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In today's world of technology the faulty security is becoming an almost incurable problem In today's world, there are several opportunities for the everyday user to breach security networks. The opportunities are endless for intrusions on networks. In 1997, thirty-five hackers hired by the National Security Agency launched several simulated attacks on the U. S electronic info-structure.
The project was called Eligible Receiver and its main goal was to gain root level access to thirty-six of the Department of Defense's four thousand plus networks. The simulated attack also turned off sections of the U. S power grid, and shut down parts of Emergency 911. (Christensen, n. pag. ) There are many opportunities for people to cause havoc.
About forty percent of the world's networks are terrorized everyday by cyber-terrorism. During the Gulf War, Dutch hackers stole information about U. S troop movements from the Department of Defense, and attempted to sell it to the Iraqis. In March of 1997, a fifteen-year-old Dutch Croatian youth penetrated a U. S Air Force base in Guam. During 1997 and 1998, an Israeli hacker penetrated the U.
S Pentagon with help from teenagers living in California. In February of 1999, unidentified hackers seized control of a British military satellite, and demanded money for its safe return. These are just a few examples of the current network security problems occurring in the world today. (Christensen, n. page. ) There are many people who are still very sheltered and ignorant about what is going on in the controversial hacking issue today. In today's world of cyberspace, there are about three thousand web sites that are hacker-oriented. This makes it even easier for even the technically challenged to gain access. (Christensen, n.
pag. ) The main threat to computer networking in the 1990 's is the computer "hacker." The term "hacker" is usually meant to be someone that breaks the security of a computer, breaks the security of application software, or that creates malicious programs like viruses or Trojans. A computer virus is a simple program that can do as little as change the date on your system, to completely wiping your computer clean. A logic bomb is like a virus, but it secretly sneaks into your system through another program. Once a logic bomb is in your system, it is only a matter of time before it goes active. A Trojan horse is a program that looks like it is doing something else but it really isn't this way the system thinks it is safe and upon execution it releases a virus, worm or a logic bomb. (Mandeville, n. pag. ) Network hackers are the most common type of hacker that is lurking around on the net.
These hackers engage in several types of activities such as "denial of service attacks" or "mail bombs." These activities are designed to swamp a computer network's ability to respond and perform its internal functions. Some hackers penetrate a secure area by getting beyond the security. They can do this by setting up a program that tries millions of passwords and does so until one is accepted by the host. They may set up "sniffers, " which are programs that check data to find encrypted or sensitive information. Once they get this info, they can decode it to find out more about a network, and get into it easier. Once this happens they can alter or remove files, steal information, and erase the evidence of these activities.
Most hackers do it simply for a test of skill or for a cheap thrill. (Mandeville, n. pag. ) Software hackers are another type of "hackers. " These people target application software such as word processing or graphic manipulation programs. Generally these programs come with an expensive price tag. If there is an application with a price there are going to be people out there that are looking to get it for free. This is where "crackers" hackers that break software security come in. These hackers develop their own programs to circumnavigate or forge the security that keep that application from being replicated on another personal computer.
For instance a fairly expensive application requires a special serial code in order for the application to work correctly the serial code must match an algorithm inside the application. Much like network hackers, software hackers develop tools just like the network hacker does, and attempts millions of combinations of numbers and letters until it finds one that matches. Or the "cracker" can attack the application at the assembly-code level finding flaws with in the program itself. (Mandeville, "Hackers, Cracks and Trojan Horses") John Christensen web David Mandeville web Andy Walton web Bibliography:
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