Hackers Hierarchy (Using and Abusing Services)
There is a hacker’s hierarchy that informs the hacking world. The first level
is the Script Kiddies, and many hackers fall under this category. A large
number of hackers are bored teenagers who are looking for ways to have
fun. Those who have access to computers delve into the world of hacking
without prior knowledge of what it entails. Others have basic programming
skills and feel that they are ready to start hacking. Essentially, script
kiddies are amateurs and know nothing about hacking.
They use hacking programs developed by others and do not know how to
develop their own. They depend on others and cannot make basic hacking
decisions with confidence. We all know that a hacker must be confident to
pull off risky parts of this work. Knowledge gives you power and
confidence. An amateur lacks basic knowledge and question everything
he/she does. Many people start as amateurs and progress to become
renowned in the field. The only that is needed is patience to learn and grow.
If someone tells you that they knew how to hack without depending on
someone they are lying to you. No one was born knowing everything, and
this also applies to hack. There is no shame in starting as an amateur.
It only becomes problematic if you do not move past that stage. One of the
reasons why script amateurs never grow is because they only hack to show
off to their peers. They hack for fun and do not have a plan or end goal.
They find thrill in crashing systems, and that is the end of it. This level of
hacking is less risky but a nuisance. While they do not pose big threats,
other times, they get lucky and hit targets successfully .
The second level of hackers is the Hacking Group. They have more power
than script kiddies and can cause great harm to organizations. The common
hacking group is LulSec which launched attacks on Sony, and XFactor
companies. They pose a big threat to the IT industry, and measures have
been implemented to stop their activities. However, nothing much has
changed, and hacking groups are still hacking companies.
The third level of hackers is hacktivists. These are people who hack with
religious, political, or social goals in mind. Sometimes they hack into
systems to post-religious messages or warn their adversaries. For example,
a hacktivist hacker can hack a child-porn site to air his/her opposition. Such
people are pushed by strong believes and want to change people’s mindsets
or viewpoints. Other times they hack into systems to spread pollical
messages and support their candidates. This group of hackers is harmless
because they mainly focus on pertinent issues in the society such as child-
pornography, or trafficking. Hacktivism is on the rise in the security
industry and government bodies. Police forces are mainly targeted by this
group of hackers.
The fourth level of hackers is Black Hat Professionals. No one poses more
threat to the IT world that black hat hackers. They have unmatched skills
that allow them to get away with any hacking activity they participate in.
What sets black hat professionals from other hackers is the fact that they
take time to learn to hack. They are not ordinary hackers you meet or hear
about on the news. These are seasoned hackers who pass for ordinary
citizens. When you meet a black hat professional you would think that they
work across the streets.
They have mastered the tricks of hacking, and it is hectic to figure them out.
It takes equally good hackers to discover what they are doing and even so, it
is still hard to bring them down. A black hat profession knows the
loopholes to look out for and strikes at the right time. He does not get
involved in activities that might compromise his identity and chooses his
companions wisely. One of the things that bring down seasoned hackers is
trusting the wrong people. It can be tempting to boast to others about your
achievement in the hacking world, but a black hat professional is not that
careless. He/she knows the value of silence in the dark web.
They only open up when talking to fellow hackers or someone that feel will
never betray them. Even so, they prefer listening over sharing their
experiences. They have coding skills and are determined to gain access to
unauthorized services. It might be difficult at first, but a black hat
profession never loses hope. After all, no one said that it would be easy.
Instead of comparing their gains to others, black hat professionals keep
their eyes on the prize. They do not hack to destroy information but to look
for new ways of accessing data that restricted. They find pleasure in getting
access to impenetrable targets.
The fifth level of hacking is organized, criminal gangs. As the name
suggests, organized criminal gangs are led by criminals. They comprise of
professional criminals who lead a group of people to hack computer
systems. They attract code crafters most of the time. They work under strict
rules and members who disregard them face tough penalties. They operate
under rules to protect their operations from scrutiny. They can be hired by
people who want to hack into systems, or they can organize their
operations.
To work in an organized criminal gang, you must meet set expectations and
work under supervision. Only those who follow instructions stay in the
gang for a long time. It can be risky working in a group in case something
goes wrong. For example, if one is caught, he/she may rat out the entire
gang and spoil the operation. The good thing with organized criminal gangs
is that there are many people to work with or consult if something is
unclear.
Moreover, you are likely to get hacking gigs in a gang than on your own.
Also, there is comfort in working in a gang, compared to being alone and
taking care of all the risks that come with hacking. However, organized
criminal gangs face many challenges and are dangerous if you trust the
wrong person. Hacking becomes scary ones you add another person to the
equation, let alone a group of people. Organized criminal gangs have
leaders who create rules, add and remove members. They are also in charge
of discipline in the group and making payments.
The sixth level of hacker’s hierarchy is nation-states. The nation-state is on
top of the hacking ladder. It is a common belief that with state nations,
there are trained cybercriminals who work for the government. This means
that every state has a group of hackers who hack into systems. While this is
common knowledge, no state has ever admitted to it. It is no secret that
every state wants to know what the other one is doing for economic,
political, or social gains. It is no wonder they go to great lengths to train
cybercriminals to get them sensitive information about other states. Nation-
states have at their disposal crack squads to find out what the other state is
doing. More nations have realized the need to work with hackers not only to
protect themselves but also to know more about other states. It gives them
political leverage and informs them where they stand on the economic
scale. Hackers have enabled countries to know the economic positions of
countries they want to trade without them divulging such information.
Nation-state hackers are emerging trends that people are on the lookout for.
Level seven is the use of an automated tool. It is important for a computer
user to know the six levels of hackers, but they do not meet the standards
because they do not address automated tools that cause great harm to people
and businesses. They cause great harm at a little cost. Some technologies
and computer applications have gained popularity more than others over the
last 20 years. Hence, slight weakness in an application can cause many
computers around the world to be vulnerable to exploitation. Automated
tools are pieces of software that play the role of a worm virus and affect
many computers to have a big framework. Companies have put in measures
to protect themselves from risks, but still, face many risks. Others have
educated employees and warned them against clicking some sites, but
hackers always find a way to lure them into the bait.
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