Essay/Term paper: Computer hackers

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Technology

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.