![Perrin 2
Hackers do not need a direct hook to the source of information to steal it. They can break into the
systems through nearly any means (phone lines, Internet, etc). The technological advances of the
modern era have created the developing downfall of mass communication. Similarly Dr. Mizrach
stated, “Don't leave a trail or trace of [hacker’s] presence; don't call attention to [hacker] or
[hacking] exploits.” For instance, Hackers use tricks, viruses, and other techniques to break
through security systems. These tricks often disguise themselves as “working” programs, but
slowly steal information from the victim. Hackers cover their “tracks” through the use of viruses
which often cause havoc on the victim’s computer. Often the viruses create more back doors for
the hacker to return through later. Although the overall definition of hacking is diverse, the
specific problems with hacking are a more dominant matter.
The hacking epidemic can be linked through several key problems caused by
hackers. Unfortunately, hackers, independent or military, are capable of attacking strong
government servers if given time to test the system (Yam). Hackers can and have crippled entire
government -run installations. A prime example is the series of attacks on the Pentagon and
Lockheed Martin which resulted in stolen military data (“Report: Stolen”). Hackers are not
reckless, and they probe entire systems for weaknesses. These probes take weeks, or even years,
to successfully accomplish. Many of these weaknesses are not realized by the installations and
can cause severe damage to the facility. Another issue is that hackers create viruses, as stated by
Dr. Mizrach: “These are people who write code which attempts to a) reproduce itself on other
systems without authorization and b) often has a side effect, whether that be to display a
message, play a prank, or trash a hard drive.” These viruses create havoc, which allows the
hackers to easily breach security. Some examples are Trojan (which leaves back doors open),
Botnet (which allows for hacker control), and false programs or advertisements (Mizrach).](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/roughdraft-bibliographyincluded-120410130107-phpapp01/85/Research-Paper-Hacker-Plague-2-320.jpg)
![Perrin 4
deficit being a lack of ability to counter hacks. Governments are steadily increasing in their
activities revolving around the cyber war. Many governments have hired hackers as soldiers to
counter and attack other governments. Through this method, hackers are controlled by the
government and are focused on national enemies instead of civilians. Although a hacker has
been removed from a system, the operating system can still be infected. Computers need to be
reformatted, and the operating system reinstalled to prevent the hacker from reentering the
system (“Crucial Paradigm”). The computer can never return to a safe status once it has been
hacked. By reinstalling the system, the computer is given a clean slate against hackers. Hackers
can return to the computer like a common cold if actions are not made to prevent the attacks
again. Users have to re-secure the computer after an attack, and then reformat the computer to
make it stronger against hackers. Hackers are an incurable disease, and the future of hacking is
morbidly ill.
The outlook of preventing the hacking epidemic is not encouraging and without
any traces of a simple end. For example, the Conficker virus is a rapidly spreading virus that has
already infected nearly 30 percent of the computers internationally (“China Issues”). This virus
spreads across the Internet, and it is capable of hiding itself in multiple places across a computer.
It is just one example of how many computers can be affected by one hacker-made virus. The
Conficker virus is not a simple Trojan, but a combination of the strongest malware in the
Internet. It uses this combination to move quickly into thousands of computers every day and
across 200 countries total. As reported by Robert Lemos, “...but [hacker’s tools] can also be used
to secure them.” Hackers will always be around, so long as technology advances. Although
hackers can not be defeated, their tools can be reverse engineered to provide methods to counter
hackers. Yet, hackers are able to counter every attempt made to stop them through their own](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/roughdraft-bibliographyincluded-120410130107-phpapp01/85/Research-Paper-Hacker-Plague-4-320.jpg)
Research Paper - Hacker Plague
- 1. Perrin 1 Luke Perrin Mrs. Lester Advance Composition 11 October 2011 Hacking Plague More than 30 percent of computers are infected by hacker-made viruses (“China Issues”). Hackers are an international threat that breach computers to gain information, to harm others, to make a profit, or to cripple a system. Hackers steal anything that might give them what they specifically want. This threat has increased to the severity that hacking threatens corporations and governments. Unfortunately, the hacking epidemic is rapidly spreading, but in order to counter hacking, one must examine and pinpoint the problems, while analyzing the solutions and outlook. In order to counter hacking, one must have an understanding of what hacking is. As discussed by Dr. Mizrach, “Hackers are just like people, and hold their own beliefs and ethics.” Many people think of hackers under the stereotype of the overweight, hygienically challenged, antisocial being. However, hackers have evolved into the polar opposite appearance and blend in with normal people. Hackers have rules, regulations, and laws that they follow. Each set is similar to many organizations. Unlike past efforts, hackers do not have to be at their target to hack it; rather, they can be anywhere in the world, as long as they have their computers (“Cyber Tension”). Hackers are not stationary anymore, but work from laptops and other mobile computers. Modern technology has allowed many hackers the ability to work from a laptop in nearly any location. The world communication has created the downfall of secure, computerized information through the use of the Internet, networks, satellites, and other modern innovations.
