Tech

How Can Good Hackers Beat Bad Hackers?

Published

5 years ago

February 11, 2021

Between 2019 and 2020, the number of successful cybersecurity attacks worldwide has almost doubled from roughly 2,100 to nearly 4,000 data breaches. This has occurred at the same time that the penetration testing (or “Pen Testing”) vertical within the cybersecurity industry has become a multi-billion-dollar market, projected to more than double in size between 2021-2025. With the number of cybercrime incidents rising and with so much at stake in securing our digital information, the question remains, how are successful attacks still rising?

Rapid Digitization Means More Personal Data is Available Online

Twenty years ago, it would have been relatively uncommon for a middle-class home to have more than one computer with internet access, whereas nowadays you would be hard-pressed to find one without an array of technology devices connected to various networks. Because virtually every piece of technology we use in our daily lives is now internet-connected, our personal data is being shared through an increasing number of devices. When those devices and the software and data stored on them is not properly secured, it further adds to the problem of growing cyberattacks.

If a software company hires a cybersecurity consultant to perform Pen Testing services on a new application the company has developed, it may take 2-3 weeks just to get the paperwork in order to conduct the testing, leaving potential vulnerabilities in the software’s data untested and exposed. At the same time, cybersecurity consultants who use scattered software toolkits in their Pen Testing, coupled with human-centric Pen Testing policies, can cost these companies more resources (time and money) in the long run.

Rapid Technological Evolution

Another symptom of rising rates of malicious cyberattacks is the reality that security professionals struggle to match the speed at which our technology, and the data we store in it, evolves. Before IT security professionals can properly secure a new technology that has already been delivered to commercial markets, another newer technology is ready to launch, perpetuating the problem.

Since the onset of COVID-19 last year, more people are using technology to work remotely, adding new challenges for cybersecurity professionals to keep the organizations and people they work with secure. Normally, companies would hire cybersecurity professionals to test their data security, as well as identify, assess, and fill in the gaps found in those defenses. However, the gap between the supply and demand of certified cybersecurity professionals is increasing and there are currently not enough professionals in the industry to perform the amount of testing needed at scale right now.

Beating the Hackers with AI-Backed Pen Testing

The problem of malicious cybersecurity attacks is not linked to a lack of investment in cybersecurity products and services. Rather, the problem arises when these investments are not performing as intended. Every major company and software platform needs cybersecurity testing and we must increase the amount of Pen Testing from certified Pen Testers to help reduce the success of malicious cyber-attacks.

One option is crowdsourcing, where companies bring in a broad amount of hacker expertise from all around the world and test their cybersecurity defense systems. One caution is that this often causes companies to lose control over the process of which defenses are being tested, the methods used in testing, and the frequency of those tests, leaving their data vulnerable to attack.

A second option, one many cybersecurity professionals agree as to the more plausible and advisable one, is to use technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) in order to generate algorithms from the process that your Pen Testers perform, allowing for human hackers and AI to complement each other to perform more testing in less time for less cost.

Using this method, companies can secure Pen Testing within 24 hours, rather than waiting 2-3 weeks to file the paperwork traditionally associated with the process. Within 5-6 days, the results are sent to the company’s software developers with recommendations on how to fix any potential threats that were identified. This process makes the entire testing process much easier, faster, more accurate, and more cost-effective for the client. It also allows software development companies to develop at a more rapid pace without sacrificing security, providing additional value to product end-users.

The endgame of cybersecurity professionals is to have a more secure society, but the only way we can achieve this is by including solutions such as AI-backed Pen Testing, allowing security professionals to conduct more tests, more often, in order to generate more accurate results and identify issues that can be fixed proactively, rather than reactively. In using AI-backed Pen Testing processes, companies can ensure that their business’ and their clients’ data are fully protected and remain secure.

Seemant Sehgal is the Founder & CEO of BreachLock Inc. – the world’s first AI-powered full stack and SaaS-enabled Penetration Testing as a Service. Since 2019 BreachLock has quickly emerged as a market disrupter in the traditionally human dependent Penetration Testing market.

Tech

Future Unfolding: Your Guide to the Hottest Upcoming Solana Projects

Published

1 month ago

July 19, 2025

Jonathan Grilli

If you’ve been peeking into the world of blockchain lately, you’ve probably heard whispers about some exciting upcoming Solana projects. And no, this isn’t just the usual crypto chatter. Solana’s unique combination of speed, scalability, and low fees has been turning heads in all the right ways. Now, a fresh wave of developers is flocking to the ecosystem—and what they’re building could shake up the whole game.

