computer Programming)
            • Computer Science (Data Analytics)
            • Game Software Development
            • Information Systems (Information Assurance)
            • Information Systems (Project Management)
            • Information Systems (Web Development)
            • Information Technology and Cybersecurity
            • See All IT & Engineering Degrees
        • Nursing
          • Nursing Bachelor’s
            • Nursing
            • Accelerated Nursing
            • See All Nursing Degrees
        • Occupational Therapy
          • Occupational Therapy bachelor’s
            • Pre-Occupational Therapy
            • See All Occupational Therapy Degrees
        • Social Science
          • Social Science bachelor’s
            • Criminal Justice (Criminal Justice Studies)
            • Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement)
            • Human Services
            • Psychology
            • See All Social Science Degrees
        • Liberal Arts & Sciences
          • Liberal Arts and Sciences bachelor’s
            • General Studies
            • See All Liberal Arts and Sciences Degrees
        • Education
          • Education bachelor’s
            • Early Childhood Education
            • See All Education Degrees
        • See Full Program List
    • Master’s
      • Master Degrees
      • Areas of Study
        • Business
          • Business Master’s
            • Accounting
            • Business Administration
            • Business Intelligence
            • Finance
            • Healthcare Management
            • Human Resource Management
            • Information Systems
            • Leadership Studies
            • See All Business Degrees
        • IT & Engineering
          • It & Engineering MASTER’S
            • Information Systems (MS)
            • See All IT & Engineering Degrees
        • Nursing
          • Nursing MASTER’S
            • Nursing Administration
            • Nursing Education
            • See All Nursing Degrees
        • Occupational Therapy
          • Occupational Therapy MASTER’S
            • Occupational Therapy (MSOT)
            • See All Occupational Therapy Degrees
        • Social Science
          • Social Science MASTER’S
            • Industrial/Organizational Psychology
            • See All Social Science Degrees
        • See Full Program List
    • Doctoral
      • Doctoral Degrees
      • Areas of Study
        • Business
          • Business doctorates
            • Business Administration (DBA)
            • Business Administration – ABD
            • See All Business Degrees
        • See Full Program List
    • Associate
      • Associate Degrees
      • Areas of Study
        • Health Science
          • HEALTH SCIENCE ASSOCIATE
            • Cardiac Sonography
            • Diagnostic Sonography
            • Health Information Technology
            • Physical Therapist Assistant
            • Radiologic Technology
            • Surgical Technology
            • Veterinary Technology
            • See All Health Science Degrees
        • IT & Engineering
          • It & Engineering Associate
            • Mechatronics
            • See All IT & Engineering Degrees
        • Occupational Therapy
          • Occupational Therapy Associate
            • Occupational Therapy Assistant
            • See All Occupational Therapy Degrees
        • Social Science
          • Social Science Associate
            • Criminal Justice (Criminal Justice Studies)
            • Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement)
            • See All Social Science Degrees
        • Liberal Arts and Sciences
          • Liberal Arts and Sciences Associate
            • General Studies
            • See All Liberal Arts and Sciences Degrees
        • Education
          • Education Associate
            • Early Childhood Education
            • See All Education Degrees
      • Affiliated Programs
        • Culinary
          • Culinary Associate
            • Baking and Pastry
            • Culinary Arts Associate Degree Program
            • Food and Beverage Management
            • See All Culinary Degrees
        • Auto Diesel
          • Auto Diesel Associate
            • Automotive Services Technology
            • Diesel Service Technology
            • See All Auto Diesel Degrees
        • See Full Program List
    • Certificates
      • Certificates
      • Areas of Study
        • Health Science
          • Health Science Certificates
            • Medical Assistant
            • See All Health Science Degrees
      • Affiliated Programs
        • Auto Diesel
          • Auto Diesel Certificates
            • Automotive Services Technology
            • Diesel Service Technology
            • Welding
            • See All Auto Diesel Degrees
        • See Full Program List
  • Admissions
    • Admissions
    • STUDENTS
      • Transfer
      • Graduate
      • Adult
      • Active Duty Military
      • Veteran
      • Returning
      • High School
      • International
    • OVERVIEW
      • Applying to Baker
      • Undergraduate Application Process & Requirements
      • Graduate Application Process & Requirements
    • Special Programs
      • Health Science Direct Admissions
      • RunningStart
      • View Admissions Department Home
  • Tuition & Aid
    • Tuition & Aid
    • PAYING FOR SCHOOL
      • Tuition
      • Net Price Calculator
    • Ways to Save
      • BeFree Tuition Guarantee
      • College Credit for Work and Life Experience
      • Financial Aid
      • Grants
      • Scholarships
      • See Tuition & Aid
  • Student Life & Services
    • Student life & Services
    • Life on Campus
      • Student Life
      • Housing
      • Campus Safety
    • Student Services
      • Bookstore
      • OneStop
      • Academic Resource Center
      • Learning Support Services
      • Disability Services
      • See All Resources
  • News & Events
    • News & Events
    • At Baker College
      • News
      • Blog
      • Events
  • About Baker College
    • About Baker College
    • Explore
      • Office of the President
      • Accreditation
      • History
      • Nonprofit
      • Careers at Baker College
      • Modern [email protected]
      • Get to Know Us
  • Tools & Resources
    • Tools
    • Academic Resources
      • Academic Calendar
      • Catalog
      • Full Course List
      • Student Handbook
    • Job Readiness Resources
      • Career Services
      • Transcripts
      • Handshake Hiring Program
      • See All Tools & Resources
  • Campuses
    • Campuses
    • Michigan Campuses
      • Cadillac
      • Muskegon
      • Owosso
      • Jackson
      • Royal Oak
      • Campus Maps
      • See All Learning Options
    • Online Campuses
      • Baker Online
      • Online Live
    • Affiliated Institutions
      • Culinary Institute of Michigan
      • Auto / Diesel Institute
  • Current Students
    • Canvas
    • Baker Mail
    • My Baker

