<soapbox>
I have to say that I think stories like this are just adding to the problems
and misunderstandings. I haven't seen this one yet, so cannot speak
specifically about it (I'll try to catch it tonight), but I am tired of
being bombarded by the media's glorification of clueless brats who think the
web IS the internet and give thanks Al Gore for providing it to us all. The
vast majority of the media's "hackers" are twits that spend their time
downloading pre-canned scripts to run on their Win box in between browsing
porn sites. They probably don't know what TCP/IP stands for, much less
anything about how it works, and they couldn't decipher a regular expression
if their life depended on it. But because they spray painted the case of
their Compaq computer black and can type in K001 w@Z on AOL, then they must
be Evil Geniuses (TM).
I feel there are a few reasons this ignorance continues. First, and most
important, fear sells. Maybe not as well as sex, but I'd bet it's close.
On "regular" media, stories like this get the viewers, which get the
ratings, which get the advertisements ($). On "public" media, they get the
viewers which get the pledges ($). Second, the media doesn't know any
better. They are as dim witted about the details as most of the public.
Journalists need to have absolutely NO understanding of the story they
cover, as long as they look good doing it (I saw this demonstrated several
times while serving in the military). Third, the script kiddies themselves
perpetuate the illusion. No matter what their age, are little more than
common vandals either looking for attention or trying to find a sense of
self worth and think this will give them "respect" and "awe." And finally,
the people who really know the vulnerabilities (the banks, web servers, data
warehouses, etc) WANT the general public to think they have secure systems
that can only be penetrated by an Evil Genius (TM) staying up all night
drinking Jolt cola, listening to techno and "running a hack." If the public
learned that what was actually involved took about as much technical
understanding as setting up Napster, then there would be serious business
repercussions.
Most people consider a physical bank location to be secure, but this is
because banks spend a LOT of money to make it that way...thick vaults,
electronic security, armed guards, etc. These very expensive measures exist
ONLY because people won't use a bank that was any less secure. In the "old
west" a kid with a pistol and a desire for glory could hold up a bank
(although he would probably get caught after) without any real skills or
understanding. Most online services are in "old west" mode today, and until
that changes they will continue to be targets for "kids with pistols"...they
just prefer to make it sound like it was the "Great Train Robbery" so that
everyone doesn't pack up and take their business elsewhere. Otherwise, they
will need to spend as much money covering their electronic assess...err,
assets, as they do their physical ones.
About two weeks ago there was a story about this on NHPR that got my blood
bubbling for these exact same reasons. I sent a message similar to the one
below (with a little less media bashing and a little more detailing for the
technically challenged at the station) in response. After tonight's show, I
plan on doing the same to that station as well. Maybe with enough prodding,
one of these media stations might decide it would be "interesting" (read:
$$$$) to do a story about what's really going on. If that does happen, and
the station gets good ratings, then more stations will realize how important
it is to "tell the real story" (read: $$$$) and before you know it...well,
now I'm just getting TOO hopeful.
</soapbox>
Oh, to keep on-topic....these twits should set up their own locked down
Linux box and try hacking THAT. It's legal, fun, and...oooo...EDUCATIONAL.
-Larry
-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Cook [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2001 8:29 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Fontline: Hackers
Did anyone catch this on WBGH last night? It will be on NHPTV
tonight at 11pm.
"Hackers" - Designed to facilitate the free exchange of ideas, the
Internet has become home
to confidential information from virtually every nation in the
world. Financial
information, national infrastructure, even state secrets can be
accessed via the complex
computer network that is the World Wide Web. But how safe is that
information if
computer-literate teenagers - hackers - can break into top-security
computer systems,
infect them with viruses or steal sensitive documents? The role of
hackers is examined and
their exploits highlighted to reveal the insecurities and virtual
threat of the internet.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/hackers/
I thought it was very informative, especially in light of the recent
security discussions
on this list.
Larry
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