The word hacker, years ago, was not a term that people knew well. However, today in the computer age we are very familiar with hackers. This word can mean different meanings to different people. If the person is a programmer, than a hacker is close to a rock star! They may have the ability to alter computer programs and other parts of hardware in electronics.
On the other hand a hacker can devastate someone’s work or gain access to personal and private messages, pictures, and so on. They also may have the ability to hack into medical, military and government databases. Obviously, this can lead to big issues due to the fact they become privy to information that is classified and private.
These individuals (bad hackers) are generally extremely intelligent, but tend to be anti-authoritarian. The Internet to them is a child’s playground, and they feel it is their right to enjoy the digital ride through other’s information. Recent studies have shown most hackers, today, are generally young men in their early 20’s and 30’s.
Hackers are considered cyber criminals because of the backdoor methods they use to get through a computer’s security system without permission. Some of the actions that a hacker may do are some of the following:
- Identity Theft- this is considered electronic theft of an individuals or company’s personal information that is subsequently used to steal their monetary resources.
- Vandalism- this is similar to graffiti. They want to leave their mark by destroying or defacing (digitally) a computers data. Cyber vandalism is mainly ego driven to show they have been there.
- Hacktivism- another form of vandalism except that it is geared towards a political agenda.
- Theft- just as it sounds, it is where the hacker gains access to intellectual or copyrighted technology, and sometimes resells it for a profit.
- Terrorism- there have been some recent studies done by experts who believe that future terrorists will plot attacks through hacking methods.