The threat landscape is gaining intensity and the cyber underworld is becoming increasingly more sophisticated with more sinister attacks. To keep us on our toes when it comes to protecting against today’s cyber criminals, we’re bringing back the Hacker Tales. The book of short stories acts as a wake-up call to all and helps to explain what can actually happen when IT security goes wrong, but most importantly, it raises awareness of the importance of cybersecurity in everyday life.
This book of short stories offers an entertaining, concise and effective way to deliver IT security hints and tips alongside best practices to help readers become more security conscious – and we’d like you to contribute!
In addition to having your story published, your tale will also contribute to raising vital funds for the children’s charity NSPCC, a cause close to the cybersecurity community’s heart. We’re offering sponsorship of the book as well, with a portion of sponsorship going directly to the NSPCC.
To be in with a chance of getting your Hacker Tale published or the chance to sponsor this popular collection, please get in touch to submit your short 600-800 word story.
To provide some inspiration, I’ve included my contribution to the last Hacker Tales below. Enjoy and we look forward to hearing from you!
Too Small to Matter?
I’m late. Rush here, rush there; always in a hurry. And always late. It seems to be the story of my life at the moment since I started my own business. Oh, how I had longed to be my own boss, to have more time for myself, for my family – ha! How wrong had I been? This time, I’m late to pick up the children from school.
As I cross the road, dodging the odd 4×4 and other illegally parked mum-mobiles, my phone rings. It’s a client. Not just any client, but the mother of all clients – the one that’s been keeping my business going for the past five years and without which, I’d essentially be penniless. I answer while waving and smiling politely at passing parents.
“Hello, Brenda speaking,” I say loudly into the phone, hoping to mask the playground noise.
“Hi Brenda, just a call to say we’ve got your email and will authorise payment as specified,” said Joan from the mother of all clients.
“Mmm, hmmm,” I reply, only half paying attention, distracted by a wailing kid that fell off the slide.
Oh great, it’s my kid. Even better. As I rush over to the scene of the incident, which is now circled by parents and school children, I practically shout down the phone to Joan, “Yes, that’s great, thank you, please go ahead as per the email!”
I’m struggling now to think of what email that is, but I shrug off the doubt within seconds. It can wait, my baby’s just face-planted on the pavement and that’s more important right now.
A trip to A&E and four stitches later, we return home. I do the thing that I always do when I get home: turn on the computer to check my emails. I scroll to one entitled: Payment Made. Excellent, my favourite time of the month!
I open the email: Dear Brenda, I’ve updated your account details as specified in the below email and made the first payment. Have a nice day. Joan
Erm, hang on a second – what new account details? I scroll down the email thread.
Hi Joan, The normal payment account is being audited and out of action for the time being, can you please arrange further payment to go into the following account…
Wait a second. I didn’t write that; I know I’ve been a bit distracted lately, but I definitely did not send that email. Frantically, I search my sent items. It’s there. And there are others to other clients! How could this be..?
Starting to panic, I go back to the date when the emails started. When did this all happen? Slowly, the puzzle pieces align. Last week, I received an email from my business service provider asking me to update my account. I clicked on the link and put in all my details, including the same password I use for most of my accounts. The day after, the rogue emails started.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, the intruder, I realise, has had access to my email account for days – and yesterday I had to email a copy of my passport to my partner. My heart sinks. It feels like the worst kind of violation of privacy. Taking a deep breath, I suck it up and call my clients to beg for forgiveness. Some haven’t gotten to the email and the mother of all clients is (thankfully) sympathetic and agrees to stop payment immediately.
One suggests something called two-factor authentication for all my important accounts. Yes, I say – I will do that.
Here I was thinking that my small business was too small to matter to any cybercriminal.
