Hacker Essay, Research Paper

Computer Hacker The meaning of Hacker is one who accesses a computer which is

supposably not able to be accessed to non authorised people of the community. Hackers

may use any type of system to access this information depending on what they intend on

doing in the system. Methods Hackers may use a variety of ways to hack into a system.

First if the hacker is experienced and smart the hacker will use telnet to access a shell on

another machine so that the risk of getting caught is lower than doing it using their own

system. Ways in which the hacker will break into the system are: 1) Guess/cracking

passwords. This is where the hacker takes guesses at the password or has a crack

program to crack the password protecting the system. 2) Finding back doors is another

way in which the hacker may get access to the system. This is where the hacker tries to

find flaws in the system they are trying to enter. 3) One other way in which a hacker may

try to get into a system is by using a program called a WORM. This program is specially

programmed to suit the need of the user. This programme continually tries to connect to

a machine at over 100 times a second until eventually the system lets in and the worm

executes its program. The program could be anything from getting password files to

deleting files depending on what it has been programmed to do. Protection The only way

that you or a company can stop a Hacker is by not having your computer connected to

the net. This is the only sure fire way in which you can stop a hacker entering your

system. This is mainly because hackers use a phone line to access the system. If it is

possible for one person to access the system then it is possible for a hacker to gain

access to the system. One of the main problems is that major companies need to be

networked and accessible over the net so that employees can do overdue work or so

that people can look up things on that company. Also major companies network their

offices so that they can access data from different positions. One way which is used to

try to prevent hackers gaining access is a program used by companies called a Firewall.

A Firewall is a program which stops other connections from different servers to the

firewall server. This is very effective in stopping hackers entering the system. Tho this is

not a fool proof way of stopping hackers as it can be broken and hackers can get in. Tho

this is a very good way of protecting your system on the InterNet. Major Hacks Some of

the major hacks that have been committed have been done by young teens aged

between 14 and 18. These computer geniuses as they are known have expert knowledge

on what they are doing and also know the consequences. Tho the consequences do not

really enter there mind when they are doing it. This hack occurred on February 10,

1997, and again on February 14, 1997 Portuguese hackers launched a political attack

on the web page of the Indonesian government, focusing on that country’s continued

oppression of East Timor. The attack was online for about 3 hours from 7.00 PM to

10.00 PM (Portuguese Time) at the web site of the Department of Foreign Affairs,

Republic of Indonesia. The hackers did not delete or change anything. The said ?We just

hack pages?. Another major hack that occurred was on April 1 1981 by a single user.

This hacker who was situated in an east coast brokage house was interested in the stock

market. SO he purchased $100,000 worth of shares in the stock market. Then he

hacked into the stock markets main computers and stole $80 million dollars. The hacker

was eventually caught although $53 million dollars was not recovered. On Wednesday,

March 5 1997 The home page of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s

was recently hacked and the contents changed. The group known as H4G1S. This group

of hackers managed to change the contents of the webpage The hacking group changed

the webpage and left a little message for all. It said ? Gr33t1ngs fr0m th3 m3mb3rs 0f

H4G1S. Our mission is to continue where our colleagues the ILF left off. During the next

month, we the members of H4G1S, will be launching an attack on corporate America.

All who profit from the misuse of the InterNet will fall victim to our upcoming reign of

digital terrorism. Our privileged and highly skilled members will stop at nothing until our

presence is felt nationwide. Even your most sophisticated firewalls are useless. We will

demonstrate this in the upcoming weeks?. The homepage of the United States Air Force

was recently hacked and the contents had been changed. The webpage had been

changed completely as the hackers had inserted pornographic pictures saying ?this is

what we are doing to you? and had under the image ?screwing you?. The hackers have

changed it and shown their views on the political system. One other major hack which

was committed was by a 16 year old boy in Europe. This boy hacked into the British

Airforce and downloaded confidential information on Ballistic missiles. The boy hacked

into the site and down loaded this information because he was interested and wanted to

know more about them. This boy was fined a sum of money. In conclusion it can be said

that hackers are sophisticated and very talented when it comes to the use of a computer.

Hacking is a process of learning not following any manual. Hackers learn as they go and

use a method of trial and error. Most people who say they are hackers most of the time

are not. Real hackers do not delete or destroy any information on the system they hack.

Hackers hack because they love the thrill of getting into a system that is supposably

unable to be entered. Overall hackers are smart and cause little damage to the system

they enter. So hackers are not really terrorists in a way they help companies find out

flaws in their system.