- 2. Perrin 2 Hackers do not need a direct hook to the source of information to steal it. They can break into the systems through nearly any means (phone lines, Internet, etc). The technological advances of the modern era have created the developing downfall of mass communication. Similarly Dr. Mizrach stated, “Don't leave a trail or trace of [hacker’s] presence; don't call attention to [hacker] or [hacking] exploits.” For instance, Hackers use tricks, viruses, and other techniques to break through security systems. These tricks often disguise themselves as “working” programs, but slowly steal information from the victim. Hackers cover their “tracks” through the use of viruses which often cause havoc on the victim’s computer. Often the viruses create more back doors for the hacker to return through later. Although the overall definition of hacking is diverse, the specific problems with hacking are a more dominant matter. The hacking epidemic can be linked through several key problems caused by hackers. Unfortunately, hackers, independent or military, are capable of attacking strong government servers if given time to test the system (Yam). Hackers can and have crippled entire government -run installations. A prime example is the series of attacks on the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin which resulted in stolen military data (“Report: Stolen”). Hackers are not reckless, and they probe entire systems for weaknesses. These probes take weeks, or even years, to successfully accomplish. Many of these weaknesses are not realized by the installations and can cause severe damage to the facility. Another issue is that hackers create viruses, as stated by Dr. Mizrach: “These are people who write code which attempts to a) reproduce itself on other systems without authorization and b) often has a side effect, whether that be to display a message, play a prank, or trash a hard drive.” These viruses create havoc, which allows the hackers to easily breach security. Some examples are Trojan (which leaves back doors open), Botnet (which allows for hacker control), and false programs or advertisements (Mizrach).
- 3. Perrin 3 Viruses also weaken the computers, and, if handled poorly, cripple entire networks. Hackers craft viruses to make their breaches easier, while allowing for a clean escape. Another problem comes from organized groups of hackers, like Anonymous or LolzSec (Saporito). Hackers, as individuals, are a dangerous threat to any computer; however, an organized group of hackers is a potentially fatal threat to entire networks. These groups are usually professional hackers and know exactly where to find weaknesses in firewalls or security in computers. These attacks have crippled military, government, civilian infrastructure, and even home entertainment. These hackers are capable of breaching all levels of security, and only a few experts can accurately counter these attacks. Hackers are a threat to all levels of technological use, unfortunately there is no permanent solution. Although there are not any permanent solutions, there are several methods of preventions to hacking. Unknown to most, the tools created by hackers to break into systems can also be used in a reverse method. The tools can be used to find security holes, back doors, and other areas of weakness (Lemos). The very tools used by hackers can provide an antidote to hacking. These tools allow companies or governments to improve their own defenses. However, this temporary solution requires companies to work hand in hand with those that would cause harm to their systems. Yet, not all hackers conduct illegal activities. Many work as Information Technology specialists, or white caps, and help prevent hackers from breaking into the systems. Currently, the focus is not just on traditional warfare, but on a larger cyber war. Hackers across the world are involved in the attacks on different countries. Primarily, the United States and China appear to be the forefront of the war (Yam). The United States and China can and do hack each other. Their attacks steal everything from blueprints to meaningless emails. On the contrary, the real issue here is the lack of funding governments put into IT, and the results of this
- 4. Perrin 4 deficit being a lack of ability to counter hacks. Governments are steadily increasing in their activities revolving around the cyber war. Many governments have hired hackers as soldiers to counter and attack other governments. Through this method, hackers are controlled by the government and are focused on national enemies instead of civilians. Although a hacker has been removed from a system, the operating system can still be infected. Computers need to be reformatted, and the operating system reinstalled to prevent the hacker from reentering the system (“Crucial Paradigm”). The computer can never return to a safe status once it has been hacked. By reinstalling the system, the computer is given a clean slate against hackers. Hackers can return to the computer like a common cold if actions are not