In Latvia, there are plans to officially define the rules for the work of so-called 'white hackers' — cybersecurity specialists who help identify vulnerabilities in IT systems before they can be exploited by malicious actors. According to a survey conducted for the program '900 seconds' ([TV3](https://tv3.lv/zinas/aptaujas/vai-baltajiem-hakeriem-butu-jamekle-latvijas-it-sistemu-vajas-vietas/)), this idea is supported by the majority of the country's residents. 67% of respondents believe that such specialists should be involved in checking critical infrastructure facilities. Of these, 34% are convinced that this should be done mandatorily, while another 33% somewhat support this practice. Only 3% of survey participants opposed it. At the same time, 21% admitted that they do not know who 'white hackers' are at all, and another 9% found it difficult to answer. This concerns not cybercriminals, but specialists who, with the permission of system owners, seek weak points in security. Their task is to identify and eliminate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. It is precisely to ensure that such work is carried out within clearly defined legal frameworks that the Ministry of Defense has prepared amendments to the National Cybersecurity Law. If the changes are adopted, Latvia will have a legislative framework regulating the involvement of ethical hacking specialists in the protection of critical infrastructure facilities. In recent years, the importance of cybersecurity has significantly increased. Government institutions, energy, communications, transport, and other vital systems are increasingly becoming targets of cyberattacks, so identifying vulnerabilities before real incidents occur is seen as one way to enhance the level of protection. The amendments prepared by the Ministry of Defense are expected to be submitted for consideration to the Saeima in the near future.
