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Ethical, or white-hat, hackers learn to invade others' computers in order to better protect them. Keatron Evans is among several professionals offering training to good-guy hackers. His course in Redwood City, California is pricey. Completion of the class results in certification as an ethical hacker. With continued training, students can become 'pen testers,' experts who attempt to penetrate corporate or government networks to probe for weaknesses. Evans wants his students to 'think like hackers,' which involves, among other principles, continual learning, efforts made to obscure their actions, and an eye towards automating as much as possible. Demand for such classes is increasing, but Evans claims his students are coming to him with fewer hacking skills than they had a few years ago. The number of exploitable flaws in software is increasing, and the number of malicious programs released is also increasing rapidly. Over 5.5 million pieces of 'malware' were released in 2007, five times the number in 2006. The tools of hackers are available for purchase online. Even customer support for hackers is available. Many companies underestimate the risks and their own vulnerability. Experts urge businesses to run the minimum amount of software required, use a firewall, and keep antivirus software up to date, and warn them against clicking on links or attachments in emails.
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