Let’s start with a blunt truth:

Every single cyberattack that hits your business starts with a human being.

Not some faceless machine. Not a Hollywood-style AI villain. A real person. Someone sitting somewhere, eating snacks, scrolling the same web as you, and choosing you as the next payday.

And no, they’re not all hoodie-wearing nerds hiding in basements. Some wear suits. Some work in teams. Some are freelancers operating through the dark web. But every single one of them is human. That means they think, plan, target, adapt, and exploit people just like you.

So it’s time to drop the idea that cyberattacks are impersonal or random. They are not. And if you understand the person behind the attack, you’ve already taken your first step toward stopping them.

Hackers are People. Scary Smart People.

The myth goes like this: you get hit with ransomware, and it’s some automated script that slipped into your inbox. Boom. You’re locked out of your systems.

But the truth is, before that ransomware hit, someone wrote it. Someone planned the attack. Someone crafted the phishing email or bought your login credentials from a shady online marketplace. And once the attack begins, someone is watching how you respond, ready to escalate, threaten, or disappear.

Hackers are not bots. They do not just guess until something breaks. They are strategic. They watch how your company operates. They study your employees’ LinkedIn profiles. They impersonate vendors, CEOs, and even your own colleagues. They manipulate trust, confusion, and urgency — all deeply human vulnerabilities.

They don’t smash down your door.

They slip in because someone unknowingly opened it for them.

Why Are They Doing This?

Hackers have motives, just like anyone else. Knowing what drives them helps you defend yourself more effectively.

1. Money, plain and simple.

Ransomware gangs, identity thieves, and phishing scammers are all chasing profit. They want you to pay to get your data back, or they sell it to the highest bidder.

Small businesses are not immune. In fact, you are often the preferred target because your defences are usually weaker and your reaction time is slower.

2. Bragging rights or curiosity.

Some hackers break in just to prove they can. They aren’t always chasing cash, but your business could still get caught in the fallout.

3. Ideological or political agendas.

Some attackers are on a mission. They might target certain industries, companies, or causes. You could be a stepping stone in a much larger attack.

4. Corporate espionage.

Yes, this is real. Competitors may quietly hire cybercriminals to steal your data, sabotage your operations, or uncover your next move.

What Do They Know About You?

More than you want them to.

• Your staff names and titles
• Your email patterns (like firstname@yourcompany.com)
• Your suppliers and customers
• Your team’s online habits and routines
• Your public IPs and exposed services
• Your outdated software and weak spots

They use all of this to trick you. They write realistic emails. They steal passwords. They time their attacks to when your team is off-duty or distracted.

This tactic is called social engineering, and it works frighteningly well because it relies on human behaviour rather than technical flaws.

You’re Not Just Being Hacked

You’re Being Chosen

Let’s get this straight. Hackers don’t randomly stumble across your business. They choose targets that are easy to breach. Maybe you skipped software updates. Maybe you don’t use two-factor authentication. Maybe your team has poor password hygiene.

If a hacker can see your weakness, they can plan around it.

If they can guess your password, they can steal your access.

And once they are in, they wait.

On average, attackers lurk inside systems for days or even weeks before unleashing damage. They map out your processes, learn your key players, and strike at the moment of maximum impact.

So... Why Am I?

That’s the question everyone asks.

Why me? Why my company? Why my inbox?

The short answer: because you were easier to reach and profitable to compromise.

You are connected.
You are digital.
You are busy.
And maybe... you haven’t been watching for intruders.

Until now...

How You Can Fight Back

You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert. You just need to make life harder for attackers. Start by thinking like them.

1. Train your people

Most breaches happen because someone clicked the wrong thing. Security awareness training gives your team the skills to spot and stop threats before damage is done.

2. Protect your devices

Laptops, desktops, mobile phones — they are all entry points. Tools like Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) monitor activity and block suspicious behaviour before it becomes a crisis.

3. Watch identity activity

Stolen passwords are a hacker’s golden ticket. Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) helps you catch unusual logins, mailbox forwarding rules, and account takeovers in real time.

4. Partner with a real SOC

A Security Operations Centre, or SOC, is a team of experts who monitor your systems around the clock. They spot attacks early, shut them down fast, and give you expert backup when things go wrong.

5. Keep your systems updated

Hackers love old software. Patching and auto-updates are your cheapest and most effective line of defence. One missed update can open the door to a major breach.

Final Thoughts: Know Your Enemy

Cybersecurity is not just about firewalls and antivirus. It’s about understanding that every attack is designed by a living, breathing person. Someone is watching you, researching you, and trying to find a way in.

Ask yourself:

Why am I a target?
And then take action to make sure the answer never becomes:
Because I was easy.

At Hackerstopped, we see what attackers see. And we stop what they try. Our team of cybersecurity professionals works 24/7 to protect your business, your data, and your people. Because the only thing smarter than the hacker - is the defence you put in place.