Bugcrowd, a leader in crowdsourced cybersecurity, recently published its annual “Inside the Mind of a Hacker” 2024 report, which provides insights into the hacking community based on responses from 1,300 ethical hackers and security researchers on the Bugcrowd Platform. The report highlights various trends impacting the hacking community and sheds light on their perspectives on cybersecurity.

One of the key findings of the report is the rapid adoption and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within the hacking community. However, despite the benefits AI brings, hackers are concerned about the evolving AI threat landscape. A staggering 82% of hackers believe that the AI threat landscape is evolving too fast to be adequately secured.

Interestingly, the report also reveals a significant shift in the perceived value of AI in hacking compared to the previous year. While only 21% of hackers believed that AI technologies enhanced the value of hacking in 2023, a substantial 71% reported its value in 2024. This shift demonstrates the increasing importance of AI tools in the hacking community, with 77% of hackers now using generative AI solutions—a 13% increase from the previous year.

Despite the growing use and value of AI solutions among hackers, the report highlights that hackers recognize the limitations of AI. Only 22% of hackers believe that AI technologies outperform human hackers, and just 30% think AI can replicate human creativity. These findings suggest that while AI is a powerful tool in the hands of hackers, human ingenuity remains crucial in combating cyber threats.

Dave Gerry, CEO of Bugcrowd, emphasizes the impact of AI on the strategies hackers use to find and report vulnerabilities. He acknowledges the important role hackers play in leveraging AI-driven cyberattacks and stresses the value they bring to cybersecurity efforts.

Another key highlight from the report is the rise of hardware hacking within the hacking community. The report reveals that 81% of hardware hackers encountered new vulnerabilities in the past year, with a majority believing that there are more vulnerabilities now than before. Additionally, 83% of hardware hackers are confident in their ability to hack AI-powered hardware and software, indicating a new avenue for exploitation.

Moreover, the report underscores hacking as a viable career path, particularly for younger generations. The majority of respondents were between the ages of 18 and 34, with 67% actively pursuing or engaged in full-time hacking careers. The report also highlights that hacking offers self-motivated individuals a desirable career with flexible hours, a remote work environment, and no formal education requirements.

Overall, the “Inside the Mind of a Hacker” 2024 report provides valuable insights into the hacking community, emphasizing the importance of human ingenuity alongside AI tools in combating cyber threats. Organizations can use these insights to enhance their cybersecurity measures and leverage the unique value hackers bring in defending against AI-driven cyberattacks.

Lidhja e burimit