Forwarded From: Simon Taplin <sticker@icon.co.za>
http://cnet.tv.com
Inside a hacker's world
by Elissa Palmer
While at one time hacking was seen as an elite skill reserved for the
technically proficient, these days it's becoming all the more common if
not mainstream. In the recent attack on the N.Y. Times Web site, a hacker
group called "Hacking for Girlies" (HFG) posted pornographic images and
added racial slurs and profanity to the site.
The hack was reportedly a protest against both the imprisonment of hacker
Kevin Mitnick, and the creation of basic "how to" hack books which
characterize hacking as almost recreational, a notion which many
underground hackers resent. To make matters worse, when HFG hacked the
N.Y. Times Web site, they also condemned several other hack groups, which
in turn caused those groups to retaliate by hacking other sites to
denounce HFG.
But it's no coincidence that a major news publication like the N.Y. Times
was targeted. In general, most hackers don't like the media, and feel the
way hackers are portrayed is usually inaccurate and unfair. Even
AntiOnline (a site about hackers and hacking) creator John Vransevich is
placed in this category, and is seen as playing to the media. He uses his
site to chronicle hacking activity, which some in the underground
community believe simply glorifies the exploits of inexperienced hackers.
Regardless of how he's viewed, Vransevich predicts that the cycle of
graffiti will only escalate. In a recent editorial, Vransevich attributes
the hacking "wars" to the lack of respect young hackers have for
technology, since many are now bypassing the traditional years of learning
required to hone computer skills by instead using point and click hack
programs and the basic "how to" hack books.
Security Analyst Ted Julian suggests that the best tactic for companies
with Web sites is to take serious security precautions, which include
conducting a risk assessment, identifying potential vulnerabilities and
creating a disaster plan in case their site is attacked.
If you're using an Apache server and want some security tips, check out
our recent CNET Builder.com feature Maximum Apache. Also, for more info on
the N.Y. Times hack and other recent hacks, check out the CNET News.com
links. And if you'd like to watch this story on CNET Central this weekend,
we've listed the airtimes below
-o-
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Received on Fri Oct 16 08:26:42 1998