How Do Hackers Get Caught and Exposed?

Understanding the methods employed in hacker detection and apprehension is vital for safeguarding your company against looming cyber threats.

The growth of cybercrime in recent years has been staggering. The age-old saying that “crime doesn’t pay” has unfortunately been inverted—cybercrime has become a highly lucrative business. Compared to other criminal activities, it carries relatively low risks, and offenders can make significant profits while facing minimal penalties.

Research by security firm Bromium shows that the highest-earning cybercriminals can make up to $2 million a year, mid-level criminals around $900,000, and entry-level hackers approximately $42,000 annually. Cybercrime has evolved from individual or small group activity into organised criminal networks operating on a global scale. These groups exploit anonymity tools and software to commit attacks without fear of immediate consequences.

How Do Hackers Get Caught?

Cybercriminals use malware, phishing links, DDoS attacks, and other tactics to target vulnerable companies and individuals. Stolen data can be used for identity fraud, traded on hacker forums, or sold on the dark web, which provides anonymity and protection from law enforcement.

In the UK, cybercrime and fraud are the most common offences, with nearly one in ten people falling victim. Over 5.5 million cyber offences are estimated to occur annually—almost half of all crime. Despite this, more than 80% of fraud offences go unreported, allowing many cybercriminals to operate with impunity.

Why Is It So Difficult to Catch a Hacker?

Hackers employ sophisticated tactics to cover their tracks. Only about 5% of cybercriminals are apprehended, highlighting the challenges law enforcement faces. Common techniques include:

• Proxy servers: Hide their identity and funnel communications through multiple countries.
• Tor and encryption: Add layers of anonymity to evade detection.
• Collaborative cybercrime: Teams operating globally make investigations more complex.

Tracking hackers requires specialized cybercrime units to analyze encrypted files, recover deleted data, and crack passwords. This labor-intensive process often takes months or years.

How Hackers Slip Up

Despite their skills, hackers are human and make mistakes, leaving trails for investigators. Examples include:

• Typos and errors: In the 2016 Bangladesh Central Bank attack, a minor spelling error prevented $1 billion from being stolen.
• Malware signatures: Malware can reveal links between different attacks and even point to specific countries.
• Hacker bragging: Offenders often post on forums, inadvertently revealing their identities.
• Honeypots: Decoy systems lure hackers and collect actionable intelligence. More info: Honeypots.

Catching hackers is challenging, but persistent monitoring, collaboration, and digital forensics have proven effective.

How to Safeguard Your Staff and Company Against Hackers

A hacker can gain access when employees fail to follow internal policies and procedures. Strengthening your organisation’s security requires a combination of awareness, training, and compliance:

• Implement strong Compliance Management practices.
• Provide regular Automated Security Awareness training.
• Conduct Advanced Phishing Simulations to test and educate staff.
• Leverage Risk Intelligence & Analytics to monitor and reduce potential threats.

By educating employees on the latest threats and ensuring adherence to compliance requirements, your organisation can strengthen its overall security posture and reduce the likelihood of costly breaches.

Learn More About Protecting Your Organisation

Explore the Human Risk Management Platform to see how you can safeguard your company against cyber threats.