He doesn't wear a stocking mask over his face, and he doesn't break a window to get into
your house. He doesn't hold a gun to your head, nor does he ransack your personal
possessions. Just the same he's a thief. Although this thief is one you'll not only
never see, but you may not even realize right away that he's robbed you. The thief is a
computer hacker and he "enters" your home via your computer, accessing personal
information -- such as credit card numbers -- which he could then use without your
knowledge -- at least until you get that next credit card statement. Richard Bernes,
supervisor of the FBI's Hi-Tech squad in San Jose, California, calls the Internet "the
unlocked window in cyberspace through which thieves crawl" (Erickson 1). There seems to
be an unlimited potential for theft of credit card numbers, bank statements and other
financial and personal information transmitted over the Internet.
It's hard to imagine that anyone in today's technologically oriented world could
function without computers. Personal computers are linked to business computers and
financial networks, and all are linked
together via the Internet or other networks. More than a hundred million electronic
messages travel through cyberspace every day, and every piece of information stored in a
computer is vulnerable to attack (Icove-Seger-VonStorch
1). Yesterday's bank robbers have become today's computer hackers. They can walk away
from a computer crime with millions of virtual dollars (in the form of information they
can use or sell for an enormous profit). Walking away is precisely what they do. The
National Computer Crimes Squad estimates that 85-97 % of the time, theft of information
from computers is not even detected (Icove-Seger-VonStorch 1).
Home computer users are vulnerable, not only for credit card information and login IDs,
but also their files, disks, and other computer equipment and data, which are subject to
attack. Even if this information is not confidential, having to reconstruct what has been
destroyed by a hacker can take days (Icove-Seger-VonStorch 1). William Cheswick, a
network-security specialist at AT&T Bell Labs, says the home computers that use the
Internet are singularly vulnerable to attack. "The Internet is like a vault with a screen
door on the back," says Cheswick. "I don't need jackhammers and atom
bombs to get in when I can walk in through the door" (Quittner 44).
The use of the Internet has become one of the most popular ways to communicate. It's
easy, fun, and you don't have to leave your home to do it. For example, the advantage of
not having to take the time to drive to the bank is so great that they never consider the
fact that the information they store or transmit might not be safe. Many computer
security professionals continue to speak out on how the lack of Internet security will
result in a significant increase in computer fraud, and easier access to information
previously considered private and confidential (Regan 26).
Gregory Regan, writing for Credit World, says that only certain types of tasks and
features can be performed securely. Electronic banking is not one of them. "I would not
recommend performing commercial business transactions," he advises "or sending
confidential information across networks attached to the Internet" (26).
In the business world, computer security can be just as easily compromised. More than a
third of major U.S. corporations reported doing business over the Internet -- up from 26
percent a year ago -- but a quarter of them say
they've suffered attempted break-ins and losses, either in stolen data or cash (Denning
08A).
Dr. Gregory E. Shannon, president of InfoStructure Services and Technologies Inc., says
the need to improve computer security is essential. There are newly released computer
tools intended to help keep the security of your PC information, but which can just as
easily be accessed by computer hackers, as this information will be released as freeware
(available, and free, to anyone) on the Internet (Cambridge 1). These freely distributed
tools could make it far easier for hackers to break into systems. Presently, if a hacker
is trying to break into a system, he has to keep probing a network for weaknesses. Before
long, hackers will be able to point one of these freeware tools at a network and let it
automatically probe for security holes, without any interaction from themselves
(Cambridge 1). Hackers, it seems, have no trouble staying ahead of the computer security
experts.
Online service providers, such as America Online, CompuServe and Prodigy, are effective
in providing additional protection for computer information. First of all, you need to
use a "secret password" -- a customer ID that is typed in when you log on to the network.
Then you can only send information, and retrieve your own e-mail,
through your own user access. Sometimes the service itself is even locked out of certain
information. CompuServe, for example, with its 800-plus private bulletin boards, can't
even read what's on them without gaining prior permission from the company paying for the
service (Flanagan 34).
Perhaps in an attempt to show how secure they are, these information services will give
out very little information about security itself. They all take measures to protect
private information, and give frequent warnings to
new users about the danger in giving out a password, but there is also danger in making
the service easy to use for the general public -- anything that is made easy enough for
the novice computer user would not present much of a challenge for a computer hacker.
Still, there is a certain amount of protection in using a service provider -- doing so is
roughly euqivalent to locking what might be an open door (Flanagan 34).
The latest weak spot that has been discovered is a flaw in the World Wide Web. The Web
is the fastest-growing zone within the Internet, the area where most home computer users
travel, as it's attractive and easy to use. According to an advisory issued on the
Internet by a programmer in Germany, there is a "hole" in the software that runs most
Web sites (Quittner 44). This entry point will provide an an intruder
with access to any and all information, allowing him to do anything the owners of the
site can do. Network-security
specialist Cheswick points out that most of the Web sites use software that puts them at
risk. With more and more home computer uses setting up their own home pages and Web
sites, this is just one more way a hacker can gain access to personal information
(Quittner 44).
Credit bureaus are aware of how financial information can be used or changed by computer
hackers, which has a serious impact on their customers. Loans can be made with
false information (obtained by the hackers from an unsuspecting computer user's data
base); and information can be changed for purposes of deceit, harassment or even
blackmail. These occur daily in the financial services industry, and the use of Internet
has only complicated how an organization or private individual keeps information private,
confidential and, most importantly, correct (Regan 26).
Still, there are some measures that can be taken to help protect your information. If
you use a virus protection program before downloading any files from the Internet, there
is less of a chance a hacker can crack your system. Login passwords should be changed
frequently (write
it down so you don't forget, but store it in a secure place), and they should never
contain words or names that are easily guessed. It may be easier for you to remember your
password if you use your son's name, but it's also easier for the hacker to detect it.
Passwords should always be strictly private -- never tell anyone else what it is (Regan
26).
Evaluate products for their security features before you buy any tool to access the
Internet or service providers. Remember, to change the default system password
-- the one you are initially given to set up the network on your computer (Regan 26).
Finally, and most importantly, it's best to realize that a computer system,
regardless of the amount of precaution and protection you take, is never completely
protected from outsiders. As protection software becomes more sophisticated, so do the
hackers who want to break into your system. It's a good idea not to leave the silver on
the dining table when you don't know for sure that a thief can't crawl through your
window.
Works Cited
Cambridge Publishing Inc. "PC Security: Internet Security Tool to Deter Hackers."
Cambridge Work-Group, (1995): Jan, pp 1.
Denning, Dorothy E. "Privacy takes another hit from new computer rules" USA Today,
(1996): Dec 12, pp 08A.
Erickson, Jim. "Crime on the Internet A Growing Concern." Seattle Post Intelligencer,
(1995): Nov 15, http://technoculture.mira.net.au/hypermail/0032.html
Flanagan, Patrick. "Demystifying the information highway." Management Review, (1994):
May 1, pp 34.
Icove, David; Seger, Karl; VonStorch, William. "Fighting Computer
Crime." http://www.pilgrim.umass.edu/pub/security/crime1.html
Quittner, Joshua. "Technology Cracks in the Net." Time, (1995): Feb 27, pp 44.
Regan, Gregory. "Securely accessing the Internet & the World Wide Web: Good
or evil?", Credit World, v. 85, (1996): Oct 1, pp 26.
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