News

  • About Baker
  • Get to Know Us
  • News
  • How White Hat Hackers Are Shaking Up Cyber Security
Filter by
Filter By:
Cancel Apply
In the News

How White Hat Hackers Are Shaking Up Cyber Security

January 6, 2017
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Linkedin
Email Print

Hacking is not outright unethical — in the right context, it can actually prove quite useful for corporations and government entities in need of enhanced security protocol. Organizations would much rather have security problems uncovered by hackers they’ve hired themselves than leave those vulnerabilities open for exploitation by unethical hackers. Hence, the popularity of white hat hacking, in which hacking skills are used to detect security issues in advance.

Increased Security Breaches: Why White Hat Hackers are So Important

White hat hackers are becoming increasingly prevalent due to the need for better defense against sophisticated black hat (malicious) hackers. Even seemingly minor hacks can prove incredibly costly, both for impacted organizations and the population at large. According to CNN, the Ponemon Institute of Cyber Crime estimates that hacking costs the average firm a whopping $15.4 million per year. Furthermore, a 2014 report funded by McAfee and published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that hackers cost the global economy over $445 billion each year. It makes sense, then, for companies to either employ in-house white hat hackers or to pay the public to point out potential security issues.

Ethical Hacking: Salary and Benefits

Given the high demand for ethical hackers, it is increasingly common for major corporations and government agencies to keep their employed hackers in-house, where these skilled employees earn a very comfortable living, complete with healthcare and retirement benefits. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has not yet compiled salary information specifically for white hat hackers, but according to Indeed, the average certified ethical hacker earns an impressive $104,000 per year. This is a significant increase over the annual $90,120 salary for information security analysts (a similar job title with significant overlap in job duties) reported by the BLS.

Although many of today’s hackers are employed in-house, some prefer to work as consultants or on a freelance basis. These ethical hackers enjoy greater control over their schedules, and in some cases, the ability to command a far higher salary. There is greater risk involved in this career path, however, especially for those who seek earnings through public reward programs.

