Log in ....Tribune--Software

Monday, November 26, 2001		Software

Gaining entry just for the ‘hack’ of it
Jasjot Singh Narula

ONE day while surfing the Internet or checking e-mails, the surfer finds a ‘beautiful’ image as an attachment that you install on your system. All of a sudden the system slows down and then crashes. All your important data is lost. If this is what has happened to you, well, the chances are that your system has been hacked or cracked.

Hackers are computer experts who spend enormous amount of time trying to breach the security of network or individual computers. These people have a thorough knowledge of the operating system like Windows, Unix and networking. Hackers usually break in to test their skills and share their knowledge with other hackers.

The ‘birth’ of virus and worms is credited to such ‘learned hackers and crackers’ who use their piece of technical marvel to gain entry into other people’s systems. Learned they are, because it requires a great amount of software programming skills to create a virus. Only the knowledge is used in a negative and unlawful connotation.

Just to cite an analogy, it could be like two peeping toms sharing the same neighbourhood trying to peep into each another’s house just to have a feel of the going-ons.

On the other hand, crackers break into the network or PCs like an intruder and modify, delete or steal important information or data stored in the computer.

History

Hacking really took off from ‘Phreaking’ that meant breaking into the telephone network to make free long-distance calls. In 1964, Stewart Nelson, a MIT student learnt how to make the computers generate frequencies to make long distance calls. He was more interested to know about how the things worked rather than use his knowledge for criminal intentions.

John T. Draper, also known as Cap’n Crunch, in 1972, discovered the art to make a free long distance phone calls using a whistle from a Cap’n Crunch cereal box also called blue box. (See box)

Gaining entry

The Internet is a medium where a single computer connects millions of computers around the world. When a user logs on to the Internet, the ISP (Internet Service Provider) provides a special number called Internet protocol to that particular system. This allows the system to interact with the Web servers and the IP changes when the user logs on again to the Net. The to and fro of information is done by these IPs in packets and enters into the system through a special channel or ports that are used by the operating system or software for communication. The Net surfer accesses the Website via Port 80 and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is done through Port 21 and sharing of file at Port 139. To enter into the system, a hacker or a cracker first scan the computer system through a hacking software, trace out the IP address and take the advantage of the open ports.

The question is how these hackers enter into the PCs and scan with hacking software.

There are various types of malicious Trojan Horse viruses running across the Internet. Their entry means a permanent gateway for the hackers as well as crackers. Moreover they can change the setting, remove the files or rewrite the BIOS thereby even damaging the motherboard.

While in the chat room, hackers or crackers try to hunt for soft targets or those persons who can easily fall into their trap. As a typical example, they may offer X-rated, obscene pictures to install that could actually be dangerous viruses or worms, which enters into system and hub for hackers.

Prevention

1.Never ever opens up the e-mail with an attachment from unknown person.

2.Don’t give passwords or usernames to the unknown person while on chat because they may be hackers.

3.Always use latest update of anti-virus software.

4.As said earlier the hackers enters into the PC through open ports so "Firewall" is only the answer, which could provide the best security.

The greatest hacks

Captain Zap: Ian Murphy, known to his friends as Captain Zap, was the first cracker to be tried and convicted as a felon. Murphy broke into AT&T’s computers in 1981 and changed the internal clocks that metered billing rates. People were getting late-night discount rates when they called at midday. Of course, the bargain-seekers who waited until midnight to call long distance were hit with high bills. Murphy, now the chairman of IAM/Secure Data System, was the inspiration for the movie "Sneakers."

The Morris Worm: On November 2, 1988, Robert Tappan Morris released a worm that brought down one-tenth of the Internet— which back then meant he crippled more than 6,000 computer systems. Named the Morris Worm, this exploit inspired the founding of a governmental anti cyber-terrorism team, CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team), to deal with future Morris worms. Morris made the mistake of chatting about his worm for months before he actually released it on the Internet, so it didn’t take long for the police to track him down. Morris was one of the first to be tried and convicted under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

The MOD and LOD Squads: In 1993, the Masters of Deception (MOD) were the first crackers ever to get busted via wiretaps. The MOD was mostly Phone Phreaks — folks who had fun with the telephone system. They were famous for figuring out ways to avoid paying for long-distance calls, and could also listen in on private conversations, and create huge party lines that allowed many people to chat to each other at one time. MOD also hacked its way into many a database, including those belonging to the National Security Agency, AT&T, and the Bank of America. They also accessed credit-record reporting agency TRW’s computer system, and were able to gain access to credit reports of the rich and famous. MOD was also famous for the wars they engaged in with the Legion of Doom (LOD), another cracker group that had the reputation of being the headquarters for the most elite hackers.

Kevin Mitnick: Snagged by the FBI on February 15, 1995, Kevin Mitnick was the first person to be convicted of gaining access to an interstate computer network for criminal purposes. He was also the first cracker to have his face appear on an FBI "Most Wanted" poster. Mitnick was charged with stealing at least $ 1-million worth of sensitive project data from computer systems, snagging thousands of credit card numbers from online databases, breaking into the California motor vehicles database, and remotely controlling New York and California’s telephone switching hubs on various occasions—and he also possessed the uncanny ability to convince home phones that they were really pay phones.

The Great Bank Robbery: The year 1995 also marked the great Citibank heist, when Vladimir Levin, a graduate of St. Petersburg Tekhnologichesky University, convinced Citibank’s computers to transfer $-10 million from its customers’ accounts to Levin’s. Interpol caught up with him at Heathrow Airport and Citibank got most of the money back. — (Source – www.wirednews.com)