RankMyHack Gamifies the Hacktivist Efforts of Online Intruders
Omar Yusuf — September 19, 2011 — Tech
References: washingtonpost & gizmodo
Considering the meteoric rise in number of organized hacking movements, the emergence of websites like RateMyHack should be unsurprising. From the release of sensitive police information to the staged attack on the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, hacking is a more widespread political tool than protesting at this point. And it's being gamified.
The archetypical hacker is young, brazen and out to make a name for himself in the Internet's back channels. By ranking the efficacy and ballsiness of the Net's most notorious keyboard cowboys, RateMyHack has become the de facto Guinness Book of online intrusion. Points and achievements are doled out based on the security preparedness of targets. Hacking the website of your local pizzeria won't get you far, while taking down the frontpage of Yahoo or Fox News will net you serious bragging rights.
The elusive, almost prohibitive nature of hacking culture makes websites like RateMyHack a true rarity. For the n00bs out there, this website could prove to be a helpful introduction into the strange subculture. Just don't click the "challenge" button, otherwise your laptop may end up riddled with dataminers, trojans and all other sorts of viruses.
The archetypical hacker is young, brazen and out to make a name for himself in the Internet's back channels. By ranking the efficacy and ballsiness of the Net's most notorious keyboard cowboys, RateMyHack has become the de facto Guinness Book of online intrusion. Points and achievements are doled out based on the security preparedness of targets. Hacking the website of your local pizzeria won't get you far, while taking down the frontpage of Yahoo or Fox News will net you serious bragging rights.
The elusive, almost prohibitive nature of hacking culture makes websites like RateMyHack a true rarity. For the n00bs out there, this website could prove to be a helpful introduction into the strange subculture. Just don't click the "challenge" button, otherwise your laptop may end up riddled with dataminers, trojans and all other sorts of viruses.
Trend Themes
1. Gamification of Hacking - The trend of gamifying hacking activities can be leveraged for developing cybersecurity games for educational purposes.
2. Organized Hacking Movements - The rise in organized hacking movements creates opportunities for companies providing cybersecurity services and software.
3. Hacker Leaderboards - The trend of creating hacker leaderboards can be leveraged to develop a platform for ethical hacking competitions to promote cybersecurity awareness.
Industry Implications
1. Cybersecurity - The cybersecurity industry has the opportunity to leverage the rise in organized hacking movements and the trend of gamifying hacking activities to provide better solutions for their clients.
2. Education - The education industry can use the gamification of hacking activities trend to develop cybersecurity educational games and training programs.
3. Technology - The technology industry has the opportunity to develop platforms based on the trend of creating hacker leaderboards for ethical hacking competitions to promote cybersecurity awareness and for finding potential employees.
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