White Hat Hacker Reward Programs

Some corporations, in addition to hiring hackers in-house, offer extensive reward programs for outside hackers who successfully identify security issues — and more importantly, notify the appropriate parties of these problems. Notable examples include Google and Apple, both of which have offered significant monetary awards to successful white hat hackers. These programs are often referred to as bug bounties, and for those with a little technical skill and a lot of persistence, they can lead to tens, even hundreds of thousands in income.

Google’s Vulnerability Reward Program is one of the most notable examples of a bug bounty, and sometimes, its rewards reach well over five figures. For example, in late 2014, Google awarded a team of Polish security researchers $50,000 after they uncovered security issues with the App Engine. After a long wait, Apple released a similar bug bounty program in 2016, but restricted it to an invite-only basis.

Training and Education For White Hat Hackers

White hat hackers are often thought of as self-taught individuals who spend all of their spare time tinkering with security systems. While this is true in some cases, ethical hackers increasingly prefer to seek out training from accredited academic programs, as the right credentials can significantly expand their earning potential. The Bachelor of Science in Cyber Defense is a popular option, as it provides not only a broad base of information security knowledge, but also specific training in perimeter network security and internet work operations. With this degree, students can pursue white hat hacking jobs or set their sights on a more traditional path, such as information security or network administration.

The sophistication of today’s black hat hackers is startling, but with the help of white hat experts, corporations and government agencies are beginning to catch up. If you are interested in using your technical prowess to earn a comfortable living — and more importantly, to perform public works and improve the global economy — white hat hacking may be a viable career path.

Source

https://www.techopedia.com/definition/10349/white-hat-hacker

http://www.businessinsider.com/google-pays-50000-to-white-hat-hacker-2014-12

http://money.cnn.com/2015/10/08/technology/cybercrime-cost-business/

http://www.pcworld.com/article/250045/how_to_become_an_ethical_hacker.html

http://www.indeed.com/salary/Certified-Ethical-Hacker.html

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Linkedin
Email Print

Follow Baker College

Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram LinkedIn

Popular Tags

In the News Alumni Culinary Institute of Michigan Student Life Graduation Explore your Options College of Health Science Speaking engagement Auto/Diesel Institute of Michigan School of Nursing Running Start Baker Online Application Deadlines College of Business College of Social Science College of Information Technology and Engineering College of Information Technology and Engineering Social Science

Filter by Campus

Filter by Campus

Recent News

These Michigan colleges serve military members best, ranking says
Read More
Culinary Institute of Michigan Shines at ACF Sanctioned Competition and Prepares to Host Annual Roland E. Schaeffer Culinary Classic Competition
Read More
Baker College Announces Savings for Grad Students; New Financial Assistance Options for Online Juris Doctor Program
Read More
We're Here to Help
Ready to take the next step?

Contact us today to speak with a
Baker admissions expert.












reCAPTCHA helps prevent automated form spam.
The submit button will be disabled until you complete the CAPTCHA.


By clicking submit, I give Baker College my consent to use automated technology to call, text and e-mail me using the contact information above regarding educational services at the numbers provided above, including my wireless number. This consent is not required to receive educational services

Admissions

  • Apply
  • Online
  • Undergraduate Admissions
  • Graduate Admissions
  • Tuition & Aid
  • International Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Military Friendly
  • Running Start

About Baker

  • Schedule a Visit
  • Get to Know Us
  • Mission and Core Values
  • Accreditation
  • News
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Careers

Tools & Resources

  • Request Info
  • My Baker
  • Baker Mail
  • Bookstore
  • Academic Resource Center
  • Canvas

Contact Us

1020 S Washington St, Owosso, MI 48867

Phone: (800) 964-4299

(855)487-7888

Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram LinkedIn
  • Disclosure of Consumer Information
  • Policies And Procedures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Title IX Policy
  • ASR Health Benefits: MRF (TiC Rule)
Baker College
Baker College

Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. An equal opportunity affirmative action institution. An approved institution of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC)

If you encounter an accessibility issue using this page, please contact the webmaster at [email protected].

© 2023 All rights reserved. Baker College
Let's chat! Close