Black Hat

Ok it's official I am a geek! I've always been a geek but now I am listening to computer security podcasts on the way to work!
Why? I am doing a CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) course in May and I have so much to do during the day that learning whilst I drive seems like a good option.

So why the Black Hat? Hackers are referred to as Black Hat, White Hat or Grey Hat although according to this mornings podcast they may be changing this term...

If I was a hacker which I am not, I'm just not geeky enough; I would be a White Hat a term given to an ethical hacker, someone who tries to compromise their own systems to test the security of them.
A Black Hat is someone who violates systems for personal gain and you've probably guessed by now a Grey Hat is in between, they may prove something is broken and offer to repair it for a fee.

So my advice to you all from todays podcast..
Follow 3 Basic Rules for online safety, and you will drastically reduce the chances of handing control over your computer to the bad guys. In short..
1) If you didn't go looking for it, don't install it; (don't install anything unless you know what it is)
2) If you installed, update it. (patch it, especially Java!)
3) If you no longer need it, get rid of it! (uninstall it, if you don't use it!)

Yes, it's is me under the hat, yes it's black, but it's only a hat!