According to Bugcrowd, nearly three-quarters (72%) of white hat hackers don’t believe generative AI can replace human creativity in security research and vulnerability management. Inside a Hacker’s Mind – 2023 report.
Nonetheless, hackers surveyed admit that generative AI tools like ChatGPT are important to their work, with 21% saying AI has already surpassed them. . Additionally, 55% believe these technologies have enhanced the value of ethical hacking and security research, or will do so in the future.
More than three-quarters (78%) believe AI will disrupt the way hackers approach penetration testing and bug bounty programs in the next five years.
Respondents often have jobs such as automating tasks (50%), analyzing data (48%), identifying vulnerabilities (36%), validating findings (35%), and conducting reconnaissance (35%). I’m using Generated AI in . The report noted that hackers tend to use AI chatbots to create reports, with the initial AI-generated text being a “good starting point.”
The top three AI chatbots used by respondents were ChatGPT (98%), Google Bard (40%), and Bing Chat AI (40%).
See here: #InfosecurityEurope: How generative AI can be a force for good in cybersecurity (video)
demographics
The report, which surveyed 1,000 respondents in 85 countries, also provided insight into the demographics of the ethical hacking community. The majority (90%) were young, with 57% being her Gen Z aged 18-24, 28% millennials aged 25-34, and 5% under 18. Only 2% of those surveyed were over the age of 45.
According to the report, hackers are overwhelmingly male, at 96%. This means that female hackers have dropped from 6% of her to 4% since Bugcrowd’s attack. inside the mind of a hacker This is the 2020 report.
More than two-thirds (68%) of the respondents had a college or graduate level education.
The survey found that the number of hackers working full-time in this job has dropped significantly from 42% in 2022 to 29% in 2023. However, 33% are currently working part-time but are looking to get into hacking full-time. The rest hack part-time (25%) or as a side job (14%). The report highlights rising costs of living and a growing desire for flexible working as explanations for this trend.
However, 75% cite non-financial factors as their primary motivation for hacking.
Vulnerabilities on the rise
Most (84%) believe they are more vulnerable than when the COVID-19 pandemic began, and 88% believe point-in-time security alone will not keep their businesses safe. It’s not enough to keep.
Additionally, 63% of respondents reported discovering new vulnerabilities that they had not encountered before within the last 12 months.
Organizations seem to recognize the value of ethical hacking in this context, with 89% saying hacking is viewed more favorably. Nearly all (96%) said it would help companies close the cybersecurity skills gap.
