How We’re Bringing Hacks to Life with Comics

How do you portray a concept as technical as hacking, while still preserving accuracy? The answer: comics.

Thanks to mainstream media representations, cybersecurity – and even tech in general – is rife with misinformation. Ask a layman about hackers, and you’ll be greeted with preconceived notions and stereotypes.

Fuelled by stereotypes or not, misconceptions about cybersecurity and tech are damaging, especially on the brink of a technological revolution driven by AI. With uninformed views about hacking, people develop unfounded fears, and fall prey to scams and insecure behaviours. Compounding the issue, security professionals’ work often goes misunderstood, undermining their ability and motivation to protect.

One might think the solution is to simply provide more facts: hence PSAs, education campaigns and security awareness training are ubiquitous today. But rarely does mere information address misconceptions or relieve irrational fears. To combat a narrative requires a counter-narrative – and we’re doing our part with Hackers: Superheroes of the Digital Age.

*Hackers* is the world’s first hyper-realistic hacker comic. Read the first issue here.

Weaving hyper-realistic, real-life hacks in a story provides the essential context needed for readers to understand the art and science of hacking. Furthermore, by couching the work of hackers within a larger struggle between good and evil, the comic challenges stereotypes and inspires people to join the field.

We also found comics to be the most suitable medium because:

Comics can bring complex hacks to life, in a way which cybersecurity/programming textbooks can’t! The format allows even cybersecurity beginners to see how hacks actually work, and equips interested readers with the right vocabulary to further explore the realm of ethical hacking.

Comics can be printed. We believe in the power of print; physical comics provide readers with a tactile experience that cannot be replicated. And they make great gifts for people in the infosec community!
Comics are just plain fun. Remember the days you would rush to the comic store to buy an issue, and then spend hours diving into a colourful world of superheroes and villains? We want to evoke that feeling, and ensure that our readers have an exhilarating experience.

Breathing life into the hacks

Here’s how Issue #1 weaves three different hacks into a cohesive story, breathing life into each (mild spoilers ahead):

OSINT

Similar to an ethical hacker's initial reconnaissance, our protagonist embarks on his mission by employing OSINT (open-source intelligence) techniques to gather crucial information about the corrupt bankers he aims to expose.

By contextualizing OSINT in a realistic scenario, we not only demonstrate the concept, but also show Rama's thought process, mirroring the approach of actual Red Team professionals.

Social Engineering

Broadly, social engineering refers to the practice of exploiting human behaviours to deceive individuals into taking actions that may provide unauthorized access to sensitive information. In our story, Rama impersonates a guest to gain access to the hotel’s Wi-Fi network, which allows him to execute the next part of his plan.

Unlike conventional explanations of social engineering that treat it as a standalone concept, incorporating it into the above storyline not only brings it to life, but shows how different hacks synergize with each other — the information leaked by the hotel staff enables Rama to proceed with IP scanning.

Firmware hacking

In the case of firmware hacking, the visual aspect of comics shines — we were able to show the suspected debug ports and illustrate the hacking process in exact detail. In the above scene, Rama tampers with a smart TV, repurposing it as a surveillance tool to expose the corrupt bankers and their practices.

Bonus: Dissecting the Hacks Insert

We acknowledge that curious readers may want to dive deeper into the hacks featured in the story, so we included an insert behind the comic to explain the hacks in detail.

While this insert is not intended to replace formal textbooks or courses, it serves as a useful springboard for readers to embark on their own research journey, and dive deeper into the realm of ethical hacking.

Inspiring the next generation of ethical hackers

Our founder Vivek Ramachandran’s vision was to create a hyper-realistic hacker comic that accurately showcases and demystifies the art and science of hacking, while inspiring readers regardless of their cybersecurity experience.

By bringing hacks to life with comics, we hope to have delivered exactly that: an accessible way to understand hacks, wrapped in an enthralling story that shows how hacking can be used for good. As Rama would say, let the games begin!

If you want to support our mission, the best way is to share our comic and website with a friend. Let’s inspire the next generation of ethical hackers to fulfil their dharma!