| I work from my home, the most peaceful | | | | programming capabilities; capable of writing their |
| workplace I can think of so far. As a Homemaker | | | | own software, they intentionally engage in |
| and part time Freelance Writer, I submit articles | | | | malicious acts such as defacing web pages, |
| and subscribe to various respectable writing | | | | spamming, credit card number theft, etc.;Old |
| newsletters and do endless research online. But | | | | Guard Hackers (OG): have no criminal intent in its |
| before signing up, I read privacy policies, some | | | | real sense but display an alarming disrespect for |
| brief while others boringly lengthy.I am just one | | | | personal property with great interest in intellectual |
| among millions of unknown but honest Internet | | | | endeavo;.Professional Criminals (PC) and Cyber |
| users. Why, to my mind, would I worry so much | | | | Terrorists (CT): most dangerous; They are |
| about anyone in the Internet community making | | | | professional criminals and ex-intelligence operatives |
| me a target for nasty tricks or | | | | who are guns for hire. They specialize in |
| harassments?Nonetheless, I feel safe just | | | | corporate espionage, are extremely well trained |
| knowing that the websites that interest me run a | | | | and have access to state of the art |
| committed sense of policy on security.But when | | | | equipments;Further, Rogers pointed out that not |
| my computer screen started flashing as if gasping | | | | all Hackers are criminals. He has categorized them |
| for air and slowly died down months ago, I | | | | as follows: (Jeremy Quittner, Hacker Psych |
| blamed electric current fluctuations. But when my | | | | 101);Old School Hackers: akin to the 1960s style |
| files disappeared and my computer turned | | | | computer programmers from Stanford MIT for |
| alarmingly uncooperative, I referred the case to | | | | whom it is an honor to be a hacker; interested in |
| the expert, my husband.For the first time, I was | | | | analyzing systems with no criminal intent; they |
| hit by a computer virus.It was not as simple as | | | | believe the Internet was designed to be an open |
| unplugging the computer connection, sleeping on it | | | | system;Script Kiddies/ Cyber -Punks: wannabe |
| for a few days while a computer surgeon works | | | | hackers and crackers; use other Cracking |
| on the damage so everything could be good as | | | | programs carelessly with the intent to vandalize |
| new.I saw months of hard work on research, | | | | and corrupt systems; often caught red-handed |
| completed manuscripts stashed in my hard disk, | | | | because they brag their exploits online.Professional |
| long hours spent online, time, money, and effort | | | | Criminals: breaking into systems and selling |
| my spouse has invested in setting up the whole | | | | information Is their livelihood; they get hire for |
| system, all go down the drain and turn into | | | | espionage; often have ties with organized Criminal |
| nothingness.Going through the process of repair | | | | groups; not interested in disrupting systems but |
| and reconstruction is painfully tedious, time | | | | more on stealing intelligence data;The list of |
| consuming, and costly.I was angry. I took it as an | | | | motives is endless: boredom, illicit thrill, addiction, |
| attack on my person. The perpetrator has no | | | | blackmail or low self esteem, and a desperate |
| heart.A series of disturbing yet quite interesting | | | | need for recognition from the hacker peer group, |
| cyber intrusions that followed prodded me to | | | | all cowardly performed under the protection of |
| quench my curiosity and do a personal research | | | | anonymity."Underlying the psyche of criminal |
| on what inspires the behavior behind the waste of | | | | hackers may be a deep sense of inferiority. The |
| skill, time and resources involved in these | | | | mastery of the computer technology or the shut |
| damaging cyber pursuits and other elctronic petty | | | | down of a major site causing millions of dollars of |
| crimes that make life miserable for honest | | | | damage is real power trip." (J. Quittner, Hacker |
| internet users.CYBER OFFENDERSAnyone who | | | | Psych 101, Hackers: Computer Outlaws)Jarrold M. |
| enters your home without your consent is | | | | Post, a George Washington University Psychiatrist |
| committing an offense theoretically. Your | | | | says: It's (Hackers) a population that takes refuge |
| computer system is an extension of your | | | | in computers because of their problems sustaining |
| boundaries and must not be infringed. When | | | | real world relationships."The less information you |
| someone gains unauthorized access to your | | | | share in the Internet the better. But as computer |
| computer in any manner or utilizes the computer | | | | wizards, Hackers will always find ways to |
| technology in performing a felony, he/she | | | | reconstruct your identity even with very little |
| commits a cyber crime.The Hacker is always the | | | | details in their possession.However, there are |
| first person that comes to mind in relation to | | | | varied ways by which you, a legitimate Internet |
| cyberspace violations. After all, who else can be | | | | user can be protected. Know the warning signs |