made to prevent the attacks again. Users have to re-secure the computer after an attack, and then reformat the computer to make it stronger against hackers. Hackers are an incurable disease, and the future of hacking is morbidly ill. The outlook of preventing the hacking epidemic is not encouraging and without any traces of a simple end. For example, the Conficker virus is a rapidly spreading virus that has already infected nearly 30 percent of the computers internationally (“China Issues”). This virus spreads across the Internet, and it is capable of hiding itself in multiple places across a computer. It is just one example of how many computers can be affected by one hacker-made virus. The Conficker virus is not a simple Trojan, but a combination of the strongest malware in the Internet. It uses this combination to move quickly into thousands of computers every day and across 200 countries total. As reported by Robert Lemos, “...but [hacker’s tools] can also be used to secure them.” Hackers will always be around, so long as technology advances. Although hackers can not be defeated, their tools can be reverse engineered to provide methods to counter hackers. Yet, hackers are able to counter every attempt made to stop them through their own
- 5. Perrin 5 programming abilities. This programming war is impossible to win, since there is no end to the increasing number of hackers. As stated earlier, hackers across the world are involved in the attacks on different countries. Hackers are a fast rising threat to governments, yet few take the initiative to combat it. Governments can barely counter attacks, and they have decreasing budgets to improve these defenses. The rise in cyber warfare is shifting the way spying,1 or espionage, is conducted. Now hackers are capable of stealing from facilities in all branches of the government, and they face little repercussions for it. The government’s focus is on physical warfare when the real threat comes from a cyber-based enemy. The outlook for hacking is a tragedy in the making, and without any signs of a permanent end. In spite of hacking, future generations need to go into computer programming because the world demands people with the ability to program. Although hackers will never go away, this issue should not deter any individual from this field. Computers are used in nearly every field of work, and in order to get an edge on other workers, people need to have the ability to work fluently with a computer. The future of many jobs will be in computer technology, and the job fields will only increase from this change. Society changes with the flow of technology, which is constantly evolving into more sophisticated ideas. Programmers will be at the forefront of these changes and will provide the backbone of future ideas. Yet, Programmers will also be the wall standing between hackers and the rest of the world. Programmers are the antibody to the hacking disease, and the only applicable means of stopping hackers. Technology will always advance so long as there are new ideas or inventions. Programmers provide the blood of these innovations, and the ability to code will be essential. Programming is just like many fields, and shares the same risk as any other job; however, the rewards from programming are sufficiently better.
- 6. Perrin 6 Works Cited “China Issues Legal Interpretation to Tighten Grip on Hacking.” Xinhua. N.p., 29 Aug. 2011. Web. 10 Sept. 2011. <http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-08/29/ c_131082389.htm>. “Hacking Attacks - Prevention.” Crucial Paradigm. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2011. <http:// www.crucialp.com/resources/tutorials/website-web-page-site-optimization/hacking- attacks-prevention.php>. Lemos, Robert. “Shades of gray at security conference.” CNET News. N.p., 2 May 2002. Web. 11 Sept. 2011. <http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-897596.html?tag=txt>. Mick, Jason. “Cyber Tension Flare Amoungst U.S., Chinese Military.” Daily Tech. N.p., 12 Mar. 2008. Web. 8 Sept. 2011. <http://www.dailytech.com/ Cyber+Tensions+Flare+Amongst+US+Chinese+Military/article11045.htm>. Mick, Jason.“Reports: Hackers Use Stolen RSA Information to Hack Lockheed Martin.” Daily Tech. N.p., 30 May 2011. Web. 6 Sept. 2011. <http://www.dailytech.com/ Reports+Hackers+Use+Stolen+RSA+Information+to+Hack+Lockheed+Martin/ article21757.htm>. Mizrach, Steven. “Is there a Hacker Ethic for 90s Hackers?” Old and New Hacker Ethics. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2011. <http://www2.fiu.edu/~mizrachs/hackethic.html>. Saporito, Bill. “Hack Attack.” Time 4 July 2011: n. pag. Academic Search Complete. Web. 9 Sept. 2011. <http://proxygsu-sche.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/ login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=61963642&site=ehost-live>. Yam, Marcus. “Chinese Military Suspected of Hack on Pentagon.” Daily Tech.
- 7. Perrin 7 N.p., 4 Sept. 2007. Web. 9 Sept. 2011. <http://www.dailytech.com/ Chinese+Military+Suspected+of+Hack+on+Pentagon/article8717.htm>.