Lifestyle Hackers

The insider threat, the bane of computer security and a topic of worried conversation among CSOs, is undergoing significant change. Over the years, the majority of insider threats have carried out attacks in order to line their pockets, punish their colleagues, spy for the enemy or wreak havoc from within. Today's insider threats may have something much less insidious in mind--multitasking and social networking to get their jobs done.

There's a growing risk within most organizations today that is clearly an insider threat but is also clearly not caused by a disgruntled or disillusioned employee. In fact, the new insider threat is more likely to manifest itself as a gung-ho new employee or contractor. And more often than not, the new insider threat is a recently hired twenty-something. We've coined the term "lifestyle hacker" to refer to this new cadre of insider threats.