Computer Hackers & Viruses
Computer hackers are people who intentionally discover security holes in computer or network systems. Traditionally, hackers work for the challenge of breaking into systems, while "crackers" are hackers with malicious intent--hacking systems or software for financial or personal gain.
Viruses are software exploits, which spread themselves over a network, email or portable media, along with a "payload" containing another type of malicious software, such as spyware or trojans. Hackers and crackers sometimes use viruses to gain control of a remote computer system.
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History
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Since before the Internet became widespread, hackers have been prevalent. According to researchers at the University of Utah, curious students probed and manipulated the phone network and larger computer systems on campus in the 1960s--largely seen as the official beginning of "hacking." In 1983, the term "computer virus" entered mainstream lingo to indicate a program that affected other computers to propagate itself.
Since this time, there has been explosive growth in the fields of computer hacking and viruses. Methods of hacker and virus control, such as anti-virus programs and firewalls, are in widespread use.
Types of Viruses
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There are many types of computer viruses that exist "in the wild" (actually infecting machines in use). Some viruses spread via network connections to local and Internet devices, while others are able to copy themselves onto removable media, such as flash drives.
Along with the many types of viruses, malware payloads also vary according to functionality. Payloads can include: spyware (used to spy on user activity), adware (which automatically display ads, out of the user's control) and trojans (which allow backdoor access into a machine).
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Types of Hackers
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Hackers categorize themselves in three different areas: white-hat, grey-hat and black-hat. White-hat hackers work with an organization to fix vulnerabilities without acting causing harm to the system (legal hacking). Black-hat hackers are the opposite of white-hat hackers; they conduct hacking illegally and maliciously. Grey-hat hackers are a blend of both, sometimes acting maliciously or illegally, and sometimes not. Hackers also tend to specialize in a certain skill, such as web application hacking or cryptanalysis.
Prevention/Solution
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Many organizations actively work against hacker and virus threats. There are many technical and personnel controls that deter attacks, some of which include simply patching and updating systems, running anti-virus software and monitoring network traffic.
When a virus or hacker is discovered, organizations immediately act to stop further damage and to secure private data. Data security and lessening the impact of the virus or hacker is paramount. Phases of response include: incident detection and immediate response, damage analysis, impact estimate, and system recovery.
Legal Ramifications
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Hackers, and those who create/use tools such as viruses to gain unauthorized access to a computer system, act illegally according to laws from many jurisdictions. The U.S. Department of Justice describes several statutes prohibiting attacks against private or government computer systems.
Although punishable by a felony conviction and several years in prison, many computer crimes go undetected, unreported or uninvestigated. Promptly reporting hacker attacks or viruses is important, as well as preserving data and log files involved in the attack.
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References
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