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