 |
||
Internet Safety |
||
| Home Basics E-mail Chat Searching Filtering Tracking Privacy Downloading Hacking Resources | ||
Hacking, Cracking, Phreaking, and Warez Probably some of the less visible, but most risky behavior on the internet involves hacking, cracking, phreaking and warez . By their very nature, these activities are done by more technically savvy computer (and other technology) users . While the definitions and intent can be argued, these terms and the people who take part in these activities cross the line of right and wrong. They breach trust, break the laws, and defy authority.Who are they and what do they do? What is hacking? It’s the malicious meddling with computers and computer programming with the goal of breaking into computers and obtaining information without authorization. Hackers will try to convince you that "real hackers" are just computer programmers, often working for no money, with the simple goal of having fun and solving the puzzle. They tend to operate in a cloak-and-dagger existence. Consider how you might feel if for several days you came home alone to your house and felt something was out of place, but couldn't quite put your finger on what that might be. Then at a later date you arrive home only to find a strange person in your home! If nothing were missing from your home would you consider the person who was in your house without your key or your permission was just "having fun" and send them along? More likely you would call the police and have the person arrested for breaking and entering.Hackers also create malicious computer programs and viruses. I have no doubt that if you use a computer you have heard of the Melissa virus. The Melissa virus was was written in March, 1999 by a computer programmer in the northeastern United States. He characterized his crime as curiosity with no malicious intent. Yet consider the effect it had on the world. Consider also how business was interrupted and how much money was spent to safeguard our systems. What is cracking? Generally, it is used interchangeably with hacking. You might be considered a cracker if your intent is to break into a computer system without authorization to damage files, steal personal information, leave behind viruses or malicious programs. What is phreaking? Phreaking is the act of tapping into the phone lines and switches for the purposes of using phone services without paying, or wiretapping to obtain information. This obviously isn't as relevant to, or didn’t originate with the Internet, but the access the Internet has provided to the phreakers has made it easier to obtain the tools and techniques for phreaking. Phreaking is also known as phone hacking. Warez (pronounced Wares) is a collection of software, passwords, pornography and the like, available to the unscrupulous consumer. There are many web sites that have grown around warez, typically for distribution of illegal material. It’s common, for instance for warez sites to offer free "cracked" (copyright protection stripped) copies of expensive software products. The CultureWith hackers, crackers and phreakers, the culture revolves around a strong desire to obtain knowledge and solve puzzles. Not an inherently bad trait. Many hackers, crackers and phreakers pursue the craft for the simple satisfaction of knowing they worked their way through a web of information, sometimes painstakingly, to achieve the goal of getting a foot in the door. Seeing what others can’t. However glamorous this may sound, hackers almost always push their curiosities into the realm of breaking the law. Often times breaking into secured systems, stealing confidential data. Anonymity is common among the hacking, cracking and phreaking community. These people typically take on handles, or nicknames - for example darkwing. Defiance of authority is a common theme found in the hacker community. Warez culture on the other hand is rooted in nothing more than immaturity, greed, rage. Those who indulge in warez, like hackers, also value anonymity. The Tools Hacking often goes beyond the scope of a programmer writing code to decipher binary digits. They use the tools that exist as part of normal computer systems administration, or obtain tools from other hackers who have figured out how to break a piece of the puzzle. An example is a password stealing program. With Windows 95 and 98, there are many opportunities for you to check a box that says "Save My Password". It seems the convenient thing to do. Unbeknownst to you, there is a hacker tool that can read the encrypted password file that is stored on your hard drive as part of the "Save My Password" operation. In addition to software, there are hundreds of web sites devoted to the glamorization of hacking. They include articles on famous hackers, recently hacked sites and locations to hacking tools. Phreaking is not without its tools. Think of how valuable a calling card number generator could prove to be. Such a thing exists. Cellular phones are prone to phreakers stealing phone numbers to use free of charge and tapping into wireless conversations.
|
||