Hackers Essay, Research Paper

The meaning of a hacker is one who accesses a computer that can supposably not

be accessed to non authorized 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 programmer 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.

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 that stops other connections from different servers to the

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

Although this is not a fool proof way of stopping hackers as it can be broken

and hackers can get in. This is a very good way of protecting your system on the

Internet. 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.

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 1st, 1981 by a single user. This

hacker who was situated in an East Coast brokage house was interested in the

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

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

hacker was eventually caught although $53 million dollars were never recovered.

On Wednesday, March 5th, 1997, the home page of the National Aeronautics and

Space Administration’s or NASA 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?. Also, 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 that 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 very hefty sum of money for his

deeds. 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 that 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. Hackers are not really terrorists in a way,

they can help companies find out flaws in their system and maybe protect them

from people that would damage their systems.