How I Rob Banks

Chapter 68Let's Play Doctors

Almost everyone wanted to be a doctor when they were a kid. (Or maybe you wanted to be a firefighter or an astronaut.) Very few people pursue this dream when faced with the truly monumental tasks it entails.

To be honest, I never wanted to be a doctor or a fireman. Nor an astronaut, now that I think about it. But with hard work and dedication to my job, I can fulfill other people's dreams.

My passion has been and will remain computers and security, but that's not to say I haven't had the chance to play other roles more than a few times.

As you know, when I am not legally hacking into companies' computers to help improve their cybersecurity, part of my work is infiltrating buildings and helping clients with physical security. Often the two areas of digital and physical security cross over into a more holistic approach to security. It is often possible to gain access physically to a restricted space and then implant or infiltrate computer systems to either extract classified materials or perform some other action the client is worried about attackers carrying out.

Most of our clients are normal, everyday companies—some of you may even work for a company in this book. Our clients come from all sectors and industries. Hospitals, however, are rarely tested. The main reason is that they generally do not have the budget. We were happy to help the UK's NHS system with some of its cybersecurity during the COVID crisis as a piece of pro bono work, but in ...