These Are 10 Reasons Cybercriminals Hack Websites

Sometimes hackers are just to brag. (photo: unsplash)

JAKARTA - Every day, thousands of websites are hacked. When this happens, websites can be used for everything from phishing pages to SEO spam. If you have a small website, it's easy to believe that hackers won't be interested in it. Unfortunately, this is not usually the case.

The motivations for hacking websites are as varied as the techniques used to do so. That means that almost any website can be targeted. If you're wondering why someone might want to hack your website, here are 10 potential reasons.

1. Payment Details

If you use your website to sell anything, then it is an obvious target for hackers. Payment details can be stolen and used directly by hackers or sold to others.

2. Any Information

Websites often collect personal information from visitors. For example, if you have an email list, you might collect information that way. Or if you use your website to run a business, you can save details about your staff or upcoming product launches.

All of these things prove valuable to hackers. If they can't be sold on the black market (or on the dark web), then maybe they can be sold to you i.e. they can ask you for money in exchange for a safe return.

3. Phishing Pages

A phishing page is a web page designed to steal confidential information. Phishing pages are designed to look like legitimate web pages. For example, you might find one that looks identical to a banking website. The idea is that when a user tries to log into their bank, their login details are stolen.

Google clearly doesn't like phishing pages and will often try to warn users before they visit them. But if Google already trusts your website, then it can be hacked and used to circumvent this. Phishing pages are also illegal and using a hacked website to host them allows the thief to remain anonymous.

4. SEO Spam

If you have a website, you probably already understand the importance of SEO. Many SEO techniques involve creating backlinks. When a backlink is created from Site A to Site B, it is basically saying that Site A recommends Site B.

Many websites are hacked every day just for this purpose. A hacker can take control of your site and build backlinks manually or they can install a program to do the job for it.

5. Spam Emails

Spam emails are annoying, but they can also be potentially profitable. This means that websites are often hacked for no other reason than sending them.

If a website is hacked for this purpose then the domain can be used to avoid spam folders. It also allows hackers to send large amounts of email without being shut down by their own email provider.

6. Malware (Malware)

Malware is easy to design. Many cybercriminals don't even create malware; they bought it. The hardest part about making money from malware is finding a way to install it on other people's computers.

Hacked websites can be ideal for this purpose. If Google trusts your website, it can be used to deliver malware to people without warning. If people trust your website, then maybe they will even agree to download weird files.

7. Free Ads

If your website receives enough traffic, it may be hacked for advertising purposes. One option is to modify the website so that it starts showing ads for products affiliated with the hacker.

Another option is to simply drive traffic at all. Redirects can be added so that when someone opens your website, they are sent directly to the hacker's website.

8. Exercise

Hacking is a skill and like any other skill, it takes practice. It is possible to learn hacking in a secure environment. Many online services are created just for this purpose. But most hackers start by practicing on real websites.

9. Fun

Sometimes hackers just like to hack. Quite a number of high-profile cyberattacks are carried out for no other reason than what the perpetrators want to know. Bragging is another popular motivation. A hacker might just want to show their friends that they control your website.

10. Takes You Offline

Websites are often hacked to take them offline. This can be done for revenge. Maybe you said something hackers don't like. Or it could be done for profit.

If your website is making money, you'll want to improve it if it's offline. If a hacker finds out about this, they can take control of your website and demand payment in exchange for returning it.

Start Protecting Your Website Now

To keep your website safe from small-scale hacks, simply choose a secure hosting, keep your software up to date, and avoid using weak passwords. It's even more important to watch out for phishing emails.