2 . A shadowy figure sits alone in a room, his face dimly lit by a computer screen. With a grin, he types in a series of computer commands, and in the blink of an eye, someone’s bank account is drained to zero.

In today’s digital age, cyberattacks like this happen thousands of times per day. Hackers can steal money, information, or completely take control of a machine from anywhere in the world. However, not all hackers are villains.

Some hackers, called white hat or ethical hackers, are individuals who make the most of their hacking skills to identify security vulnerabilities (漏洞) in hardware, software and networks. Their job is crucial in preventing cyberattacks and safeguarding sensitive information. The term “white hat” originated from old cowboy movies, where heroes wore white hats and villains wore black ones. Like the heroes in cowboy movies, white hats seek to stop the bad guys and save the day.

White hat hackers only seek vulnerabilities legally, often working on open-source software or with authorized access to systems. Once these weak spots are identified, companies or individuals can take steps to prevent serious breaches and losses. White hat hackers use a variety of different techniques to keep the internet safe. Penetration testing, for example, allows them to mimic cyberattacks and uncover system weaknesses. Security scanning tools allow white hats to identify holes in a network’s security systems. Simulating denial-of-service attacks (DoS attacks) helps companies prepare for attacks against their websites.

Many of the world’s top white hat hackers began their journeys on the wrong side of the law. A prime example is Kevin Mitnick. This notorious hacker once held the title of “most wanted hacker” in the U. S. due to his cybercriminal activities in 1995. However, after being arrested and spending five years in jail, his life took a remarkable turn. Mitnick decided to use his hacking skills for ethical purposes, eventually establishing his own cybersecurity consulting company.

If you aspire to be a white hat hacker, start by building a strong foundation in computer and network fundamentals. Good luck, computer cowboy!

The London Book Fair, one of the world’s     1     (large), kicked off on March, 12, 2024 with industry insiders calling for greater collaboration between Chinese and international publishers.     2     (speak) to Xinhua after the launch of the “China Perspective” Series, managing director for book publishing at Taylor & Francis Jeremy North said that people need books not only     3     (write) by Western scholars but also those coming directly from China.

“Our partnerships with our Chinese publishing partners are a wonderful example of how, whatever else is going on in the world, you can work together and do     4     (real) creative things,” North said. “There’s a large benefit because good publishing, good scholarship and good information help a lot of people.”

This year, around 50 Chinese publishers are showcasing more than 3,200     5     (type) of China-themed books at the event. These cover a wide range of areas including politics, culture, academic works, and trending topics such     6     low-carbon and artificial intelligence (AI). One third of these titles are foreign language editions.

Wang Xubin,     7     is president of Zhejiang Ancient Books Publishing House, told Xinhua that collaborations between publishers from different countries are crucial. During     8    event, the company launched a new book entitled “Masterpieces from Dunhuang in the British Museum’s Collection.” Wang said that international publishing cooperation not only facilitates academic research, but also     9     (improve) cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.

This year’s book fair     10     (expect) to attract over 30,000 publishing professionals and 1,000 companies from around the globe.