Computer Hackers
...ommunity. Hackers may use any type of system to access this information depending on what they intend on doing in the system. There are many different types of hackers and reasons why hackers do what they do. There is the curious hacker, the thrill seeker, and the person who wants information about computers and their flaws, the power seeker, the vandal, the person who steals industrial information, secrets and/or intellectual property, the person who steals money, the person who performs industrial espionage, the terrorist, and the international spy. Whatever they’re reason might be they all serve as a threat to everybody. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they all intend harm but no one really knows for sure. Many different methods exist and 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 by doing it on their own system. Ways in which the hacker will break into the system include: 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 program 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. Hackers are often able to break into computers because of operating system or other built-in system defects. UNIX is the most hacked operating system to date. UNIX passwords are limited in size and are subject to repeated attack using a computer. This type of attack attempts to break-in using all possible combinations of characters until the correct password is entered. A more efficient method is to transmit the most common passwords first. Protection is very limited. 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 that 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...