Hacking & Spamming

Both hacking and spamming share an underlying goal of achieving objectives through unethical means, often infringing upon users’ digital rights. They both exploit the vastness of the internet and seek to navigate around security protocols.

However, the methods and intentions differ significantly. Hacking tends to focus on gaining unauthorized access to systems, whereas spamming is about broadcasting content, regardless of the recipient’s interest.

In conclusion, while hacking and spamming are different cyber activities, they stem from a similar mindset of disregarding ethical standards. Recognizing these distinctions is essential for building a more secure online environment.

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There’s Hacking

Hacking is an attempt to exploit a computer system or a private network inside a computer. Simply put, it is the unauthorised access to or control over computer network security systems for some illicit purpose. To better describe hacking, one needs to first understand Hackers. One can easily assume them to be intelligent and highly skilled in computers. In fact, breaking a security system requires more intelligence and expertise than actually creating one. There are no hard and fast rules whereby we can categorize hackers into neat compartments. However, in general computer parlance, we call them white hats, black hats and grey hats.

White hat professionals hack to check their own security systems to make it more hack-proof. In most cases, they are part of the same organisation.
Black hat hackers hack to take control over the system for personal gains. They can destroy, steal or even prevent authorized users from accessing the system. They do this by finding loopholes and weaknesses in the system. Some computer experts call them crackers instead of hackers.
Grey hat hackers comprise curious people who have just about enough computer language skills to enable them to hack a system to locate potential loopholes in the network security system.

Grey hats differ from black hats in the sense that the former notify the admin of the network system about the weaknesses discovered in the system, whereas the latter is only looking for personal gains. All kinds of hacking are considered illegal barring the work done by white hat hackers.

The roots of hacking can be traced back to the early days of computer programming and networks. Initially, hacking was seen as a way of experimenting and exploring the capabilities of systems. However, as technology evolved, so did the intentions of hackers. What once began as harmless curiosity transformed into malicious activities aimed at theft and disruption.

Tech Raj: “You’ve seen movies where hacking is portrayed like this – *random windows open displaying random text scrolling very fast* – Here’s what real hacking actually looks like.”

CNBC: “Mikhail Sosonkin, who works for cybersecurity start-ups, shows firsthand how easy it is to break into a computer. Watch this Russion hacker break into our computer in minutes.”

Ethical hacking and subverting the internet | Thomas Webb (Tom London)

The Phishing Attacks

Phishing is a cyber attack that aims to steal personal information from unsuspecting users. It typically involves fraudulent communications that appear to come from legitimate sources, such as emails or websites. Phishers often use these deceptive tactics to trick users into providing sensitive data like passwords, credit card numbers, or social security numbers.

The mechanics of phishing can vary, but they generally involve a few common elements. First, the attacker sends a fake message – often an email – that resembles one from a reputable company. This message may urge the recipient to click on a link or download an attachment. Once clicked, the link could lead to a malicious website designed to look like a trustworthy site, where users are prompted to enter their private information.

To safeguard yourself from phishing, it’s essential to be vigilant. Always verify the sender’s email address before interacting with any links. Additionally, avoid clicking on unsolicited attachments or links. Employing security software and keeping it updated can also help detect potential threats. Furthermore, regularly changing passwords and using two-factor authentication can add an extra layer of defense against such attacks.

There’s Spamming

Is SPAM a Monty Python Sketch or Stupid, Pointless, Annoying, Malware or even a Brand Of Canned Cooked Pork? It’s all of the above and more. Spam is any kind of unwanted, unsolicited digital communication, often an email that gets sent out in bulk. Spam is a huge waste of time and resources. The Internet service providers (ISP) carry and store the data. When hackers can’t steal data bandwidth from the ISPs, they steal it from individual users, hacking computers and enslaving them in a zombie botnet.

Spamming emerged as a byproduct of early internet communication. As email became a prevalent mode of connecting people, the flood of unsolicited messages began. Spammers often target large audiences with the intent of marketing products or phishing for personal information. The ease with which messages can be sent and the relative anonymity of the internet have made spamming a pervasive issue.

Software providers invest resources creating email applications that try to filter most of the spam out. Consumers waste time sifting through whatever makes it past the spam filters. According to Oracle Dyn the total cost of spam in terms of productivity, energy and technology adds up to USD 130 billion. It’s an annoying and endless cycle! If there’s an inbox, spammers will find a way to clog it. Spam can also be found on Internet forums, text messages, blog comments, and social media. Email spam, however, is by far the most prevalent and often the most threatening to consumers.

The Orion: “A tie into the recent cyber attack on Chico State, this video will tell you about what spam is, how CSU Chico was affected and how hackers benefit by sending spam.”

GCFLearnFree: “Spamming is the use of messaging systems to send an unsolicited message (spam), especially advertising, as well as sending messages repeatedly on the same site.”