For decades since the creation of operating systems, the problem of protecting personal data has not been addressed, but today it is one of the most pressing issues in the Internet space. From the moment the Internet has firmly entered our way of life, it has become an instant means of exchanging messages, filling out reports, paying bills, it is very important to keep confidential information.
They began to turn their attention to this problem several years ago after the incident with an American bank, which lost about 500 thousand dollars from its account in a matter of minutes. The bank administration immediately turned to specialized analytical computer centers for help, which began to search for problems that arose in the system’s protection system from unauthorized access from outside. Of course, hackers were to blame for this business, they hacked the system and stole the money. Of course, the crime was later uncovered.
Today, almost everyone knows how to spell the word "hacker." This concept has entered modern life, but so far not everyone understands it completely. So who are these people and what does the word hacker mean? Let's try to figure out the details.
general information
So what kind of people are these - hackers? The word "hacker" has a fairly wide layer of meanings. All of them are close in meaning. How is the word "hacker" translated? It is believed that this concept stems from the English language to hack - literally translated as "chopping", that is, to understand. This term applies specifically to the computer sphere, you can see completely different expressions with this term: hack in computer games, hack in computer settings, hack in the functioning of software.
Interpretation of the meaning of the word
So, there are several meanings of the term in question. In the understanding that a hacker is a person who is well versed in computer software, of course, we will not stop. There are, after all, other interpretations. Let us consider in more detail the history of the word "hacker" and the meaning of this term.
At the lowest level, we can distinguish hackers who are just doing it - “hack”. Such a hacker is a person who breaks into various Internet resources, making them public to everyone. Thanks to the activities of such individuals, an ordinary Internet user will receive torrent links, cracking new video games, free keys for licensed software components. As a rule, such hackers carry out hacks for their own benefit, that is, for amateur interest, self-development in this area, in order to show themselves as a specialist, to show off in front of the public. In the latter case, special hacks appear on the Internet, signed by hackers like hack Mr.N. As a rule, a person is not at this level for long. Either he develops and turns this fun into work on really complex projects, or he gives up at various barriers in the work process.
When is hacking no longer fun?
The sentence with the word "hacker" is not clear to everyone. But those who know how serious this activity is may well be aware that sooner or later such activity ceases to be just entertainment. Hackers are both experts who help companies or individuals protect commercial / personal information, and criminals.
The next level is occupied by master hackers in the security of computer information. The interpretation of the word "hacker" in this case is as follows: this is a specialist who is engaged in a dense study of the Internet space, looking for various schemes and ways to circumvent resource restrictions. And finding such, he is trying to develop his own concept of protecting such a software hole. A similar meaning of the word "hacker" is very often equated to a system administrator or system administrator. At this stage, the hacker no longer cares whether he will be adored on the Internet, he is not particularly willing to show himself on the Web and is analyzing the space because of a simple personal interest.
Hacking is a way of being
The following lexical meaning of the word "hacker" is a person who is interested and interested in work in the field of information security. He already fully understands how the Internet network works, understands various methods of manipulating this space, and creates various technological tools and program scripts for any goals he needs. As a rule, at this stage, the person returns again to express themselves on the Web. But not for popularity and attention. The goals here are completely different, a person now wants to find a real working base for his knowledge, that is, he needs customers.
What features are inherent in the work of a hacker?
Let us dwell on the interpretation that a hacker is a computer cracker with the highest level of skills that can crack the protection of an information system. The following personality characteristics are characteristic of a hacker:
- A person must be highly erudite, quickly understand the daily new technological and software innovations, and immediately develop methods for administering new components.
- Patience and the desire to find as much information as possible. Before direct work, the hacker conducts a preliminary analysis of the system. From all kinds of registries, closed and open sources, he is looking for information about the resource.
- Tricks and all for the sake of achieving goals. Sometimes, in order to get reliable information, one has to arm himself with illegal means, such as listening to a client, connecting to his website or even a laptop’s webcam.
Timeliness is the main principle of a hacker
As a rule, preparation for hacking and gathering information takes a lot of time, unlike the work itself. Hacking is carried out in just a few minutes, so that the system could not have time to detect foreign elements in its base. The hacker chooses the simplest methods of hacking, as sophisticated methods can lead to unforeseen errors.
Web Anonymity
A hacker acts under a false name, a VPN address, carefully hides his data in the Network database. He thinks through various methods, thanks to which you can quickly exit the system, leaving false traces. It is also necessary to carry out deliberately false system attacks before a decisive hack. This is done in order to distract system workers and analyze their level of competence in this area. A hacker is also characterized by a high level of programming. For hacking, only your own programs and scripts are used. Very often scripts are used that are automatically destroyed after the operation.
How long does hacker training take?
There is no single answer to this question. There are a number of factors. For example, what does the word "hacker" mean to you? If you imagine a hacker as a craftsman of the first level described above, then here you can not study at all. Similar "hacker" programs and scripts are available in the public domain. All that remains for a person is to click on a couple of buttons. Of course, everyone starts from this level, and if you are interested in this topic, then you will try to create your own individual hacking programs. This characteristic teaching of hacker art is already advocated.
What is a hack?