| as knowledgeable and bold enough to break into | | | | and get educated on how to thwart any attempt |
| someone else's computer system?Hackers used | | | | to victimize you. Don't take the wired blows sitting |
| to have nobler objectives for their being. In the | | | | down."Constant awareness and updating of |
| earlier days of the Computer technology, they | | | | knowledge is the best defense to any attack," |
| were the computer experts/geniuses who tested | | | | wrote Shayne Gregg, CA (NZ), CISA, CMC, in 'A |
| computer systems, with the owners' consent, for | | | | Response to Recent Cyber Attacks.' (Information |
| loopholes and recommended better programs or | | | | Systems Audit & Control Association InfoBytes)I |
| fixed the errors themselves to frustrate any | | | | recommend The Complete Idiot's Guide to: |
| effort to exploit the defective system by more | | | | Protecting Yourself Online by Preston Gralla, |
| dangerous 'creatures.' They even had the | | | | Executive Editor, ZDNet. It is comprehensive, |
| Hackers' Code of Ethics.There are two types of | | | | easy to understand, and a must for every |
| Hackers: The Ethical Pros, the highly skilled | | | | Internet user's library.HACKERS, CYBERPUNKS, et |
| professionals who hire out their skills to | | | | alCyber Crime is not monopolized by hackers or |
| organizations concerned about their own | | | | crackers. The pedophile, thief or drug dealer in |
| network's safety. They represent Hackers of | | | | your community who hire computer experts to |
| earlier generation. The other type is the | | | | carry out their illegal activities online are as guilty |
| CyberRambos or plain crackers-despised by the | | | | and despicable.Just like the criminals roaming out in |
| Elite Hackers, Crackers crack/break systems for | | | | the real world, Cyber felons are a bunch of |
| superficial reasons. (UC San Diego Psycho. Dept.: | | | | psychologically imbalanced and misguided citizens |
| Computer & Network Resources)But by what | | | | who happen to have the dexterity to commit |
| many Hackers have become these days, it is | | | | electronic transgressions or hire a computer |
| difficult to ascribe their destructive behaviors to | | | | expert to do the job and will never get enough |
| nobility instead of outright violation.And by | | | | despite their Cyber Glory and 'conquests.'Still the |
| whatever name they are called, these cyber | | | | tendency to commit a crime lies hidden in |
| felons have become simply faceless and nameless | | | | wholesome images, while the unsuspecting is |
| 'hackers' to their victims.ON MOTIVESAn online | | | | often caught by surprise. What you don't see is |
| article by David Benton entitled: 'What's Inside a | | | | sometimes what you get.Hackers cannot be |
| Cracker?' from SANS (SysAdmin, Audit, Network, | | | | strictly stereotyped. Peter Shipley, Chief Security |
| Security) Information Security Reading Room, | | | | architect for the Big Five firm KPMG avers: "I |
| states seven psychological profiles of malicious | | | | know a lot of hackers, including one who spends |
| hackers as documented by Canadian Psychologist | | | | an hour and a half in the gym everyday. He is |
| Marc Rogers M.A., Graduate Studies, Dept. of | | | | built. I know of women who are knock-down |
| psychology, university of Manitoba and a former | | | | gorgeous who are hackers."No |
| Police Computer Crimes Investigator:Newbie/Tool | | | | ExceptionsWhenever high tech-crazed folks travel |
| Kit (NT): new to hacking, have limited computer | | | | through your wires to make your computer |
| programming proficiencies; rely on ready-made | | | | system malfunction, steal your identity or get paid |
| pieces of software (tool kits) that are readily | | | | to give you trouble, it's a sign that you do not |
| available in the Internet;Internals (IT): disgruntled | | | | take the needed precaution whenever you log |
| employees or ex-employees proficient in how the | | | | in.When I asked myself quietly back then "Why |
| company's internal systems work;Coders (CD) | | | | me?" I guess the reply would be "And why not?" |
| and Virus Writers: programmers who'd like to see | | | | As with most inventions, the Internet is being |
| themselves as elite; they write codes but not for | | | | abused and mishandled. And as always, a helpless |
| personal use. They have their own networks to | | | | victim completes the drama.Anyone can be a |
| experiment with "zoos." They leave to others to | | | | casualty at random regardless if one is honest, |
| introduce their codes into the "wild" or Internet. | | | | educated, high profile, residing at the far end of |
| (Hacker Psych 101 by Jeremy | | | | the globe or a Stay-at-Home- Mom working hard |
| Quittner);Cyber-Punks (CP): antisocial geeks, the | | | | and peacefully from her abode.Hackers won't care |
| most visible, socially inept, and burdened with | | | | how his/her prey will feel.But I am still hoping that |
| unresolved anger that they take into cyberspace; | | | | such an impressive brainwork will be put to good |
| they relate better to computers than humans and | | | | use by present day hackers, just how their |
| have better computer skills and some | | | | predecessors intended Hacking to be used. |