Have you ever heard of the term “script kiddie”? It’s a derogatory term used in the world of hacking and cybersecurity. A script kiddie, also known as a skiddie (not THAT kind of skiddie 💩), is a person who relies on pre-existing computer scripts or automated tools to launch cyber-attacks, usually with very little knowledge of how their attacks actually work.Â
In other words, they don’t have any real hacking skills, but this doesn’t mean that script kiddies are not dangerous. They can cause massive data breaches, take down websites, and even steal sensitive information. Script kiddies are often seen as a threat in the cybersecurity world because of two reasons:
- They may not have the knowledge or skills to create their tools, but they can still cause significant harm. A lack of skills is no longer a barrier because their tools are easily accessible online. A script kiddie can DDoS you, create a virus, send you a Trojan Horse, or use Ransomware against you.
- There are a lot of them, and they do it for the thrill. This makes them ‘unfocused’ hackers. They usually only target low-level vulnerabilities in systems and networks, such as unsecured Wi-Fi connections or outdated software. They usually concentrate their attacks on secondary schools since many of them are secondary students themselves.
Script kiddies may not be taken seriously by seasoned hackers, but cybersecurity professionals should. They are still a threat to digital safety.