Hacking systems is considered a difficult process and in the literal sense means actions that are aimed at eliminating the restrictions when accessing a specific database or certain resources. How does this hacking happen in practice? There are various methods and methods of hacking resources:
- Analysis of the source that needs to be hacked, search for vulnerabilities in its system. Of course, systems are also developed by living people who are trying to do everything so that there are no failures in this system. Nothing is perfect - it is this principle that hackers adhere to. Carefully examining the system, they are waiting for its failure - bugs that are used to crack system data. In this case, the hacker needs to quickly realize his idea due to a system failure, and administrators need to quickly eliminate the hitch. Administrators should as soon as possible make a new version of their product with new product features. There are certainly many difficulties in this method: perfect programming knowledge, system knowledge, product analytics, selection of program code, and incredible patience are required.
- Bruteforce is a bust. This method is based on the principle of search to find the right key to access the program. There are difficulties here: there can be a thousand options for keys, suitable computer software for code collection, throughput scripts to the system, restrictions from one ip-address.
- The psychological method is considered rather ambiguous, because the interaction occurs directly with the person. Hacking in this case is aimed specifically at the person. You need to enter into trust and find out all the data necessary for work. The most famous cracker in this area is Kevin Mitnik.
Theft of code data
In the psychological method for stealing a password, a direct influence is made on a person, an attempt to bring him through a system of false arguments to personal information. But what other methods do hackers use to gain access to personal or corporate information:
- analysis of information stored in the system;
- viewing entered passwords through the administration system;
- external media with saved passwords;
- sometimes even viewing personal notes and diaries, where there may be relevant and necessary information.
There is also a technique for password selection through special programs. A hacker can organize the viewing of files stored on the computer’s hard drive. A thorough analysis will show which files in the directories and storage of the hard drive contain errors. Based on the errors already found, hacking will be carried out, an attempt to seize the administrative parameters of the computer. In order not to be visible in the system, the hacker uses the principle of anonymity and the quick removal of his presence in the system registry.
User basket analysis
Very often, a computer user believes that deleting a file and then emptying the recycle bin completely remove unnecessary materials from the computer’s operating system. However, it is precisely on such ignorance that a hacker catches the user who loves to mess around with such a garbage heap. As a rule, among such information unnecessary and forgotten by the user, there is a lot of useful information.
Why do people do this?
To date, this specialty has become very popular among the younger generation. The reason for this was the widespread distribution of specialized literature, special courses, video notes and even blogs of potential hackers who are willing to share superficial information with people.
As a rule, curiosity, a hobby, a habit always turn into a favorite thing that can feed in life. This happens in this case. Recognized hackers find their way of life. And what it will be, is already completely dependent on the personal qualities of a person. Someone is trying to make money by breaking computer systems of private individuals and organizations, contrary to moral rules, and always balancing on the fine line of the law. Others try to organize a much more legitimate life, analyze a certain organization, find their flaws in it, break into this system and offer their candidacy in the framework of protecting the information data of this organization.
Is an ordinary user afraid of a hacker attack?
It is not necessary to assume that crackers need only large companies. Every day more and more cases happen when hackers storm the unprepared (or weakly protected) for the invasion stationary users' computers connected to the web. The attack can also come from the inside - from a spyware program that infiltrates along with the file downloaded from the Web.
Hacker division
Based on the beliefs of a person, the desire to make a profit, there are various meanings of the word "hacker" within a given culture.
At the first, described above level, white hat are guided - hackers who set their goals as heroic help to other people. They hack into various paid programs to provide people with free access, develop bot programs, cheat configurations for the gaming industry, consisting in a special code that gives an advantage in the gaming environment. Actually, these people have their share of income on such actions.
There is a category of so-called blach hat. Literally, this term can be translated as a villain. These are those hackers who do not carry out their activities for the people, but in order to inform the people. She hack and change the structure of organizations, groups, sites, adding their own slogans. Hack street banners to write your message on them. In everyday life, these hackers are called crackers.
The main principle of their cyberattacks is Dudos, changing the appearance of the resource, including obscene notes in large print in crowded places, hacking the user's personal information with the use of the following for obscure purposes, zombie users' computers for use as a botnet for mass data distribution. Units of hackers aim to completely ruin the initial resource in order to master the fundamental component of the design of the project. And there can no longer be any other words, professional crackers cannot be called criminals.
There is also a group of hackers such as phreakers. Their main specialization is hacking telephone networks. Why is this done? For the most part, the ultimate goal is to be able to make a free phone call from absolutely anywhere in the world.
Famous Russian hackers
One of the most famous Russian hackers is considered Igor Klopov. He was the head of his own hacker organization, which included graduates of the Department of Economics of Moscow State University. Hackers broke into not one famous person. A group of 5 people was able to rob many famous Western millionaires. We searched for potential customers very simply, focusing on the world famous Forbes magazine.
However, the US law enforcement authorities noticed this group and themselves brought Klopov to a prosperous client in the United States. As it always happens: a man was ruined by his greed. The Russian hacker was timely discovered and caught in New York, where he was convicted in 2008.
Vladimir Levin is a Russian hacker who managed to crack Citibank and withdraw $ 13 million from his account. The crime, of course, was uncovered. All money is returned to the bank account. The convict was also detained in the United States, as Russian legislation did not contain articles corresponding to the cyber threat.
Thus, the goal of an attacker is, having studied the existing security of the organizational system, to develop the necessary requirements and conditions for increasing its level of security. On the other hand, the main goal of the cracker is to specifically hack the system in order to obtain uncoordinated access to other people's personal information.