Think like a hacker, and make money snuffing them out

Hackers often are portrayed as basement-dwelling, junk-food eating computer geniuses who enjoy wreaking havoc on unsuspecting people by sneaking into their computers.

Their activities can be criminal and in worst-case scenarios can shut down infrastructures or drain bank accounts.

But some "white hat" hackers are not only chasing these cybercriminals but also thwarting the attacks before they can be launched. With sleuthing abilities that would make Sherlock Holmes proud, the good guys predict what cybercriminals will do next and put measures in place for companies or government agencies to stop them.

CORE Security, a Boston-based operation that employs people around the world, researches what cybercriminals are up to and develops software to plug security holes before the bad guys find them.

"It’s sort of like an MRI that helps you see inside a body. We are looking inside systems for potential problems and where an attack could happen," says Mark Hatton, CORE chief executive. "It’s a controlled way of looking at what a hacker would do."

Still, the skills needed to track the bad guys across cyberspace require unique talents, and managing these white-hat hackers requires some finesse, he says.

"What I’ve learned is that you’ve got to hire people that are really good at what they do -- and then you’ve got to let them do it," Hatton says. "I have to trust that they are choosing the right path."

At CORE, the researchers are extremely savvy computer sleuths who are tenacious in pursuing potential leads on where cybercriminals might strike next. He says employees must be given the independence to decide which trails to follow and be given the flexibility to stay on a case even if they sometimes encounter blind alleys or dead ends.

"You’re talking about people who work exhausting hours," he says. "They may come in at 10 a.m. and not leave until 2 a.m.."

Adding to Hatton’s management challenges: His research team operates out of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and some employees aren’t comfortable speaking English. That has prompted Hatton to change his management style during his quarterly visits there.

(from: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/54845108-79/says-hatton-core-hackers.html.csp)