Whether you’re a casual investor, a tech-savvy early adopter, or just crypto-curious, knowing what’s around the corner can give you a serious edge. So grab a coffee, pull up a chair, and let’s take a closer look at where Solana is headed—and which projects might just become the next big thing.

Why Solana, and Why Now?

Let’s face it: not all chains are created equal. While Ethereum paved the way, and Bitcoin proved the concept, Solana showed up to prove that blockchains could be fast—really fast—without costing an arm and a leg to use. With transaction speeds clocking in at 65,000 per second (yep, you read that right) and fees that cost less than a penny, it’s no wonder developers are pouring in.

More importantly, Solana’s infrastructure opens up real creative freedom. Think dynamic NFTs, high-performance games, instant DeFi transactions, and next-gen social platforms. It’s like going from dial-up to fiber optic. And when does that kind of power meet an ambitious dev community? Sparks fly.

The Landscape: What’s Already Built

Before we dive into what’s coming, let’s talk briefly about what’s already here. Solana is no stranger to heavy hitters. Projects like:

Phantom (one of the smoothest crypto wallets out there)
Magic Eden (a major NFT marketplace)
Serum (a decentralized exchange engine)

…have already helped solidify Solana as a serious player in the Web3 world. But even more exciting is what hasn’t launched yet—the next wave of innovation that’s currently under wraps, in beta, or being whispered about in dev channels and alpha groups.

Categories to Watch

Let’s break this down a bit. These upcoming projects aren’t just NFTs or DeFi. They span several categories, and each one is pushing boundaries in its own way.

1. Gaming on Solana

Blockchain gaming is no joke anymore. We’re talking full-blown metaverses, player-owned economies, and real-time experiences that don’t feel like retro arcade games.

Projects like Aurory and Star Atlas are leading the charge, but newer games like Eizper Chain and Synergy Land are gaining steam. They aim to blend AAA-style graphics with actual on-chain mechanics, where players earn, trade, and even govern the game’s economy. Imagine a gaming world where your loot actually means something.

2. Next-Gen DeFi Platforms

Solana’s speed is a dream for decentralized finance. It eliminates lag and lowers gas costs, making it more attractive for traders and builders alike.

Keep your eye on platforms like Zeta Markets (for options trading), Mango Markets V4 (the next iteration of Solana’s leveraged trading platform), and Drift Protocol, which is all about smart margin trading. These platforms are redesigning financial systems—not just copying them.

3. Social and Creator Economies

You know how creators are always looking for ways to monetize without getting gouged by middlemen? Solana’s low-fee, high-throughput nature makes it perfect for social and creator platforms.

Projects like Grape Protocol, Only1, and Dialect are cooking up decentralized alternatives to Instagram, Patreon, and WhatsApp. Instead of centralized platforms owning your audience, you do. Finally, some freedom in the feed.

4. Infrastructure and Tools

Not every exciting project is consumer-facing. Some of the most powerful tools are being built quietly in the background.

Look out for GenesysGo, Helius, and SolanaFM—they’re building things like RPC networks, data explorers, and indexing solutions that help the entire ecosystem run smoother. It’s like paving roads before the cars show up.

How to Spot a Winner

Okay, so you’re excited. But how do you separate future stars from vaporware?

Check the Team

Do they have experience? Are they doxxed? Are they shipping updates consistently? A solid team isn’t shy about transparency.

Look at the Community

Great projects build great tribes. Join their Discord. Scroll through their Twitter. Are people engaged, or is it just hype?

Watch for Utility

Does this project solve an actual problem or improve something that already exists? If it’s just a reskinned NFT mint or copy-paste DeFi fork, maybe move along.

Follow the Builders

Founders often share sneak peeks, updates, and philosophies that give you insight into where a project is heading. Social platforms like X, Farcaster, and even dev blogs can be surprisingly revealing.

How to Stay in the Loop

Alpha doesn’t wait for newsletters. If you want to stay ahead, plug into:

Solana Hacker Houses and hackathons (they often preview upcoming talent)
Podcasts like Solana Breakpoint or Lightspeed
Research-focused Discord servers and Telegram groups
GitHub activity and dev toolkits

This stuff moves fast, but not without leaving clues. Pay attention to who’s building, not just who’s trending.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Chase, Anticipate

When everyone talked about it, the train had probably left the station. The trick with upcoming Solana projects is to think like a scout, not a fan. You want to spot the early signals, the creative builders, and the untapped problems being solved in clever ways.

Solana’s ecosystem isn’t just expanding—it’s evolving. As more serious capital, creators, and developers enter the space, the opportunities multiply. Stay sharp, do your homework, and remember: the best projects often start quietly.

In a world full of copycats, bet on the originals. That’s where tomorrow’s magic lives.